Our regular guest author Luke Murray writes about his travel experiences in the Algarve.
The Algarve is as many people know a holiday location perfect for families and people looking for two things great weather and great beaches and whilst this can be found in the Algarve I believe it is so much more, a treasure trove that most people only scratch the surface of. There are your fair share of tourist heavy areas such as Albufeira and Vilamoura however even these have untold secrets just asking to be looked at and a great culture that is pleading to be discovered by the weary traveller.
The Beaches
Now you may be wondering why I put something so obvious as beaches at the top of my list of reasons why the Algarve is more than just a tourist trap. It’s because if you take a step away from the classics like Praia da Rocha and Praia da Oura you will find an absolute goldmine of character filled, culture, rich beaches such as the completely secluded tranquillity of Praia de Paraiso or even the unknown beaches to the west near Sagres. You may even want to check out the dinosaur graveyard that is Salema beach.
Camping
I believe that the Algarve is one of the best places to go camping and really explore the countryside as well as the stunning coastline. Some people feel that Portugal and in particular the Algarve is not a safe place to visit however I think this is a completely untrue statement as every time I’ve been camping or stayed in the Algarve I’ve encountered nothing but friendly faces and a welcoming atmosphere. Another reason I love camping in the Algarve is the fact that within a day you can go from stunning coastline to marvellous mountain ranges it really does have natural beauty.
The local people
To me the Algarve is the perfect place to go out and meet new people this can be said for a number of parts of the Algarve such as Faro all the way through to some of the small fishing villages. Talking to people from the Algarve has helped me to really learn more about their history as I came to learn from an old man in Tavira who told me the fishing industry really took a hit when tourism started to boom in the Algarve in the 60s.Its stories and facts like this that really make meeting new people so exciting and interesting.
The inland activities
Vast parts of the Algarve are far from the sea however most people only ever talk about the tourist favourite activities near the ocean such as jet skiing and a plethora of boat trips. I feel that there is just as much to do inland as there is by the coast for example you could take a tour of one of the local vineyards, see where the majority of the worlds cork is produced or even take horse riding lessons. So you really don’t have to be a salty seadog to enjoy all of the activities and days out the Algarve has to offer.
Handicrafts
A lot of tourist heavy places in the world are perfect for people to set up terrible shops that sell mass produced souvenirs, this is not the case with the Algarve and even in the most tourist heavy areas you are still likely to find something handmade or of significance. Who doesn’t like to take home something special from their travels?
Cuisine
The food in the Algarve is a thing of beauty if you find the right place, finding traditional Portuguese restaurants that serve up good tasty food is not hard especially if you stray further than the major towns and cities and look for restaurants in more rural areas as these are the ones that don’t cater to tourists thus meaning they serve up classic Algarve food as it should be.
Nature
As with many places that attract a lot of tourism on a surface level the Algarve does not seem that in touch with nature however hiding around the corner is a ark of animals that come in all shapes and sizes from rare endemic frogs in the wetlands near faro to dolphins in the rich waters of the coast of Lagos. As with many places I visit nature is always there it’s just about looking in the right areas.
History
The Algarve is brimming with great history; you only have to look at the amount of castles to notice that however it’s more than just castles and forts. The Algarve still bears the scars of its turbulent past under a number of different leaders and you can still see the damage that the earthquake of 1755 did. Whilst many historical sites are tourist friendly there are still many unsolved mysteries of the Algarve just waiting to be discovered so go and book yourself a flight today you will not regret it.