Carvoeiro, a great family destination for your holidays in the Algarve
Written on : 24 September 2019 By : Melchior Burin des Roziers
Welcome to a picturesque seaside resort south of Lagoa and east of Portimão. The village of Carvoeiro is a concentration of everything you would want to see when visiting the Algarve: a quiet little corner with golden sandy beaches and turquoise water between superb spectacular cliffs. A family destination to discover at any time of the year! We have prepared a guide for a few of the must-see attractions in Carvoeiro - take a look!
Carvoeiro offers superb beaches for holiday-goers, who have nothing to envy to their neighbours on the Algarve coast. Of course, we can mention Praia do Carvoeiro or Praia de Benagil, but above all Praia da Marinha which has been classified in the Michelin Guide among the 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and the 100 most beautiful in the world! In 1998, the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment even awarded it the "Golden Beach" award for its exceptional natural qualities. Go admire its splendid cliffs bathed in crystal clear water, you will not be disappointed!
On the list of your thing-to-do, add walking on the footbridge of Carvoeiro. This is your chance to get some fresh air and fill your lungs with pure sea air. You can quietly stretch your legs as you walk along the cliffs, facing the extraordinary ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see. We guarantee a magnificent show of colours!
If this makes you want to swim... it's time to take the plunge! As for water sports, you have a wide range of choices. Kayaking remains a great way to enjoy an excursion to local caves and other rock formations. In this case, you can leave Ferragudo after booking in advance! Otherwise, there is the paddle ride, which remains an excellent way to explore Benagil. On the beaches, thrill-seekers can practice surfing, especially at the Portimão surf school. Surfing in this beautiful part of Portugal is a great luxury that will make many envious!
Finally, we advise you to take the boat for a nice family excursion where you can observe the dolphins. From Ferragudo or Portimão, you will find enough to organize your sea trip. Slip into the water and enjoy time among these adorable creatures that swim and play around you - it’s a fascinating sight that will certainly delight both children and adults alike!
Carvoeiro and the surrounding areas are full of interesting places for visits and activities that appeal to the whole family.
Don't miss the Algar Seco caves and their amazing beauty. Below is Cape Carvoeiro, there you can admire these superb reddish rocks shaped by the sea. The Benagil cave is particularly striking for its explosive colours and its fantastic beach. Take this unusual trip with your family and marvel at this wondrous environment.
Another attraction to visit in the region: the Alfanzina lighthouse, open every Wednesday from 2pm to 5pm. At the top of a rocky promontory, this building, built-in 1920, has long been used to guide sailors at night. It also helped local fishermen fill up with squid in the dark, with the help of the artificial light. Go there when the sky is clear, so you can enjoy the panoramic view of the azure horizon from the coast.
Do you want to please your children? Visit the "Side & Splash", a water park located near Lagoa, which has 17 attractions and water slides where they can enjoy themselves. If you also want to have fun and show them that you can join in the fun too, then try the Kamikaze and its vertiginous descent on 20 meters! Between all of these adrenaline rushes, rest together on one of the many green spaces in the park and make sure to bring a picnic!
For those who prefer to relax with a round of golf, look no further. Carvoeiro has excellent courses over the sea. Vale de Milho is an interesting 9-hole par 3, designed by Dave Thomas (one of the greatest golf champions of the 1950s and 1960s who went on to become a golf course architect). There is also the Vale da Pinta and Gramacho, offering an 18 hole course and about ten minutes from Lagoa.
Finally, for adults who love good wine and are curious to discover the wonders of the land, there is the award-winning Quinta dos Vales wine estate, 10 minutes from the village. Plan a visit with friends as experts are there to guide you and answer your questions. The estate's bottles are served only in the finest restaurants in Portugal and exported to many countries. Quinta dos Vales has received more than a hundred medals since 2008, to honour the quality of their wines. The perfect sanctuary for wine enthusiasts!
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