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Tavira, 8-day Self-guided walking tour in the Algarve, Portugal

Tavira, 8-day Self-guided walking tour in the Algarve, Portugal
Whitewashed village in the East Algarve
Walking in the East Algarve green countryside
View to the Caldeirao Mountains in the East Algarve walk
Azure lagoons of the Ria Formosa Natural Park

Be Cool Travel’s certified guides will provide you with all the tools and logistics for this 8-day self-guided walking tour in the spectacular and famous Algarve in Portugal, taking in the truly amazing beaches and coastline, open and idyllic countryside and historical villages and towns such as Tavira.

Private

8 Days

All year

Intermediate

Beginner


Highlights

  • Explore the stunning, spectacular Algarve coast in Portugal!
  • Discover the underrated and quiet countryside away from the coast
  • Walk around the many quaint towns and villages that dot the landscape
  • Go right up to the border with Spain
  • Swim at the wide array of truly amazing beaches!

Description

Join us on this astonishing and incredible 8-day self-guided walking tour in the Algarve, Portugal, as we base ourselves in the pretty town of Tavira_, “the Venice of the_ Algarve_”,_ and head out each day to a new location to walk around and explore, from the world famous beaches and coastline, quaint and picturesque farmland, countryside and villages, magnificent and peaceful waterfalls and waterways, and Mediterranean islands off the coast.

The town of Tavira is located on the Algarve coast in Portugal, not far from the border with Spain, and has a rich and fascinating history dating back to the Bronze Age.

We meet on the first morning at Faro Airport, and from there we head to the hotel, where information and logistics for the week will be dispensed such as vouchers, emergency contact numbers and walking maps.

From day 2 onwards we then start walking, as we head to the different areas each morning and let you walk the routes at your own pace.

Some of the highlights of the week include Cacela Velha, a gorgeous village along the coast and nearby to epic sandy beaches, Ceramica Walk, a route through a valley entailing visiting family-owned tile factories and marveling at the orange and lemon orchards, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, a town on the banks of the Rio Guadiana (the border with Spain) featuring pine woodlands, and Santa Luzia, featuring one of the finest beaches in the world and an abundance of brilliant cafes and restaurants.

Over the course of the week you will also encounter a wide variety of exotic and local flora and fauna, and take in the under-appreciated countryside, overshadowed as it is by the awesome coastline. The food and drink is a key facet of life here, and there will be ample time to sample both.

We finish after 8 days having explored one of the most phenomenally beautiful areas on earth, and had a whole lot of fun doing it.

Walking around the Algarve is a great pleasure in life – book now to experience!

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Transport during the trip
  • Transportation start and back

Price details

  • Date A 02/01/23 to 25/03/23 | 01/11/23 to 15/12/23
  • Price per person in a twin room 812,50 €
  • Date B 26/03/23 to 25/05/23 | 01/10/23 to 31/10/23
  • Price per person in a twin room 864,50 €
  • Date C 26/05/23 to 25/06/23 | 16/09/20 to 30/09/23
  • Price per person in a twin room 1046,50 €
  • Date D 26/06/23 to 15/09/23
  • Price per person in a twin room 1293,50€
  • Prices details
  • • Please note that all trips require a minimum of two participants.
  • • The prices are per person in a twin room.
  • · For a single room please contact us.
  • · Extra nights are available upon request.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tavira

Individual arrival to Faro Airport or Faro Train station.

Day 2: Walk Cacela Velha and Cabanas

An easy walk, close to the coast, starting in the beautiful old village of Cacela Velha, following tracks and quiet lanes to the picturesque old fishing village of Cabanas.

Here fishermen still continue their craft, mixing harmoniously with the visitors crossing to the island and the golden beaches. Here too we can rest, enjoy good food and drink whilst enjoying the sunshine by the colourful waterfront. We continue back to Tavira, through the saltpans where we may see an abundance of wild life along with the traditional craft of salt extraction.

Day 3: Cerâmica walk

A beautiful walk going down a fertile valley, dotted with the occasional small family operated traditional tile factories. We pass through small holdings where vegetable plots share space with olive, carob, almond and fig trees. This rich valley also has an abundance of orange and lemon orchards whose flowers perfume the air while the profusion of wild flowers delights the eyes. The walk takes us past the local beauty spot of Pêgo do Inferno and then brings us right back into Tavira and the hotel.

Please be aware that you may encounter dogs on the loose, which are used to guard the properties in rural areas.

Day 4: Free day

This is an ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy the attractions of Tavira and surroundings. You can walk/tour independently, or visit local places of interest. From Tavira there is a wide variety of sightseeing available (we can advise and/or recommend options according to your interests). On free time keen bird-watchers may wish to visit Castro Marim in the fens and marshes of the “Reserva Natural do Sapal”, famous for their flamingos, or enjoy other local sightseeing tours.

Day 5: Altura to Vila Real de Santo António

A very enjoyable walk along the coast to the frontier with Spain. We start in the resort village of Altura and meander along small paths through the pine woodlands and along pristine beaches until we reach the estuary of the Rio Guadiana that separates Portugal from Spain.

The walk finishes in the charming town of Vila Real de Santo António with a fascinating history and architecture.

The adventurous may wish to take the ferry across the river to the town of Ayamonte in Spain to enjoy some tapas in the many cafés of this attractive town.

Day 6: Fuzeta to Tavira

A fascinating walk to the west of Tavira. We start in Tavira and end in the fishing village of Fuzeta with its bustling waterfront, crossing saltpans full of bird life, small hamlets with colourful houses and gardens, grand villas and tiny small holdings. We can stop en route at little cafés fronting the tranquil waters of the Ria or even lunch on wonderful fish and shell fish fresh in that day.

Day 7: Santa Luzia & Tavira Island

A real treat as we walk along one of finest beaches in the world and visit the small fishing village of Santa Luzia with its abundance of fishing boats bobbing in the gentle waters of the channel. Not just a day’s walking but a real day’s holiday as well!

The cafés and restaurants here vary from simple to gourmet level and can offer all the local specialities.

This circular walk from and returning to Tavira crosses to Tavira Island via local ferry/water taxi and returns to the mainland on a floating pontoon bridge.

Day 8: Individual departure or extra days

At convenient time transfer to Faro Airport or Faro Train station.

 

Details

More info

From 26/03/2019 - 25/05/2019 and 01/10/2019 - 31/10/2019 Price per person in a twin/double room: €735. Price per person in a single room: €935. Minimum of 2 people per booking.

From 25/05/2019 - 24/06/2019 and 15/09/2019 - 30/09/2019 Price per person in a twin/double room: €895. Price per person in a single room: €1175. Minimum of 2 people per booking.

PAYMENT POLICY Full payment 30 days before arrival - 100%

Information pack includes: Accommodation, transfer and Taxi vouchers, emergency contact numbers, hotline for any problem during your stay, general information on your holiday, walking maps, foreign office travel advice

Please bring with you: walking boots with ankle support, sunscreen and sunglasses, waterproof clothing, GPS device, water bottle, towel and swimsuit, mosquito repellant

Meeting point

Faro Airport, Portugal

FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration
Hotel Oriental Portimão Portugal
See rooms
Jupiter Algarve Hotel Portimão Portugal
See rooms
Hotel Algarve Casino Portimão Portugal
See rooms

About the guide

Guide profile image

Be Cool

We are Portugal's most trusted walking and cultural company and have been providing services to clients from all over the world for more than 10 years.

All of our trips are fully customisable. We can always work with you to put together exactly what you had in mind. We will listen to you and take care of all the planning and logistics using our local expertise and contacts.

Based on experience, we know that many groups like to mix their activities with some more leisurely aspects, such as good food and cultural highlights. We are happy to put that together for you as well.

Contact us for a truly memorable experience in Portugal!

Languages

Portuguese | English


What people are saying about Explore-Share

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Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

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Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

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Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

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