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Scenic trails along the coast, clifftops, a natural park and traditional fishing towns
Welcome to the Algarve Seaside Hike Tour Self-Guided. In this province of southern Portugal, the Mediterranean lifestyle and heritage will inspire you to embrace a slower pace of living, come closer to Nature, and explore the province with leisurely walks along the coast. Relish the best of the Mediterranean Diet, part of the UNESCO Immaterial World Heritage.
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Highlights of Algarve Seaside Hike Tour Self-Guided
- Tavira's Historic Splendor: Begin your journey with the tranquil beauty of Tavira, known for its 37 churches, castle ruins, and historic architecture. Experience the soulful melodies of local musicians in the town's squares or the castle's inner garden, enhancing the charm of this picturesque town.
- Cacela Velha's Serene Views: Marvel at the whitewashed village of Cacela Velha, standing on a cliff overlooking the eastern Algarve coast. Its calm ambience, historical sites, and stunning vistas provide a perfect starting point for a journey through Nature and tranquillity.
- Wildlife Wonders from Cabanas to Tavira: Traverse from the ancient fishing village of Cabanas back to Tavira, passing by saltpans where traditional salt extraction thrives. Look for diverse birdlife, making for an unforgettable nature experience.
- Altura to Vila Real de Santo António: Venture from Altura through beautiful beaches to the Mata Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for chameleons and native pine trees. Conclude at Vila Real de Santo António, exploring its 18th-century Pombaline architecture and historical richness.
- Fuseta to Tavira via Ria Formosa: From the fishing village of Fuseta, explore the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a haven for migratory birds, flamingos, and the largest seahorse communities. Witness traditional salt and Fleur de Sel production before returning to Tavira.
- Pontal to Quinta do Lago: Discover Ria Formosa's ecosystems, starting near Pontal's pinewoods. Spot marine birds, walk through the Ludo area, and marvel at the Quinta do Lago luxury resort—Experience Europe's longest pedestrian bridge for stunning views.
- Ferragudo to Carvoeiro: Enjoy breathtaking clifftop views and explore natural arches, caves, and geological formations. Visit the Torre da Lapa for historical insights and spot local wildlife along the scenic coastline.
- Carvoeiro and the Trail of the Seven Hanging Valleys: Voted the best trail in Europe, this route offers majestic beaches, impressive algares, and the famous Benagil Cave. The trail's unique geological formations and panoramic sea views provide a grand finale to this enchanting hike tour.
*For 2-3 people, to start in a different day of the week, a supplement fee applies. This fee isn't applicable to 4 or more persons
Itineraries
Day 1
Tavira
Long ago, Tavira was one of the most important trade gateways to North Africa. Nowadays, it is considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Algarve, with a special character and quiet environment, far from the buzz of other towns in the province. Strolling through the historic centre is always pleasant and there is a great deal to see: 37 churches, castle ruins, many 18th-century buildings, fascinating tiled houses in the fishermen’s quarter, and so much more. A delightful touch to your visit will be the sound of music in the squares or the inner garden of the castle as local musicians are frequently heard strumming their favourite instruments.
An icon of the town, the Roman bridge has a walled parapet from which you can enjoy a magnificent view over the town. Climb the castle tower to obtain the best view across the rooftops, the domes of the many churches, the river and the surrounding salt pans, and the sea in the distance.
Day 2
Stage 1 - Cacela Velha to Tavira
Transfer to Cacela Velha.
The whitewashed village of Cacela Velha is a perfect balance between nature, history and tranquillity. Perched at the top of a cliff on the site of an old fortress, with a couple of cafés and restaurants, a beautiful church and surrounded by olive trees, it offers visitors a spectacular view of the eastern coast of the Algarve.
An easy walk down the hill, close to the coast, takes you along quiet paths past the dunes that protect the wetlands from the sea to the ancient fishing village of Cabanas. Return at your leisure to Tavira, past the saltpans where the traditional craft of salt extraction continues to this day. Keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready for the abundant wildlife you might see along the way.
Day 3
Stage 2 - Altura to Vila Real de Santo António
Transfer to the village of Altura Start in the village of Altura that consists mostly of summer holiday homes along the coast. This trail enables you to access the many sandy beaches where you can admire the calm, blue sea.
Continue along the path until you reach the Mata Nature Reserve, a natural reserve that with its system of dunes shelters the wildlife and protects the coast from the sea wind. The forest is one of the last habitats in Portugal of a significant number of chameleons. Numerous native species of pine trees provide a welcome shaded environment for ramblers and sports persons.
As you leave the reserve, walk past the mouth of the River Guadiana, the south-eastern tip of Portugal. This is a great place for recreational fishing and offers great views over the Gulf of Cadiz to neighbouring Spain. Your destination, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, is rich in 18th century architecture and history. After the massive destruction of the 1755 earthquake, the Marquis of Pombal, inspired by downtown Lisbon, rebuilt the city along geometric lines. Get to know the historical centre of the town by exploring the Pombaline Walk.
Day 4
Stage 3 - Fuseta to Tavira
Take the train from Tavira to Fuseta A - tickets not included in the price. The station is a 15 min walk from the hotel.
The traditional fishing and seafaring village of Fuseta west of Tavira, is the starting point of this trail. Fuseta Island beach in front of the town, separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Ria Formosa and is only accessible by boat. Its kilometres of golden sand, clear water and calm sea make it a small paradise. Fuseta estuary, one of the gates for exploring the Ria Formosa Natural Park, amazes with its remarkable balance between Nature and human activities such as sea fishing, working the salt flats and oyster farming.
The Ria Formosa is also an important stop for migrating birds from Northern Europe and Africa and a sanctuary for several other birds, especially colourful flamingos. This Natural Park is also famous as a haven for one of the largest seahorse communities in the world, as well as the birthplace of the Portuguese Water Dog, an Algarve breed that is threatened with extinction.
Before reaching Tavira, stroll alongside the salt pans where artisan producers of sea salt and Fleur de Sel still apply centuries-old traditional methods. Get to know the delicate task of harvesting the salt “flowers” that have become the passion of Chefs and gourmets everywhere.
Day 5
Stage 4 - Pontal to Quinta do Lago
Transfer to Pontal, near Faro.
The trail takes in the typical habitats of Ria Formosa, affording you the possibility of spotting multiple marine bird species. Beginning next to the the Pontal pinewoods, one of the few coastal forests in the Algarve, the trail continues along the border between the land and the Ria Formosa lagoons. Ludo, to the north of a complex of salt pans where flamingos meander peacefully in the São Lourenço river marshes, is an ideal place to observe roosting herons and cormorants. Cross the lagoon and the salt marshes until you reach a bird observatory, one of the best places for watching water birds, especially Purple Swamp Hens and Red Pochards.
Along the path separating Ludo from the lagoon, the view opens onto the Ancão peninsula and its dunes. During the summer you might also see Mediterranean and European pond turtles, both species that are native to Portugal. The dunes progressively give away to a small fishing settlement and summer holiday homes. The walls of the properties that line the path are covered with the exhuberant lilac foliage of the Limoniastrum monopetalum – a shrub adapted to the salinity of the environment that flourishes exclusively in the South of the country.
The view of the Ria from the wooden bridge, the longest in Europe for pedestrians, is
magnificent. In the distance, numerous luxury villas surround the lake in the exquisitely landscaped Quinta do Lago, a top luxury destination. To t he west, a long expanse of pristine dunes, soft sand and clear water, marks the end of the path after the Quinta do Lago, the western limit of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Transfer from Quinta do Lago to your hotel near Carvoeiro.
Carvoeiro is a picturesque town located along a magnificent 15km coastline of golden beaches and remarkable natural scenery. From the clifftop boardwalk surrounding the village, enjoy a unique view over some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. These beaches are different from other areas and because as they are enclosed by cliffs, they are smaller and even more scenic. Authentic masterpieces of Nature such as rock balconies and caves, sculpted by the wind and the sea water for thousands of years, are the main attractions. There is a great deal to see and do at your leisure in the surrounding region, from historic sites, hiking paths, boat rides as well as theme and water
parks.
Day 6
Stage 5 - Ferragudo to Carvoeiro - Trails of the Headlands
Transfer to Ferragudo.
The Headlands Trail is all about savouring the views as you follow the path along the cliff tops. Over the years, the erosion of the waves and wind has carved promontories from the rocks, fashioned small coves with beaches that are framed by distinctive arches, caves, galleries, sinkholes and stone sea funnels, gifts of Nature that will stand out during your walk. On a clear day, from the several headlands you will be able to see the shoreline all the way to Sagres, more than 40 kilometres to the West.
Along the way, stop at the Torre da Lapa, a 16th-century watchtower from where sentinels protected the region from attacks by pirates and other marauders. Keep a watchful eye around for playful crows, warblers and sea birds! At Torrados beach, a stacked stone sea funnel, the socalled Leixão da Gaivota, is a specially protected area as a nesting site for Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets and a resting place for other sea birds.
Day 7
Stage 6 - Carvoeiro and the Trail of the Seven Hanging Valleys
Today takes you on the round-trip walking Trail of the Seven Hanging Valleys, nominated in 2019 by Best European Destinations as the best trail in Europe. Heavenly beaches along the way will tempt you to go for a swim and distract you from the beautiful surrounding landscape. The “Seven Hanging Valleys”, from which the trail got its name, were part of the mouth of a river in the distant past and they testify to the effects of erosion along this coast. Over time, seven seasonal streams sliced across the shoreline to create the appropriately named “hanging valleys”. For thousands of years, wind and waves sculpted the many cliffs and caves you will find along the way, and created the impressive algares - vertical pits formed from the dissolution of the surrounding limestone - thereby connecting the surface to the cavernous galleries below.
At most beaches, you can jump aboard a small boat and go on a tour through the impressive caverns, including the famous Benagil Cave.
Day 8
Departure
Transfer to Faro Airport.
End of program.
- Organization of the program
- Accommodation, 7 nights in double standard room, with breakfast included
- Luggage transfer daily (1 piece of luggage per person)
- Shared Faro airport transfers to the starting point of the tour and from the ending point of the tour to the airport
- Shared mid-tour transfers
- Login access to the app where the digitalized route is published, including a map, points of interest and route details. Clients must download the app to their own smartphones before beginning the tour and use it online/offline to guide themselves during their journey. We only provide one access code per person.
- Guide (price on request)
- Meals
- Train tickets
- Travel Insurance. We do suggest: Nomads / Worldwide / Colombus
- Personal expenses
- Other items not mentioned
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