Walking the Algarve ESB

Itinerary – Walking in Algarve

Day 1: Arrival – Lagos
Pick up at Faro airport (Ryanair flight FR 7034 – departing Dublin at 9:30am arriving in Faro at 12:20pm), welcome by your guide and transfer (around 1h) to your 4* Tivoli Lagos Algarve Resort. The hotel is ideally located in Lagos centre, a charming harbour town with its stone paved streets. Near shops, restaurants and bars and also good access to very nice beaches (20 min walk from hotel). The West Algarve is still undiscovered and offers truly amazing nature walks.
Everyday two levels of walks will be offered, both with a professional mountain leader.
Dinner included

Day 2: Burgau to Lagos walk
Today a short transfer (20 min) will bring us to small village of Burgau. From there, a spectacular coastal walk will take us back to Lagos. It will give you the first taste of what Portuguese nature can achieve in terms of colours and landscapes. In addition to the beautiful sea views and surfer beaches other points of interest will lighten this day like Ponta da Piedade’s lighthouse and its most famous rock formations.
Breakfast, Picnic lunch & dinner included.

Day 3: Praia da Amado coastal walk
Transfer to the village of Carrapateira (40 min), take the quiet trails of the inner Algarve to the cliffs overlooking the West Coast and the beautiful sandy beach of Praia de Amado. Spectacular panoramic views of the ocean and coast. Finish in Carrapateira for a refreshing drink !
Breakfast, Picnic lunch & dinner included.

Day 4 : Praia do Zavial to Sagres walk
Transfer to Praia do Zavial (30 min) with its beautiful sweeping sandy beach and follow the coastal trails above eroded cliffs and quiet coves all the way to Sagres. This spectacular and landscape is at the most south western tip of mainland Europe.
The town of Sagres has a rich history ; along the road we will pass many standing stones or Menhirs, testifying to human settlement of the Algarve since Neolithic time.
Breakfast, Picnic lunch & dinner included.

Day 5: Free day
Visit the town and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Lagos.
Or if you feel more adventurous, take the train to Portimão where you can visit its museum located in an old cannery that dated back to the end of the 19th century showing this city’s culture and history, very much connected to cannery industry and maritime activities. Then you could admire the original gothic portal and the beautiful interior of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and just near the Jesuits Chruch and college, the most beautiful building of Portimão.
Breakfast included – Picnic lunch & dinner not incl.

Day 6: Serra de Monchique walk & Foia peak
Transfer to the village of Monchique (45 min) and walk through the volcanic mountain range of the Serra de Monchique on to the highest peak in the Algarve, the Foia at 902m. On a clear day from the peak you can see from Cape St. Vincent (and the Atlantic Ocean) in the west, to Faro in the east and to the Serra da Arrabida, near Lisbon.
Breakfast & dinner included – Picnic lunch not incl.

Day 7: Cabo St Vicente Nature Reserve walk
Transfer to the village of Vila do Bispo. You will follow the rota vicentina. The first part of the walk will be in the countryside easy walking and then you will reach the coast and the top of the cliffs overlooking Praia do Telheiro. Your walk will continue all the way to Cape St. Vincent the southwesternmost point of Portugal and of mainland Europe.
Breakfast, Picnic lunch & dinner included.

Day 8: FAREWELL!
Transfer in the morning to Faro airport (flight Ryanair FR 7035 leaving Faro at 12:55pm arriving Dublin at 3:45pm).
Breakfast included.