Local activities in and around Moncarapacho.:
The Eastern Algarve has to offer miles of golden sand beaches offering the best in Portugal with the warmest water and still unspoiled by mass tourism. It is one of the sunniest place in Europe with over 3000 hours sunshine per year. You will also find the Portuguese friendly, kind and helpful people. Portugal is a safe place with no health or security risks.
From the Moncarapacho/ Olhao/ Estoi area you can enjoy wonderful unspoiled countryside and fantastic beaches including beach islands some within 15 min drive.
Why not try some of the Eastern Algarve golf courses many within 10-25 min of the villa. Championship courses like Cima, Castro Marim, Benamor, Ria and also a 9 hole par 3 just outside Moncarapacho at Colina Verde. There are an additional 5 more courses 20/25 min away in Ayamonte on Spanish border.
Moncarapacho is just 5 min away by car with shops, supermarkets, bars, restaurants, petrol station, internet café, pharmacy, doctors, dentist, banks, churches and museums
The villa is within easy distance of Tavira – regarded as the loveliest town in the Algarve with the 4th best beach in Europe.
Also only 10 min drive to Olhao with shopping, markets and some of the finest fish restaurants in the area. Pronounced ‘ol-ee-ow’, Olhao is a busy modern town with a gem of a waterfront. Its fishing port is the most important in the eastern Algarve and its fish market is the biggest. It also has many shops, restaurants and an entire summer festival devoted to sea food. Ameijoas – the king of clams is both grown and eaten in abundance and is a ‘must-try’ entrée, as are conquilas.
Olhao is very Portuguese, very Algarvian and very un-touristic. The pedestrian shopping area winds in cobbled streets through the Moorish-looking old town to the waterfront with its markets (fruit, veg, meat, deli as well as fish), its cafes, parks and sparkling views out over the Ria Formosa lagoons.
From the pier, you can take boats or a water taxi to the island villages and beaches of Armona, Culatra and Farol – all great beaches and great day trips taking only 5 to 10 min to reach. The official visitor centre for the Ria Formosa nature reserve is just outside Olhao. Its worth a visit to see: the restored tidal mill (of which there were once many in the Ria Formosa), the bird life, and the chance to spot the very rare symbol of the park, the Purple Galinule.
For the Sea Food festival in August, half of the water front gardens are closed off and turned into a massive gastronomic and entertainment delight. The sea food is plentiful and excellent, the entertainment is top class and the organisation great. It’s a hugely popular event and deservedly so. Don’t miss it if you are here at the time. The area is ideal for all sorts of sports including fishing, golf, tennis, horse riding, walking, bird watching, beach or lake side relaxation, swimming with dolphins or even a winter sun.
