One of the best experiences in Europe for me, is the Algarve coast in southern Portugal. I have been several times and it never stops to surprise me. The sun kissed rugged cliffs overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, the never-ending natural caves, sinkholes, and arches formed by thousands of years of waves and winds eroding the limestone. On top of this, the coast offers some of the world’s best beaches!
Guest post by Linn Haglund (more about author in the end of the post)
Exploring the Algarve Coast
For me, nature is mainly what attracts me to a place, and the Algarve has such a stunning natural scene. I love taking my time walking around exploring new corners, figuring out what is behind the next corner. And you know what? If there is a hole in the wall, you should definitely enter. By being curious and walking in every cliff opening I’ve found, I’ve discovered intriguing tunnels leading to secluded beaches otherwise only possible to reach by kayak or stand up paddleboard. By staying in the quaint town of Lagos, things to do are endless! You have stunning beaches just walking distance from your hotel and some of them are surely among the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
One of my favorite spots on the Algarve coast is Ponta da Piedade. In the outskirts of Lagos, you find these incredible rock formations that stand out from the rest of the coast. The site is quite touristy, but as I prefer traveling off season, it is usually not too bad as long as I go early in the morning or just before sunset. There is a boardwalk from Ponta da Piedade which takes you along the cliffs on one side, and a narrow path on top of the cliffs going towards Lagos. You can walk for hours along the trails getting lost in the beauty of the mighty cliff side.
Activities
For me, the Algarve coast is all about flip flops, water sports, discovery, and did I mention the amazing hiking in Portugal? My favorite hike on the Algarve coast is without a doubt the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail which goes from Carvoeiro to one of the most mesmerizing beaches on the coast, Marinha beach. Along the trail, you pass natural swimming holes, natural caves, tunnels, massive sinkholes invaded by powerful, smashing waves, natural arches, and loads of gorgeous beaches.
Algarve is the place to learn how to surf, it’s the place to go chasing the perfect wave at sunset. Algarve is also a beautiful place to go scuba diving! With all the natural caves, tunnels, and arches above water, how do you think it looks under water? There is a huge biodiversity in the marine life along the Algarve Coast and scuba diving there is just as exciting as exploring the coast by boat or by foot.
If you have time enough, you can even take a kayak or stand up paddleboard from Benagil beach to the fascinating Benagil cave. This is without a doubt one of the biggest attractions on the Algarve Coast. The naturally formed cave has a lovely sandy beach inside, only lit up by the bright sunlight flowing through a huge sinkhole in the cave ceiling. The best time to go there is early morning before the tourist boats start to run. Even though the boats are not allowed to drop people off on the beach, they do get quite close to the beach and it loses a bit of the magic with 4-5 boats queueing up by the beach to let the tourists flash photos of their photos.
Where to stay
I like to stay in Lagos when in Algarve. I love the chill vibe the town has. Just enough life to enjoy having a drink at night and just quiet enough not to scare me away (in general, I don’t like cities – sort of prefer wild camping and bon fires, yes, I’m one of those!). I think one of the reasons why I enjoy Lagos and the Algarve coast so much is the number of surfers and van travelers. People are in general more relaxed and up for enjoying nature in one or another way. At least, that’s what I have experienced.
I also only have good experiences traveling with my dog on the Algarve coast. It can be challenging to travel with a dog in certain places, but people in Portugal have always been very friendly towards her and I have never come upon any negative experiences taking her with me. And that’s super important for a dog mum!
Conclusion
There is no doubt traveling around the Algarve Coast is one of the best experiences I’ve had in Europe! It’s a place that has it all! At least for a nature nerd and outdoors enthusiast like me. With so many activities to do I could stay there for a year or two without getting bored and I’m sure I would still discover new, exciting corners every single day!
Author’s BIO
Linn Haglund has mainly traveled and lived abroad after finished studies in Tourism and Communications. This made her well aware of the negative effects travel can have on locals, wildlife, and the environment. For this reason, Brainy Backpackers was born, a travel blog to help travelers explore this amazing world in a responsible way.
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