9. Algarve : Rocky coast and hinterland in a Volvo 4X4
We will pick you up at your place of stay according to the pick-up area (Quarteira, Vilamoura, Albufeira and Armação De Pêra) and head to the beautiful town of Silves. On the way we will discover
the small chapel of Senhora Da Rocha, which is located on a cliff overlooking a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by yellow cliffs. Another natural site nearby that is well worth a visit is the majestic Albandeira Arch and its surroundings, which are a delight to the eyes of travellers, offering a grandiose spectacle at any time of the year.
In the middle of the morning, we arrive in the ancient capital of AL-Gharb (Silves).
During a walk, we will stroll through the narrow streets of the old town with its tumultuous past, dominated by a cathedral and the walls of the castle which is the symbol of the Arab occupation of the Algarve for several centuries. Depending on the season, the sky of Silves is the scene of a majestic sweep of storks, which you can easily observe on the roofs and chimneys of the houses.
We will continue on a beautiful track lined with eucalyptus trees along the lake of Funcho, where wild landscapes and a feeling of escape are mixed, several stops will allow you to admire this landscape of unique beauty.
We will reach the small authentic town of Sao Bartolomeu de Messines where you will have lunch (lunch not included) in a "churrasquiera", a real institution where you can enjoy a quality local cuisine with an excellent quality-price ratio. However, you have the possibility to bring your own lunch box if you wish.
After a walking tour in the "old Messines" which is not lacking in interest
we will go to Alte which is one of the most typical white villages in the south of Portugal. The atmosphere it exudes will be an immersion in the daily life of the hinterland. Its walking tour will be one of the highlights of the day.
Depending on the season, you will enjoy the bathing pool with its transparent spring water or you will discover a bucolic waterfall with a postcard look, located below a stream.
At the end of the day, we will take a track in the heart of the Algarvian Barrocal that climbs through centuries-old olive trees, orange and carob trees before climbing with the 4X4 on a hill that reveals magnificent panoramas of the countryside as well as an abandoned hamlet where time seems to have stopped. We will share a moment of conviviality around an aperitif in the heart of this unusual place, a testimony of a bygone era, before bringing you back to your place of stay with unforgettable memories.