Algarve
Why go?
The combination of abundant sun and sand brings hundreds of
thousands in each year and the low-cost airlines have caught on and
now fly in. Most people stick to the coast, and even though the
central strip between Faro and Albufeira is now fairly developed,
it’s still possible to escape the hordes at Sagres to the
west, Tavira to the east and the hills beyond the motorway.
The west coast north of Sagres is a national park, with no
development at all and is popular with surfers, who come for the
Atlantic rollers that break onto its wild beaches. There are surf
schools along the coast, so come to try your hand. At Ria Formosa,
a small archipelago of lagoon islands stretches east for 50km from
Faro to the Spanish border. The islands are ringed by sand and rich
in birdlife. Some are connected to the mainland by bridges, others
serviced by water taxis, and even in high season you can find a
strip of sand all to yourself. Up in the hills, the old spa town of
Monchique is a graceful alternative to the beach and offers fine
woodland walking. You can ride in the hills, play golf all along
the coast, dig into an abundance of fresh seafood or stop for a
cooling ale in the seafaring village of Sagres, which brews the
country’s favourite beer.
Any Downsides?
Be warned: the sheer numbers of people coming into the Algarve over summer create the usual problems - delays at the airport, traffic jams on the roads, fully-booked restaurants and beaches packed with tourists. Parking can be extremely difficult in high season and you might find your sanity best served by staying out of the towns in the evenings. The encroaching development is also a problem, though for the moment only the central belt is affected.