Discover how to experience Portugal's Algarve beyond the beach

Yoga at Viceroy at Ombria Algarve. Image credit: Letizia Cigliutti

 

Sailing, watersports and wildlife-watching are all popular pastimes, and there’s no shortage of local operators to take clients on to the water. 

 

AlgarExperience sets sail from the resorts of Albufeira, Portimão, Lagos and Vilamoura with a thrilling choice of excursions on boats, catamarans and ribs.

 

Dolphin-spotting is top of the list, with excursions featuring a fun commentary offering information on the bays, caves, rock formations, wildlife and celebrity homes you pass; tickets can include an open bar and beach barbecue.

 

Those who prefer keeping their feet on solid ground might enjoy walking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, which hugs the coastline for four miles from Praia da Marinha to Carvoeiro, with vertigo-inducing viewpoints ideal for selfies (just don’t get too close to the edge).

 

It’s best to hike the sun-baked path out of peak season, when temperatures are cooler, but clients can dip in to plenty of quiet bays to admire dramatic scenery without walking the whole route.

 

Inland, off-road adventures await in the Monchique mountains. During a 4x4 tour with local provider Geographic Algarve (which works with UK agents), I was blown away by panoramic views on the steep, cliff-edge climb, steadying any nerves with the odd nip of local firewater Medronho brandy and honey-sweetened Melosa liqueur.

 

Lunch, featuring a host of Algarve specialities, is also included at a mountain restaurant.

 

Where to eat in the Algarve

Culatra Island

 

It would be hard to beat that meal in the mountains – except with lunch and a wine tasting under a 2,000-year-old olive tree at Morgado do Quintão, a family-run estate dating from the early 19th century.

 

After an inspiring tour of the vineyard, we sat at picnic tables to relish three of the vineyard’s wines, accompanied by generous sharing platters of local specialities.

 

The port of Olhão was once known for its canning factories and fishing industry. Foodie operator Portugal4U offers Seafood from the Island guided tours from €135, starting at the vibrant Olhão Market, where fresh seafood, bunches of aromatic herbs and locally made jams abound. 

 

Clients then sail through the Ria Formosa Natural Park to Culatra Island to meet sustainability ambassador Silvia Padinha, who helps keep oyster harvesting alive for local fishermen.

 

Where to stay in the Algarve

Pousada Palacio de Estoi

 

Tavira is a laid-back town with sleepy streets and squares, where craftsmen still sell their traditional wares of lace and pottery. 

 

Boutique hotel Palacio de Tavira opened last year behind the facade of an old mansion house. Step inside for an award-winning restaurant, or check in to its beautifully designed rooms with rooftop plunge pools, outdoor showers and minibars filled with locally made treats.

 

In the rolling citrus groves outside Faro, pretty-in-pink Pousada Palacio de Estoi is a gem of a hotel set in a former palace, with ornate rococo lounges, formal gardens, bedrooms with terraces in a contemporary wing and a rooftop pool looking out across lush countryside. 

 

Only a 30-minute transfer from Faro airport, it provides peace and tranquillity – and would be the ideal location for an intimate wedding or honeymoon.

 

Half an hour from Vilamoura, the five-star Viceroy at Ombria Algarve is situated in the Barrocal plain, between the Mediterranean and mountains, and has been designed to mirror a hilltop village.

 

More than 140 rooms are built around a praça (main square), with four swimming pools, six restaurants and a kids’ club to discover. The four-storey spa with infinity pool, hairdresser, beauty salon and extensive treatment menu means clients can enjoy plenty of rest and relaxation.

 

For something more interactive, out-of-the-ordinary activities offered by the hotel include beekeeping, pottery making and a horse-riding trip with a picnic lunch. The nearby town of Loulé is home to a lively market, as well as a castle and cathedral.

 

Rest assured, beach shuttles are also provided for those who still crave sun, sea and sand – but clients who come here will realise there’s much more to the Algarve than its coast.

 

 

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Book it

 

Sunvil offers four nights’ B&B at Pousada Palacio de Estoi from £1,142 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Gatwick on September 23.
sunvil.co.uk

 

A seven-night stay at Palacio de Tavira with easyJet holidays starts at £1,328 per person. The price, which is based on two sharing, includes breakfast, 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Liverpool on April 5.
easyjet.com/holidays

 

Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B at Viceroy at Ombria Algarve from £1,199 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes flights from Gatwick on November 3 and transfers.
kuoni.co.uk

 

 

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5 dishes to eat in the Algarve

 

Pastel de nata

 

These custard-filled puff pastries are a staple Portuguese sweet treat and are widely available across the Algarve, from bakeries to breakfast buffets.

 

Cataplana

 

This rich stew is slowly simmered in a traditional clam-shaped, copper cooking pot – locking in the flavours of fish, sweet pepper and white wine.

 

Piri piri chicken 

 

Forget Nando’s – this spicy dish was said to be conjured up in Guia village in 1964, using piri-piri chillis, oil, garlic and seasoning.

 

Torta de laranja 

 

An orange-flavoured sponge dessert made with egg, flour and lots of juicy citrus fruit, shaped to resemble a Swiss roll.

 

Seafood 

 

Oysters, clams and many species of fish thrive in the estuaries of the Ria Formosa and Alvor – a drizzle of oil and lemon or a sprinkle of herbs and salt will elevate any meal.

 

 

 

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Top tip

 

Learn more about selling the Algarve by taking a free agent training course with OTT
onlinetraveltraining.com

 

 

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Sports tourism in the Algarve

 

The Algarve is becoming an increasingly popular destination for sports fans. The Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix returns to Portimão’s Algarve International Circuit in 2027 after a six-year hiatus, while the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix takes place there this November.

 

Golf lovers can enjoy a new PGA Tour Champions Circuit event, the Portugal Invitational, at the Els Club Vilamoura from July 31 to August 2. Vilamoura will also host the inaugural Algarve Marathon on December 6.

 

The region is home to multiple walking festivals in spring, while each Sunday, there are free guided walks along the Via Algarviana (dates and distances at viaalgarviana.org).

 

For details and trade resources, go to visitalgarve.pt/en

 

Algarve International Circuit. Image credit: AIA

 

Lead image credit: Bruno Carlos