With miles of beautiful
golden, sandy beaches and bays, calm clear waters and fabulous grottoes, the Algarve is
amongst the top European holiday destinations. The South of Portugal was the last place to
gain independence from the Moors in 1292 and even today traces of the Moorish presence are
visible in the architecture. Despite the obvious influence of tourism, a short drive
inland reveals the true Algarve where life goes on much as it has for many centuries. Sports enthusiasts will find ideal conditions and top class facilities; the golf courses are world famous, the tennis establishments are highly acclaimed and the sun and sea combine to create a paradise for all kinds of water sports.
Whatever your preference; a secluded hideaway in the hills, a converted cottage in a traditional fishing village or a magnificent mansion in a sophisticated resort, we are certain that you will find your personal paradise in the Algarve.
Moncarapacho, Sáo Brás, Santa Bárbara de Nexe, Querença & Loulé
This area of the Algarve is
relatively unaffected by tourism. In the hills, behind the regional capital
Faro, there are some wonderful towns and villages, usually with flourishing
markets. São Brás is a small, sleepy town about 12kms from Loulé with a central
square, very few tourists and several restaurants. Santa Bárbara de Nexe is
smaller with a well stocked village shop, a bar or two and a restaurant.
Querença is a charming, tiny village on the old Lisbon road, north of Loulé,
situated high in the hills among unspoilt countryside and forests. Within the
square there is a beautiful church which is surrounded by craft shops selling
local produce, such as wild flower honey. There are one or two restaurants, one
specialising in wild boar and ostrich. Bordeira has a traditional restaurant
with much lower prices than the tourist centres and there are museums and Roman
ruins at São Brás, Estoi and Moncarapacho.Some of the eastern coastal towns are well worth a visit as, Olhão, for example, probably has the best markets for fish, fruit and vegetables in the whole of the Algarve. Tavira is a reasonable size and is close to the Spanish border. Fuzeta is much smaller but quite charming and between the two is the resort of Pedras del Rei, with a mini-train service to the offshore beach of Praia do Barril (part of Tavira Island). For the adventurous traveller, Seville is an easy drive, just 2½ hours via the new motorway.
You can take your hire car if you notify Auto Jardim that you are going, so that
they can arrange insurance cover for Spain, at an extra charge. Loulé is a
typical, bustling Algarvean market town with lots of history. About 15kms inland
from Faro, the town has a few remains of its Roman and Moorish history,
including the old castle walls and Moorish mosque-like churches. As the coast
has developed, gradually more villas have been built on the almond filled hills
surrounding Loulé but this has not changed the character of the town. It has a
long held reputation for craftsmanship. If you wander down the cobbled side
streets, you will find workshops with craftsmen busily working on leatherware,
weavers making baskets and cane furniture and metalworkers beating out
copperware. All can be bought at the market when the local farmers descend on
the central market hall with fruit, fresh fish, vegetables, chickens, home made
cheeses, nuts and flowers.
Warts & All Guide
One of the
first major developments in the Algarve, Vale do Lobo is the perfect place for a
family holiday. The beach is probably the centre of the resort and numerous
facilities are nearby including shops, restaurants, bars, a bank and also the
excellent Golf and Health Spa. Barringtons, with a bistro, golf academy, bars, a
health club and a beauty salon is always a good place to go; numerous activities
take place there throughout the summer - archery, dance classes, art
exhibitions, children's ballet, massages; you will never be bored. Between
Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo is Dunas Douradas. Set in 77 acres of pine
forest, the estate is named after the golden sand dunes in this area. At the
heart of the resort is a superb Roman style swimming pool, with a pool bar
serving drinks and light lunches. In the summer months there are regular
poolside barbeques with live music. Dunas Douradas has tennis courts, a
restaurant, a mini market and a twenty four hour reception and security service.
About
25kms from Faro, Vilamoura is one of the oldest established resorts of the coast
and it has the smart Marina, filled with boats and ocean going yachts as its
centrepiece. Around the marina are parades of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars
overlooking the waterfront. At the time of writing, you can find cocktail bars,
Chinese food, pizzas, pancakes, burgers and even waikiki polynesian! During the
summer months, the marina has a vibrant atmosphere and this is very much the
place to see and be seen. Talented artists will paint a good likeness for just a
few euros, or you may prefer to stroll past the many opulent yachts. Beside the
marina, there is a long, sandy beach. If you feel adventurous, there are boats
that will take you big game fishing, or you can hire one for a leisurely trip up
the coast for sunbathing and a picnic. There are four top quality golf courses,
horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, fishing and scuba diving.
Browns Health Club has aerobics, tennis, squash, a sauna, swimming pool, snack
bar, and temporary membership can be arranged. There is also a casino, with
nightly shows, and a cinema. Our villas are in Vilamoura, close by or in rural
areas like Vale Judeu. Either way, you are well placed to enjoy the facilities
of this rightly famous resort.
As the coastline of the Algarve has become
more developed, we have gradually built up a selection of villas in this area. The village
centre of Boliqueime is in the hills just behind the new motorway, where we have some
villas, but the region extends to the coastal side. Our properties are within easy driving
distance of all the excitements and facilities of the seaside resorts. From the middle of
Boliqueime, you are only a 15 minute drive from the centre of Albufeira and about the same
to the golf courses of Vilamoura and Salgados. Further inland is the town of Loulé, with
its superb Saturday market, shops and restaurants. Boliqueime is midway between Albufeira
and Loulé and has a small village atmosphere. The centre still has some cobbled streets
with several local shops, a post office, chemist and a couple of cafés. Pride of place in
the square is the local Catholic church, the centre point of the village. An annual fair
is held during the summer in the church square, with stalls selling locally produced
handicrafts and food.
O
n
the main road, there is a well used and authentic café/restaurant, where a Villa
Agency director was defeated by a rustic local stew of pig's head, complete with
ears! The surrounding countryside is hilly, with pine and almond trees, and
dotted with gleaming white villas with pools.
This is the way to get the best
of the Algarve if you do not mind a short drive to the shops, beaches and supermarket. The
main restaurant in Boliqueime is the Piri Piri Palace, an old established and favourite
eating place for old Algarve hands. Palace may be stretching a point but it has good local
Piri Piri and other dishes so is worth a visit.
Boliqueime is close to many lovely beaches
such as Falésia, Balaia and Olhos d'Agua and yet surrounded by
beautiful, unspoilt countryside. Wild flowers and wildlife abound and there is plenty to
explore. There are many traditional markets and interesting shops. It should be remembered
that at busy times of year and if there is a southerly wind, it might be possible to hear
some traffic noise.
It is hard to believe that some of the most famous resorts
and golf courses are just a few miles from Paderne. Despite all the bustle of the coast,
the emphasis here is still on traditional agriculture, principally citrus fruits, which
are traded, along with plants and handicrafts in the local markets of Algoz, Messines and
Paderne. There are many simple, local restaurants in the area, providing regional menus,
such as chicken and stews, usually at prices a good deal lower than on the coast. In
particular, you can get a great lamb stew at the interesting sounding 'Zip Zip' on the
outskirts of Paderne, garlic prawns and grilled chicken at the Paraiso and delicious
shellfish and an extensive winelist at the Mata Vista. In the village, there is also 'Os
Arcos' and 'Mouros Encantandos', both of which have good menus. Paderne is far from a
backwater and has a chemist, bank and one or two small shops, which might stretch to be
called supermarkets in that, though small, they are self-service and can supply most day
to day needs. You can buy your fresh bread, cheese, ham, fruit and vegetables; also
charcoal for the barbeque and a pleasant, local champagne for a pound or two. More
extensive shopping can be done at the hypermarkets in Silves or Albufeira. The church in
Paderne is worth a visit, although the original building has been altered by successive
periods of reconstruction. Nor is there much left of the Moorish castle but the ruins can
be found by following the 'Castelo' signs. 
The monthly market was, and still
is, the highlight of the month; an occasion to come 'into town' and sell produce or buy
livestock, fruit trees or household goods. There is a smaller daily indoor market which
overflows onto the street on Saturday mornings, when local producers set up stall to sell
their home grown fruit and vegetables. There are good local restaurants, more cheap and
cheerful than smart and fancy, where there are often lunchtime dishes of the day - try the João de Deus Restaurant on the west side of the town. To the east of Messines there is
Portela de Messines where the restaurant 'J. da Praça' serves excellent meat and seafood
dishes in a comfortable setting. The shops and local bars still have a bumbling country
air about them and the staff in the several, small but well stocked, supermarkets seem to
have no sense of urgency or rush.
On the eastern side of
Albufeira is the rather commercial Praia d'Oura (Golden Beach). This is a
popular spot for families with teenagers as there is plenty of entertainment,
bars, restaurants, novelty shops and discotheques. Originally neighbouring
fishing villages a few kilometres east of Albufeira, and not as busy as nearby
Praia d'Oura, Olhos and Santa Eulália are now bustling resorts in their own
right with lots of shops, restaurants and nightlife - one of the most trendy
discos 'Locomia' is to be found right on Santa Eulália beach, which also has two
restaurants, one located right on the sand, serving freshly caught fish and the
other overlooking the beach with an extensive menu. Although there is the
inevitable selection of fast food and tourist establishments, it is possible to
find some good, traditional and inexpensive restaurants, often tucked away in
side streets. The beaches are among the best in the Algarve; long stretches of
golden sand with huge outcrops of sandstone, typical of the region and featured
on every postcard. Once on the beach, there is not much reason to move, as there
are plenty of bars, restaurants and even a windsurfing shop on Santa Eulália
beach. The Martinique coffee shop serves great breakfasts and makes excellent
home made cakes.
The Churrasqueira Beirâ does a tasty cataplana (cooked in a
traditional copper cooking pot, vaguely reminiscent of a primitive pressure
cooker) and good prawn kebabs. Most of the villas we offer in these resorts have
been on our books for some years and are in prime positions, within walking
distance of the beach, shops and all the attractions, and some are set in
extensive grounds allowing much privacy, even at the height of the season.
Choose one of these and it is possible to get the best of both worlds and this
area is the perfect choice for a family holiday, particularly with teenagers,
who can find plenty to occupy themselves within walking distance. At nearby
Balaia there is a lovely beach, some good restaurants and a golf village, with
driving range and nine hole course. The nearest beach to Balaia is Maria Luisa -
great for children as at low tide there are rock pools for crabbing. 
Cerro d'Aguia is a ridge, which runs
from the western side of Albufeira, parallel to the coast. The villas here boast
spectacular views across the countryside to the new marina development and the
sea beyond. Vale de Parra is the area between Cerro d'Aguia and the coast. The
best known beach is Galé, a vast expanse of golden sand with restaurants and
water sports, including jet ski-ing and parasailing, there is also a 'banana' -
great fun for the kids! Galé can be busy in the summer months, but turn down any
of the tracks along the coast road and you are likely to find a quiet beach or
bay. Some, like Praia da Coelha, are a fair walk from the nearest parking area
but worth the effort. Sáo Rafael and Praia do Castelo are more accessible and
have good beach bars. Alternatively, Evaristo Beach has a more sophisticated
(and inevitably more expensive) restaurant. At the western end of Vale de Parra
is Quinta da Saudade, a mature and beautifully maintained estate of privately
owned villas with an excellent English run restaurant, which has some good
vegetarian choices - we recommend the spicy spaghetti and curries. It is only
five minutes from the beaches and just above Salgados Golf Course (where our
clients will receive a 25% reduction in green fees).
There are some
wonderful restaurants, for example Sáo Domingos, which has a good menu,
including some excellent vegetarian dishes and our clients are made especially
welcome here. Also, O Marinheiro Restaurant, which specialises in fresh fish.
Guia is close by; slightly inland and famous for its modestly priced chicken
piri-piri restaurants (dry cooked, with a spicy chilli marinade), but you can
also find other dishes, including excellent prawns at Sr Diego's Palladium
restaurant, where there is always a warm welcome for our clients. A new marina
is under construction in the valley just to the west of Albufeira behind
Baleeira beach and a small, sheltered harbour has been created in the small
Baleeira bay, protected from the prevailing winds . Algarve shopping is just
outside Guia and has some marvellous boutiques, restaurants, cinemas and ten pin
bowling. This area is more or less in the centre of the Algarve and so is a good
base as there are numerous things to do and see within a very short drive. 
Flanked by high cliffs, Praia do Carvoeiro was, until the
1970's, a sleepy fishing village. Nowadays the steep roads, to the left and right of the
main square and town beach, are lined with restaurants and bars. Our villas are scattered
around the main resort but also are in the many smaller developments that have sprung up
in recent years. 
Situated in the Western
Algarve, Parque da Floresta boasts unspoilt terrain, rocky coves and
breathtaking, rolling landscape. There are a number of small villages to explore
in each direction including Budens, Burgau and the fishing village of Salema. A
little further away is Lagos which combines history, a variety of restaurants
and bars and a buzzing nightlife. Within Parque da Floresta there is a wide
range of activities to keep everyone entertained. One of the main attractions is
the 18 hole Par 72 golf course which has recently been dramatically improved (a
buggy is considered essential for this course). Whether you are a keen golfer or
not the views are exquisite. The course will stretch any golfer regardless of
ability and for those staying at the resort there is a 40% discount on green
fees. The Palmares and Penina golf courses are also within easy reach. This is
not exclusively a golf resort, however, and there are many more activities to
indulge in including tennis, bowls, archery, horse riding, and even jeep
safaris. There are restaurants and bars within the resort. Restaurante O'Tiago
is particularly worth a visit and our clients are made especially welcome. There
is a health and beauty spa with steam and sauna room, spa pool, sunbeds, heated
pools and a well equipped gym. There is a kids club available over the summer
holiday months with a range of activities for children of all ages. Minutes from
the Parque da Floresta resort lies Quinta do Montinho. The village of Budens is
within walking distance and boasts a church, dating from the 18th century with
golden, wood carved alters and two beautiful chapels.
The name Penina has been synonymous
with championship Algarve golf since the famous course was designed by three times British
Open Champion, Henry Cotton in the sixties, Penina was the first golf course to be built
in the Algarve in 1966. Henry Cotton was one of the first to recognise the Algarve's huge
potential as a golfing destination and the quality and the success of his work encouraged
the development of the other courses in the region. Overlooking the course is the
prestigious Penina Golf Hotel, still one of the leading luxury hotels in the Algarve and
now a Meridian Hotel. Aside from the golf, there is plenty to do in this area as Penina is
midway between Portimão and Lagos, both good shopping towns and all along the coastline,
there are magnificent beaches for which the Algarve is known. Portimão has some very good
shoe shops, selling quality international shoes at very low prices compared to the UK.
Portimão is also an established fishing port and it's worth risking the headache to drink
rough local wine and eat sardines alongside the port. Lagos is one of the Algarve's more
sophisticated towns with wide pavements, lined with cafés and some excellent clothes and
leather shops.
The
different regions of Portugal vary enormously. Whilst the majority of
holidaymakers head for the Algarve, ever improving roads and a wide choice of
flights mean that many people now choose to combine the beauty and history of
the Lisbon coastline with a relaxing week in the south. Driving from Lisbon to
the Algarve has never been easier, with new roads the journey takes a leisurely
two and a half hours and we will be happy to advise you on the properties which
we think are a compatible choice for a two centre holiday. Travelling on TAP Air
Portugal, British Airways or Go, you can fly into Faro or Lisbon and return from
either airport. We can arrange for you to collect and leave your hired car at
your chosen airport. Alternatively, you might like to consider a two centre
holiday in the Algarve; for example you could choose a week in one of our
coastal properties, followed by a second weeks stay in a peaceful and tranquil
retreat in the hills.