The Eastern Algarve, Faro and Spain::
The Eastern Algarve contains the Ria Formosa Natural Park and is an area of rolling hills, dunes and sand bars. Popular with the Portuguese, Dutch and Scandinavians, there are also quite a few British visitors and residents. Faro airport is only 45 minutes away.
Spain: Ayamonte (25 minutes car, 1 hour by train/ferry) is an attractive town. The Spanish resorts lie just beyond and extend to the Cota Doñana national park via Huelva and the ports of Columbus. Seville is a 150km but very fast drive (80-90 mins) on the motorway. Jerez is about 2 and a half hours and Cadiz, Ronda and the Costa del Sol 3-4 hours. River trips up the Guadiana between Spain and Portugal can be taken from Vila Real or Ayamonte.
Apart from the beach in Cabanas, there are numerous other beaches and resorts within easy reach, by car/public transport, in Spain, the East and West Algarve, and on the numerous islands including Tavira. The 'town' beach in Faro (just behind the airport) is well worth a visit (bus/car).
Tavira, Conceiçaõ and Cabanas::
Tavira: Historic and beautiful town with numerous churches and monuments also has excellent shopping facilities and many restaurants, cafés and bars. The Ilha Tavira beaches are a short boat-trip. The town is easily reached from Cabanas by car (4-5 miles, 10 minutes), bus or train (10 minutes), or taxi (5-7 Euro).
The turning right for Cabanas, 5 km (3 miles) east of Tavira, is off the N125 at Conceiçaõ opposite the Benamor golf course. From here it is just over a mile to the front at Cabanas which has numerous restaurants, cafés and bars, shops and a small supermarket with another at Conceiçaõ. Town beach is under 2 mins. walk from the apartment. The boats from here to the Atlantic beaches (2 minutes to cross the lagoon, 4 minute walk to the Atlantic) run every few minutes Mar-Oct. A boat also runs in winter.
Golf, sailing and other activities::
Sir Henry Cotton's Benamor golf course is 2 km (just over a mile) from the apartment to the north of the N125 at Conceiçaõ. Other courses are nearby at Quinta da Ria (2 miles, 2 courses with Quinta de Cima), Castro Marim (15 miles), with further courses within an hours drive in Spain and the Western Algarve. We recommend advance booking from 44 Euro (Benamor) or 26 euros (Castro Marim mid-summer) per round through Manor Houses of Portugal.
Tavira plays host to European championship and international sailing events most summers with a sailing club at Quatro Aguas (Tavira front) and marinas within easy reach at Vila Real and Ayamonte.
Golf:
Sir Henry Cotton's Benamor golf course is 2 km (just over a mile) from the apartment to the north of the N125 at Conceiçaõ. Other courses are nearby at Quinta da Ria (2 miles, 2 courses with Quinta de Cima), Castro Marim (15 miles), with further courses within an hours drive in Spain and the Western Algarve. We recommend advance booking from 44 Euro (Benamor) or 26 euros (Castro Marim mid-summer) per round through Manor Houses of Portugal.
Other Activities:
beach-combing, bird-watching, river trips
