5 Things to do in Algarve, beyond swimming

Verão, calor, praia, Algarve! Compreende-se o encadeamento de ideias... Sabe sempre bem ir para a praia, desligar do mundo e simplesmente relaxar, indo intercalando uns raios de sol com uns mergulhos! Sim, tudo muito certo... Mas o Algarve pode proporcionar muito mais do que isso certamente! Deixo ficar algumas sugestões para completar as tuas férias no sul do país, com atividades culturais ou ligadas à natureza.

Summer, hot, beach and finally Algarve! The ideas chain is understandable... It feels so good to go to the beach, switch off from the world and simply relax, merging between sunbathing and swimming! Yes, it seems perfect, but Algarve has a lot more to give besides that! I leave you with some suggestions to complete your vacations in the south of Portugal, with some cultural or nature related activities.

Love Algarve (photo by Littlelle)

Typical chimney (photo by Littlelle)

- Visit the Benagil Caves

Várias praias algarvias são conhecidas pelas suas falésias e grutas. Eu gostei particularmente do passeio de barco nas praias perto de Lagoa. Embarquei numa visita de 1 hora (20€), a fim de conhecer, nomeadamente, o Algar de Benagil. Podes apanhar o barco diretamente na praia de Benagil e conhecer várias grutas e praias escondidas naquela zona. Se o mar assim o permitir, podes também ir de caiaque, uma vez que a gruta fica apenas a cerca de 60 m da praia.

Many beaches in Algarve are known for their cliffs and caves. Personally speaking, I like the boat trip that I have done at some beaches near Lagoa. I have made a one hour tour (20€) in order to know, namely, the Algar de Benangil. You can get the boat directly at the Benagil beach and get to know many caves and hidden beaches. If the sea allows so, you can also get to the cave by kayak, since it is only 60 m from the beach.

Boat trip through caves (photo by Littlelle)

It's an elephant! (photo by Littlelle)

Can you find the face? (photo by Littlelle)

Heart shape (photo by Littlelle)

Farol de Alfanzina (photo by Littlelle)

Right close to the rocks (photo by Littlelle)

Praia do Carvalho (photo by Littlelle)

Praia da Marinha (photo by Littlelle)

Algar de Benagil (photo by Littlelle)

Praia de Benagil (photo by Littlelle)

- Came across “olheiros de água doce”

A praia de Olhos de Água é conhecida, e assim chamada, devido à existência de olheiros de água doce. Bem, nunca tinha ouvido falar em tal coisa... Ao imaginar o que poderiam ser, pensava em cascatas na praia, pequenas fontes, riachos... Enfim, não foi fácil detectá-los... São apenas visíveis quando a maré está baixa e para isso tens de passar pelas rochas para as praias adjacentes (Barranco das Belharucas). Se fores de olhos bem abertos e virados para o chão, vais reparar que existem poças de água a borbulhar. A água que de lá brota é bem fria, não fosse ela uma nascente. Se colocares lá a mão ou o pé parece um buraco sem fundo, onde podes encontrar pedrinhas bem giras! Há quem diga que estas águas são termais.

Olhos de Água beach is known, and so called, due its “olheiros de água doce”. Well, I’ve never heard something like this... Wondering what such thing this could be, I would think about waterfalls, little fountains, streams... Anyway, it wasn’t easy at all to find them... They are only visible on the low tide and if you really want to see them, you have to cross over to the adjacent beaches, like Barranco das Belharucas. If you are wide-eyed and facing the ground, you will notice that there are puddles of bubbling water. The water that rises from it is very cold, were it not a spring. If you put your hand there or the foot, it looks like a bottomless hole, where you can find very cute pebbles! Some say that these waters are thermal.

Praia dos Olhos de Água (photo by Littlelle)

Olheiros de Água Doce (photo by Inês Gante)

Curious one? (photo by Inês Gante)

- Go to the Loulé market

São vários os mercados algarvios de interesse cultural. O mercado de Loulé apresenta uma bonita arquitetura de estilo neo-árabe e bancas que os fotógrafos vão adorar! Mil cores em mil sabores! Encontras de tudo um pouco, desde a típica peixeira, aos agricultores locais com as delícias da região! Funciona de segunda a sábado das 7H às 15H.

There are many tradicional markets in Algarve, all of them are interesting cultural points. Loulé market features a lovely architecture in a neo-Arabic style and stands that photographers would definitely love. Thousand colours in thousand flavours! You will find there a little bit of everything, from the typical fishmonger, to local farmers with the delicacies of the zone. It’s open from Monday to Saturday from 7am to 3pm.

Loulé Market (photo by Littlelle)

Loulé Market (photo by Littlelle)

Typical delicacies (photo by Littlelle)

Tradicional portuguese shop (photo by Littlelle)

Figs vs plums (photo by Littlelle)

Plums vs peaches (photo by Littlelle)

Fresh everything (photo by Littlelle)

Colours & textures (photo by Littlelle)

Don't know which one to choose! (photo by Littlelle)

Could pass hours here (photo by Littlelle)

- Exploring Ria Formosa

De Tavira a Faro, com uma extensão de cerca de 60 km, fica o Parque Natural da Ria Formosa! Podes explorar a região e conhecer a flora e fauna local, como o flamingo ou o camaleão, bem como os vários canais, sapais, salinas e ilhas que a compõem! As ilhas deste parque são a Ilha de Faro, as ilhas da Barreta, Deserta, Farol-Culatra, ilhas da Armona-Fuseta, Ilha de Tavira, Cabanas e Península de Cacela. Por exemplo, a partir de Faro podes encontrar várias agências que te permitem fazer um passeio de um dia por várias ilhas.

From Tavira to Faro, with an extension of about 60 km, is located the Natural Park of Ria Formosa! You can explore the region and get to know the local flora and fauna, such as the flamingo or the chameleon, as well as the various channels, salt marshes and islands that compose it! The islands of this park are the Island of Faro, the islands of Barreta, Deserta, Farol-Culatra, islands of Armona-Fuseta, Island of Tavira, Cabanas and Cacela Peninsula. For example, from Faro you can find several agencies that allow you to take a day trip through several islands.

River side in Tavira Island (photo by Littlelle)

Ria Formosa swamps (photo by Littlelle)

- Marina de Vilamoura by night

O clássico passeio nocturno algarvio. Vilamoura e seus luxos estão reunidos na sua Marina, a primeira e mais famosa marina portuguesa! Iates luxuosos, restaurantes, bares e lojas preenchem este sítio repleto de lifestyle.  

The classic night walk in Algarve take you to the Marina de Vilamoura. Vilamoura and its luxuries are gathered in its Marina, the first and most famous Portuguese marina! Luxury yachts, restaurants, bars and shops fill this place full of lifestyle.

Glamorous café (photo by Littlelle) 

A drink later (photo by Littlelle)

Se a tua cena é mesmo praia espreita a publicação 5 Beaches that you can't miss this summer in Algarve

If you are just looking for beach, see the following post 5 Beaches that you can't miss this summer in Algarve

That's Algarve! (photo by Littlelle)