The Algarve coast

You will arrive in the pleasant village of Sagres, where you will start your cycling holiday. This village has a great importance in world history, this is testified by a multitude of historical events, stories and legends. The ruins of the 16th century Baleeira Fort, the magnificent fortress and the Mareta beach are some of the highlights to explore in the village.

Start your day exploring Sagres, one of the most prominent areas of the Algarve, with its exceptionally rich cultural heritage. The starting point is next to the lighthouse at Cape St Vincent – the most southwestern point in Portugal and Europe. At the lighthouse you can enjoy views of the sea and the steep cliffs that rise almost vertically from the Atlantic to a height of 75 metres.
Cycling along quiet roads, enjoy the passage through Vila do Bispo to visit its 18th century church and then through Raposeira to visit its 16th century church. Take a break at one of the traditional cafés and chat to the locals. As you cycle towards the coast, you’ll be greeted by a new landscape of green fields and gentle hills where pine trees are quite common. When you reach the coast, you will be greeted by a marvellous view of the sea.
In Salema, a small fishing village, you can enjoy a refreshing swim or stroll around and watch the traditional art of fishing. It is to highlight the passage through Boca do Rio, not only because of all the Lusitanian-Roman ruins that can be witnessed here, but also because of the magnificent landscape that surrounds you, such as a beach in the valley between two hills. During this part of the route, you will cycle on quiet little harmonious paths and roads with little movement. On Burgau beach, also known as the Portuguese Santorini, you can see how the locals use traditional fishing methods, such as Alcatruz, net fishing or hook fishing. While cycling on the Praia da Luz passage, you can take the opportunity to visit the church of Luz de Lagos, the ruins of the Roman baths or take a cooling dip in the sea. On a cycle path surrounded by views of the sea and cliffs, you will reach Ponta da Piedade. The day’s cycling ends with a trail along the Bensafrim stream, which finally takes you to the city centre of Lagos.
51 km

Start your day by exploring Lagos, a city that played a major role in the age of Portuguese discovery, as many of the ships left from the city. The parish church of Santa Maria, the church of Santo António, the Bandeira Fort and the municipal market are some of the highlights to explore in the city. You’ll start the day’s cycling on a cycle path that then turns into quiet trails until you reach Meia Praia, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Between roads and paths with little movement, you will cycle along an aquaculture area. When the tide is low, you can see countless shellfish collectors gathering both blue mussels and cockles. Take the opportunity to pass through Odiáxere and visit its 16th-century mother church. The way to Alvor is along a road with some wildlife, often storks in their nests. In Alvor, visit the Morabito de São Pedro, the municipal market. Cycle through the typical narrow streets, where we recommend a break for a drink or a good lunch at a typical Algarve restaurant, often serving fresh fish. The Alvor estuary is a highlight and offers extraordinary views. Enjoy the journey through Praia do Vau and its beautiful setting, flanked by smooth cliffs and irregular rock formations. Cycle along the coast with stunning views of the sea until you reach Praia da Rocha, where you can relax for the rest of the day.
31 km

The start of this stage is marked by a cycle path along the banks of the river Arade. Visit the Portimão Museum and discover the city’s strong connection to the fishing culture. Next to the river Arade, you find the village of Ferragudo, where you can immediately feel its fishing environment through the fishing boats on the river and the local fishermen on the pavement, preparing their fishing nets. We recommend a visit to the church of Ferragudo, where you have a great view of the mouth of the river Arade and the city of Portimão. The stage consists mainly of secondary roads and quiet paths, where olive, cypress, orange, pine, fig and cork oak dominate the vegetation. In Lagoa, we suggest a visit to the Mother Church, where you can have a well-deserved break to taste traditional Portuguese pastries, especially Florados from Lagoa. We also recommend a visit to the promontory of Senhora da Rocha, a place that was once a cult for Visigoths and Muslims, which has a stunning view of the sea and also a 16th century chapel. Cycling through Armação de Pêra means that in addition to enjoying its cultural heritage, you can also enjoy a great variety of beaches: Vale do Olival, Armação de Pêra or Pescadores. The passage through the Salgados lagoon is excellent for bird watching. In Albufeira, you can cycle through the winding streets, explore the various ‘hidden’ viewpoints between the white houses, contemplate the Portuguese charm and enjoy the seafood gastronomy that the city offers.
48 km

A day full of adventure and nature experiences awaits. You will cycle along a road with some traffic in the surroundings of Albufeira, where you have the opportunity of visiting the fishing village of Olhos de Água, to see a freshwater spring on the shore. The cycling along the small roads and quiet paths is mostly surrounded by pine, olive, cork, palm and sometimes some carob trees. Enjoy the passage on Falésia beach, Vilamoura beach or on any of the beaches of Quarteira. In Vilamoura, we recommend a visit to the ruins of the Roman villa and a break at the largest marina in the country, where you can observe a large scale of boats. In and around the typical fishing town of Quarteira, visit the fish market and cycle through the pine forests around the small lagoon of Foz do Almargem, with stunning views of the sea and the small cliffs. The passage through the luxury resort of Quinta do Lago connects you to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, one of Portugal’s Seven Natural Wonders. Here you can see several species of birds, such as the flamingo, western marsh harrier, azure-winged magpie and many more. We suggest a visit to Praia de Faro, a fishing village where the inhabitants keep old traditions alive. Here you will not only have extraordinary views of the sea and dunes, but also a stunning view of the Algarve mountains. Right next to the natural park, you will cycle on paths with little movement. Finally, you’ll reach the marina in the centre of Faro, where the end of the stage is marked.
48 km

Start your day exploring the capital of the Algarve. The village’s arches and cathedral are some of the highlights to be experienced in the famous ‘old town’ of Faro, which is partly surrounded by the walls built by the moors. The road to Olhão is partly made up of a road with movement and a path along the Ria Formosa Natural Park and its salt pans, with views of Deserta, the islands of Farol, Culatra and Armona. Visit this typical Portuguese town in the Algarve and explore its traditions. We recommend visiting the popular Mercado Municipal and the marina, where you can see a replica of the Caíque do Bom Sucesso boat. Cycling near the fishing harbour will give you a unique insight into the traditions and art of fishing. The route to Tavira is varied, with lightly trafficked roads between small towns and quiet paths, next to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, where the landscape is mainly characterised by olive trees, pines, fig trees and cacti. In the fishing village of Fuseta, you can take a closer look at the architecture of the classic white houses, with its typical roof terraces or enjoy a breathtaking view of the Ria Formosa while taking a refreshing swim on the beach. The route leads you through the salt pans of Fuseta – a place where you have the chance to see several bird species in their natural habitat, such as the flamingo, black-winged stilt and many others. Take a look at historical landmarks, such as the Tower of Aires, some Norias and a two-thousand-year-old olive tree.
In Santa Luzia, we suggest you visit the Barril beach – where you can find the well-known anchor cemetery, used in the past to fish tuna. Enjoy a good meal with typical dishes of the Algarve, here they are most famous for making octopus dishes. The end of the stage is marked on the Roman bridge, in the city centre of Tavira.
42 km

Today you can choose between three different lengths, depending on how much you want to cycle.
Start the day by exploring Tavira, one of the most beautiful and typical towns in the Algarve. Its beautiful castle, the Misericórdia church and the Camera Obscura are some of the highlights of the city. The stage starts at the Roman bridge and leads you to Cabanas de Tavira, where you cycle along the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is a 60 km long lagoon system. The route consists mostly of minor roads and quiet paths, where you can observe and visit some military defence points on the Algarve coast. You will pass through the small community of Cacela Velha, known for its strong Islamic culture. Visit the Mother Church, built on a primitive medieval building, the Cacela Fortress – where on the same site there was once a Moorish castle, where you now can enjoy the stunning views of the coast. While cycling along the coast, you can stop for a refreshing swim at Manta Rota beach, Altura beach, Praia Verde beach, Cabeço beach, Monte Gordo beach or Santo António beach. The route through the pine forest next to Monte Gordo beach continues through the ‘National Forest of the Dunes of Vila Real de Santo António’ until the Guadiana River, where the border between Portugal and Spain is marked, a great highlight of the day. You will then continue along the Portuguese shore of the Guadiana River, through the so-called ‘City of Enlightenment’ – Vila Real de Santo António. Visit the Marquês de Pombal square, the city’s parish and the regional market that spreads through the small streets of the city. The stay is once again in Tavira, so you can choose to return by train or bike. Although we recommend cycling the entire stage, in Vila Real de Santo António and in Castro Marim you have the option to return to Tavira by train. The route to Castro Marim consists of cycle paths until the Ravelin of Santo António, where you have outstanding views all around. We recommend visiting its castle, where you not only have an amazing history but also extraordinary views. The way back is on small roads between idyllic villages, fields of orange, lemon, persimmon orchards and vineyards, occasionally overlooking the sea. The end of the stage is cycled along the eastern bank of the Gilão River, to the centre of Vila Real de Santo António.
At the end of the day, choose between cycling back to Tavira or taking the train.

We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.