Our last group to explore the Algarve have put together this fantastic diary of their trip. Take a look and see how they got on.
Author & Images Andrew N
With our flight due to leave Bristol Airport at 10:15, we mostly arranged to leave our homes around 05:30 to arrive at the car parks for 06:30. There was 11 of us so we used 3 cars to park at the airport.
We duly checked in at 06:55 as the self-weigh and label bagging machines were already running. We went through the lovely new security scanners and went to the café for coffee/tea/snack or bacon roll.
We were called to departure gate at 09:45, but as we were about to start taxiing, the cabin crew requested 5 people from the back move to spare seats near the front as the plane was unbalanced! Nearly all our group were near the back, and Livvy volunteered to change seat. This was a fairly good move as a couple of rows in front of us were a rowdy group called Karen’s Diamond Tours. Some ladies from Wales with blue individual t-shirts on had booked a weekend/week break for Karen’s birthday. We will find out next week on our return …
The plane took off for the 2½ hour flight at 10:20, and arrived in a cloudy but warm Faro airport at 12:50.
The 2 minibuses left the airport at 14:00 for the 45 minute drive to our hotel Vila Galé Náutico at Armação de Pêra. It was drizzling on our arrival, and we went to our rooms. Some then went to Lidl ½ mile away to get some provisions for our walks, and arrived back a bit wet as it was now raining. Apparently this is the first rain they’ve had since January! One of our party went to the hotel snack bar and was assumed to be an all inclusive guest …
Dinner at 7pm with some chat from our guide João (John), who explained that we had wine & water included with our dinner if we sat in the allotted area for Involved Holidays. So we did.
After dinner there was entertainment “Dances of the World”, but most went to bed early due to the long day of travelling.
I was again looking forward to seeing many lizards on the rocks and walls, unlike last year in Mallorca where I saw none!
At last night’s walk briefing, and on our itinerary, today’s walk was set to leave on the bus at 08:30 from reception, so we all got up for an early breakfast at 07:00 – 07:15 when the restaurant opens.
With a large buffet selection, you’re not going to go hungry. Cereal, fruits, pastries, meats, cheeses and all sorts of eggs, bacon and other things.
Warm and sunny at 08:30, so it might be hot going for the walk starting from Praia da Luz. The plan was to walk the coast to Ponta da Piedade, then a short bus trip to Lagos to spend a couple of hours at this town for snacks or sightseeing.
John gave plenty of information about Portugal, the Albufeira region and the walk itinerary. As there were 31 of us, Domi joined the walk as a back marker – as she would do all week. She also had a lot of local knowledge.
We started at 09:30 from Praia da Luz, past the church where the world’s press gathered in 2007, walked through Luz and then on towards the obelisk with some info on local plants and snails! At the obelisk we saw blue & grey Magpies. After 3½ miles we arrived at Porto de Mos at 12:30 where we had a break for drink & snacks, though not sure whether to have an Expresso or Americano …We then continued the undulating walk to the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade. The bus arrived in Lagos at 14:25 where we had a couple of hours before heading back to our hotel. John gave us more info and some details about the remainder of the week.
The walk was 5½ miles in total with ascent 275m.
No lizards yet, but the week had only just began. I saw none in Mallorca last year, so have more hope this year.
The following few pages are pictures from Day 2.
Today started off sunny and warmer than yesterday.
Everyone had breakfast at various times, though a few were on the shuttle trip to Albufeirafor €10 leaving at 09:30. A few hours in the town followed by a choice: bus trip all the way back, or stop off at a lagoon to walk just over 2 miles along the nature reserve boardwalk, or broadwalk if you think it’s quite wide, and finish along the promenade back to the hotel.
Others did their own thing, like investigating the hotel offerings. There were events for most of the day or simply use the pool(s) and sunbathe in the warm weather.
One of the daily activities was a form of Pilates on a small grassy area next to the outdoor pool. Today just a couple of takers for the exercise using a knobbly ball. After was a swim in the indoor spa pool, much warmer than the fairly chilly outdoor pool. Then the obligatory few minutes in the Jacuzzi. The indoor spa pool was very quiet with just a couple of people using it, though it may depend on the time of day.
I went to Lidl to get a few provisions for the other walks and some bottled water.
Those that went to Albufeira arrived back early afternoon to see a member of staff get thrown into the main pool by the other staff, to the tune of the Macarena! This was because it was their last day. Makes you wonder what they do on someone’s first day.
The events organiser then announced face painting for the children or rubber ended archery …. There weren’t any takers as most people were lazing in the late afternoon sun before changing for dinner from 7pm.
The following few pages are pictures from Day 3.
A usual early breakfast as we had to be ready in the reception for the 9:00 bus ride to the start of our walk near Silves.
We set off at 09:05 and after dropping a couple of people off at the Silves Lidl, we started the walk at 09:50. It was warmer than yesterday and slightly more humid as there was very little breeze for this inland walk. On the way to the start of the walk, there were plenty of Storks in the fields and nests. Maybe they would be there at the end.
We started from the Mira Rio restaurant, then quickly found the Levada we were to follow for about 2 miles. It only had a small volume of water in it, probably due to the time of year and very little rain of recent months.
Many different fruit trees along the way, including oranges, bananas, prickly pear and quince –as well as a lot of mosquitos!
After about a mile, we saw a view of where two rivers meet, the Aradeand the Odelouca. The Araderiver meets the sea at Portimao. For a further mile, the Aradehad had lots of canoes and other boats being raced along it –which appeared to be a large canoe club. We had a drink break before heading quite steeply uphill along a track to the open countryside where there were great views and time for a quick breather before setting off for a further 40 minutes of a more gentle incline. We then had a rest in the shade to eat our lunches.
After lunch, we headed slightly downhill and had a look at some cork trees with John giving details on how they harvest them. We came to a small village with some interesting plants including what looks like velvet.
The bus took us the short distance to Silves where some went to the castle, but most went to the nearest bar as it was the hottest day so far. I walked a mile each way to see the Storks from this morning, but they had all flown away!
Leaving Silves at 15;30, we were back at our hotel after ½ hour where a few went to the pool area for a relax before dinner at 7pm
The walk was 4¾ miles and 130m ascent. Did I see a lizard?
The following few pages are pictures from Day 4.
Another hot and sunny day, and with a free day there was an optional walk to the mountains of Monchique –just €30 including return trip by bus.
There were plenty of Storks to see on this trip, as well as grape vines and traditional washing facilities. John had packed his wellies, which seemed a bit odd until the group came to a stream they had to cross. John helped everyone across the stepping stones whilst in the stream.
A random dog joined the group at lunch time and followed them back to their bus!
There was a little land train that stopped outside our hotel, and for €4 did a round trip of the town, allowing to get off and join a later train as it was an hourly service. This seemed pretty good value for money for the 6½ mile journey. It was ideal for getting to the cafes/restaurants at the far end of the promenade (about 2 miles away) if you didn’t want to walk.
Again there was Pilates on the grass by the pool. This was a daily event starting at 10:30 for 30 minutes, and today was with the knobbly ball. This is usually followed by main pool aquafit or other similar activity. Today was aquazumba to some upbeat music.
We had a dip in the spa pool, our lunch by the main pool and returned to our room to change to find 2 cockroaches in our room! It’s possible they were in there from last night as we did hear a strange noise …
A cup of tea from the snack bar followed by an hour sitting by the main pool before changing for dinner.
Tonight’s entertainment was Bingo at 21:30. I thought this might be popular, but none of our group went as they said they were too tired to try and translate the numbers from Portuguese. I think that sounds like an excuse.
The following few pages are pictures from Day 5.
A few high clouds early but sunny and warm later.
Breakfast early today as we had another 08:30 meeting in reception for our bus to the walk start point at Praia da Marinha.
The walk was to be a coastal undulating walk with some tricky sections needing your hands to help you through some of the rocky sections. There were plenty of sink/blow holes along the way as well as many wonderful cliff formations.
As the earlier clouds started to disappear around midday, it did get noticeably warmer as we had our lunch break under some trees for shade. After lunch there was a chance for some to stop their walk. This was after 3¼ miles of tricky terrain and now 12:30. About a third of the group decided to end their walk and were transferred to the end point by taxis. Another person did a further mile before getting a taxi.
The remainder continued in the sun meandering across fairly hard ground underfoot with uneven and steeper rocky sections.
The finish point was the coastal town of Carvoeiro where we arrived at 2:30pm to be greeted by those who had finished earlier. A well deserved large beer and a bowl of fries wasn’t going to be missed.
A street entertainer was just finishing a few songs and actually had the nerve to walk through the bar asking for money for his gig!
We arrived back at our hotel at 4pm, in time for a dip in the very cold outdoor pool and relax before changing for dinner at 7pm.
Tonight’s theme was Brazilian including the entertainment after dinner, though we didn’t stay to watch.
Although it may have seemed longer, the walk was 5.85 miles with almost 400m of ascent.
The following few pages are pictures from Day 6.
Our penultimate day, warm but with a slight cloud cover.
A few from the whole group have booked to go on the Catamaran for a 3 hour trip to see the caves and rock formations. It was €40 each including bus transport to Albufeira to catch the boat, so they had an earlier breakfast as the bus was leaving at 08:45.
After breakfast, a short wait until knobbly ball pilates–then a swim in the spa pool followed by a dip in the Jacuzzi.
Most of us had decided to take the land train to the far end of the promenade for coffee/beer and lunch. A few took the 10:35 train, I took the 12:35 train and we all met up at one of the restaurants.
The restaurant was quite near the end of the promenade where there are lots fishing huts & boats located. This is also where most of the washer sculptures are situated.
After a drink and light lunch for a couple of hours, we got the land train back to our hotel for one last laze and natter at the hotel pool.
John & Domi both joined us for dinner, and gave us final details about our various transfer times to Faro airport in the morning. Some were leaving at 7:40, but we had a more relaxed time of 10:20.
John had arranged for us to have Sangria tonight, with thanks from the Hotel manager.
The following few pages are pictures from Day 7.
The coach to take us to Faro airport was due to leave the hotel at 10:20, so we had plenty of time for our breakfast, and to reminisce over the week’s holiday.
It was fairly quiet as most of the other Involved Holidays guests had already left for their earlier flight. Our flight was due to take off at 13:30
Our coach came on time and we arrived at the airport at 11:00.
We were through bag drop and security by around midday, and had a coffee and a last Portuguese Tart in an airport café before going to our gate when called. The flight took off at 13:40 and after a very smooth journey we arrived in a cool Bristol at 16:10. A few people had spotted from the plane that the M5 looked very busy. (Karen’s birthday crowd were not on the plane).
After retrieving our bags from the carousel we were hearing some more about the M5 and that it was closed Southbound. Checking online showed that an accident had closed it between Weston & Burnham. All the other roads around were chock-a-block too, and as we needed to get to Bridgwater/Taunton –it didn’t look promising.
We left the car park at 17:20, and there was queue already on the A38. I followed my sat nav with traffic updates all the way, and we did keep moving. We were lucky and arrived home at 19:00, just 40 minutes later than a normal time.
Others weren’t quite so lucky, as a few didn’t get home until after 23:00 -almost 6 hours for a typical 1 hour journey.
A really wonderful trip, and our guides John & Domi were especially excellent, knowledgeable and very friendly. They always made the walks great to be on. For those not walking, John was always enquiring if they needed anything.
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