Towns, Villages and Day Trips:
The village most close is Moncarapacho (3 km) with typical little grocery shops and a small rural market. Fresh bread is available daily from the local bakery. You find the perfect place to drink a bica (Portuguese espresso) on the main square in front of the Matriz Church. The village Estoi lies 4 km away in the opposite direction. It is famed for the Roman ruins of Milreu and the cursed Palacio de Estoi (Estoi Palace) with its beautiful blue tiling (azulejos). Going towards the coast you enter Olhão (9 km) with its old Moorish-style town centre and markets where you can buy freshly-caught fish, fruit, and vegetables. Faro (20 km), Fuseta (7 km) and Tavira (17 km) are also worth a visit. For a day trip, however, Seville (approx. 2 hour drive) or other places in Spanish Andalucia, can be recommended. There is a huge choice of possibilities and we will be happy to put together a selection for you when you make your booking.
Beaches:
The coast is characterized by miles of secluded, sandy beaches with magical lagoons - a unique natural landscape which is not yet to well known. The beaches on the Ilhas can be reached with a ferries running regularly, e.g. from Fuseta (7 km) to Praia da Fuzeta Mar, from Olhão (9 km) to Praia da Ilha do Faro, Praia da Ilha da Culatra, or to Praia da Ilha de Armona. You can travel by pontoon or narrow-gauge railway, e.g. Pedras d'el Rei (12 km) to Praia Barril and Praia da Santa Luzia. Finally, you may have a walk e.g. from Fuseta (7 km) to Praia da Fuzeta Vila or from Faro (17km) to Praia da Ilha do Faro, Cabanas (21 km) to Praia da Cabanas or Manta Rota (29 km) to Praia de Manta Rota and Praia Lota. Here too, you have a huge choice and we will be happy to put together a selection for you, once a booking is made.
Golf:
There is a huge choice available with around 30 public golf courses, many of which are regarded as amongst the best in Europe. Quinta da Ria and Quinta da Cima near Tavira (17 km) to the east are as close as Ocean Golf, Pinheiros Altos, Quinta da Lago or Ria Formosa, Royal Golf Course and San Lorenzo near to Vale de Lobo (20km) to the west. Some golfers even go for a round of golf at the Costa de la Luz courses - not all that unusual given that the Spanish border is only 39 km away.
