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Portugal: The Hidden Algarve

Dates: Custom departures for groups of 6 or more.
Price: Determined by group size; please call for rates.
Includes 6 dinners with wine, 2 picnics, and all breakfasts.
Terrain: Gentle to moderate paths and trails;
options of 4 to 9 miles per day.
Arrive: Faro Airport
Depart: Lisbon Airport

Its name is practically synonymous with Portugal, conjuring up images of golden sands lapped by azure waves. Sun-lovers from around the world have long been drawn to southern Portugal's famed resorts. We'll leave the tourist crowds behind as we seek out the hidden landscapes, secluded beaches, and fascinating history that are the Algarve's best-kept secrets.

Our discoveries begin along the Algarve's east coast, as we walk along the deserted strands and natural lagoons of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. In the west, we'll marvel at ochre-hued limestone cliffs that have eroded into sea stacks, blowholes, and natural bridges. Inland, we'll hike through foothills planted with almond, carob, and fig trees, stopping to visit tiny whitewashed villages crowned by distinctive filigreed chimneytops. Our in-town walks reveal places of surprising importance in the heyday of the Roman, Moorish, and Portuguese kingdoms. From the sandstone fortress of Silves, the Moors ruled their flourishing Algarve until defeated by medieval Crusaders in 1253. Prince Henry founded his 15th-century navigational school at Sagres, and many Voyages of Discovery set sail from nearby Lagos. Here too the royal lineage of Portugal met its demise in 1578, when 24-year-old King Sebastião launched a disastrous war in Morocco, then mysteriously disappeared.

In contrast to its exciting history, the Algarve is famed today for its easygoing way of life. Our accommodations are especially chosen to reflect the local ambiance, and include countryside quintas, a former Capuchin convent, and a seaside pousada where each room has a magnificent Atlantic view. Bountiful outdoor markets are still part of daily life here, and fresh prawns, sea bass, monkfish, and turbot are staples of evening menus.

While the inviting climate of southern Portugal attracts visitors year-round, the best times to hike are in the spring and fall. Spring arrives early in the Algarve, and in early April the wildflowers are already in full bloom. October finds the beaches quiet, the temperatures mild, and the countryside softened by the subtle hues of golden wheat fields and blushing grapevines.

Portugal Walking Tours
Hidden Algarve Itinerary
Day 1: Mid-day van transfer from Faro Airport to Tavira , for a two-night stay at a former 17th-century convent. After lunch, we'll tour the Moorish ramparts. An optional warm-up walk visits the Ilha de Tavira, part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Welcome dinner.

Day 2: Two diverse hikes, as we follow the beach at low tide to the gleaming white town of Caçela Velha for lunch, then explore the foothills to Malhada do Peres, an ancient stone village set amidst olive groves, oleander, and wheat fields. We'll dine overlooking the "Four Waters" where the Ria Formosa delta meets the sea.

Day 3: Free morning in Loulé, famous for its traditional market and copper and leather craftsmen. Our afternoon walk meanders along a beautiful stream valley lined by rock roses, cork trees, and rush reeds. En route we'll meet a traditional basket maker. Two-night stay at the Quinta da Varzea, a country manor house in Querença.

Day 4: We head deep into the countryside of the Barrochal, stopping to visit picturesque mountain hamlets in Alte and Salir. Our hike ascends the Rocha da Pena, a huge cliff dominating the valley, with remnants of Iron Age walls and a view stretching to the coast. An end-of-the-day hiking option follows a ridge with three old windmills for a great sunset view.

Day 5: A dramatic coastal walk explores deserted beaches, fossilized cliffs, blowholes and sea stacks near Senhora da Rocha. After lunch, we'll transfer to historic Silves to visit the Moorish fortress and a contemporary tilemaker on an afternoon walking tour through town. Our hotel in Lagos has lovely marina views.

Day 6: Free day in Lagos for shopping and a walking tour of the Old Quarter. Take an afternoon siesta on the beach or join us for a boat cruise through the sea grottoes. Two-night stay at the Pousada do Infante in Sagres , with five-star views of the ocean and towering cliffs of São Vicente.

Day 7: Our finale follows the lands' edge through the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo to the majestic Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point in Europe! Farewell dinner at the Pousada.

Day 8: Van transfer to Lisbon Airport for early afternoon flights.

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