1. Marine Zoo

Marine Zoo is an excellent place to spend the day during your trip to Albufeira. If you are looking for things to do for the whole family on your Algarve luxury holiday, then you can’t go far wrong when you head to Marine Zoo. Packed full of marine creatures and birds, including seals, sharks, dolphins and birds of prey, there really is a whole world of excitement on offer. Fun is mixed with education, as kids learn all about endangered species and conservation issues. There is a huge aquarium, a 4D cinema showing environmental films, and lots of theme park rides as well, making it an excellent day’s entertainment on any Algarve luxury family holiday.

2. Sail on a Pirate Ship

The Algarve has a rich maritime history, and you can really get to experience the full thrill of that during your Algarve luxury holiday by taking a trip out to sea on a full-sized pirate ship. Operated by Dream Wave, the pirate ship is known as the Leãozinho, meaning the Little Lion.
When you head out on a tour you can choose to go for a two-hour tour or a half-day tour. You’ll visit beautiful spots along the coast, including sandy beaches and attractive rock formations. You are normally given the opportunity to go swimming in the sea, and often you will see dolphins as well. It all makes for a fantastic day out.

3. The Old Town

If you’ve been to the Marine Zoo and taken a trip on a pirate ship, the next thing you may want to do on your Algarve luxury holiday is to take a bit of a break and relax. The Old Town area is perfect for doing just that. With its quaint pedestrian cobbled streets, pleasant restaurants and bars, and numerous cafes, it is perfect for walking and relaxing. Evening is the best time to visit as the Old Town really comes to life. You’re certain to catch some street musicians performing, and there are plenty of shops to explore. If you are looking for interesting places to visit then there is the Archaeological Museum, but if you’d rather just chill out by the sea then there are a couple of pleasant beaches to choose from – Praia do Peneco, and Praia dos Pescadores (The Fisherman’s Beach), which is probably the most popular.

4. Beaches

Aside from the two beaches in the Old Town, there are lots of other beaches to explore in Albufeira. Whether you want to stay in the city, or you’d rather take a short drive to the outskirts for even more options, there are plenty of beaches where you can relax, hire an umbrella, lie on the sand or take part in some water sports.

Enjoy all that Albufeira Has to Offer

Albufeira is a fantastic place to visit for an Algarve luxury holiday. With so much to do for all the family, it is ideal as a side trip for a day or two to enjoy all the many activities on offer.

John Dixon is Managing Director of Prestige Holidays, a specialist travel company who have provided a wide portfolio of Algarve luxury holidays, as well as many other destinations around the world, for over 30 years.

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Ameijoas na Cataplana

On your Algarve luxury holiday, if you’re after an authentic, traditional eating experience then you should start with Ameijoas na Cataplana, the most famous dish of all. The dish consists of baby clams and sausages combined with onion, presunto (cured ham), tomato, paprika, garlic and white wine. These are all cooked up in a kind of traditional copper pressure cooker called the Cataplana, which helps to preserve the flavours.

Carne de Porco a Alentejana

This is a very traditional pork dish that you should definitely try when you travel to the Algarve. Luxury cuisine in the Algarve is all about sticking to the delicious local dishes, and Carne de Porco a Alentejana is certainly that. It consists of pork marinated in white wine with herbs and spices, and then fried along with clams, potatoes and coriander to create a succulent, mouth-watering dish.
Chicken Piri-Piri

If you want to try a world-famous dish, then chicken piri-piri is a Portuguese speciality that you can find in the Algarve. Luxury travellers who like their food will find this a delight, and you can never find a better chicken piri-piri than in Portugal. Consisting of chicken marinated in a sauce of paprika, cumin, oregano, olive oil, lemon juice and, of course, piri piri, it is a fiery treat that is definitely a popular one to try.

Cozido à Portuguesa

This stew is mostly eaten during the winter, although you should be able to find it whenever you travel to the Algarve. Luxury sun seekers should find time to try this delight from the Beira region. The dish consists of a stew of different kinds of meat, including shin of beef, pork and sometimes chicken, all served up with vegetables and smoked sausages. It is nothing short of delicious.

Other Specialities

There are hundreds of other traditional meals that you should try when you visit the Algarve. Luxury travellers will want to try as much as they can, and you won’t have to go far to find delicacies involving delicious fresh fish. Portugal has the highest consumption of fish per capita in Europe, and this is obvious when you visit the Algarve. The most common type of fish is bacalhau (cod), which is normally dried and salted then soaked before being cooked. However, pretty much every type of fish is on offer here.

Also be sure to try Sera da Estrela cheese – a delicious, soft cheese made from sheep’s milk. This is the most famous of Portugal’s fantastic cheeses and is always made by hand to strict specifications.

John Dixon is Managing Director of Prestige Holidays, a specialist travel company who have provided a wide portfolio of Algarve luxury holidays, as well as many other destinations around the world, for over 30 years.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.

If you are planning a trip hiking in Portugal’s Douro Valley, then your first stop is likely to be the northern capital of Oporto. The city is an enigma, in that it is both heavily industrialised and yet in other places sleepy and steeped in history. The historic buildings, such as the cathedral, Romanesque Church of Cedofeita and 15^th century houses have caused the city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage, whilst the modern facilities such as the Metro and D. Luis Iron Bridge have drawn comparisons with similar structures in America and Japan.

Before embarking on your Portugal hiking and whilst still in Oporto, you must visit the Cais De Gaia’s Wine Cellars. The views from Cais De Gaia are the best in the city and further enhanced by the old fashioned fishing vessels which bob surreptitiously on the water. The Cais De Gaia is where the majority of the world’s Port is brought to age and although not all of them are open to visitors, Taylors and Cockburn’s both offer free guided tours and tasting sessions. If you take a stroll further uphill, you will find a 19^th Century Manor House where yet more port is stored.

The Douro Valley is very picturesque with rows of neatly manicured vineyards leading steeply down to the riverbank. Although many of the vineyards are inaccessible, one of the best ways of visiting the valley is by train where, as the train sleepily winds its way through the valley, you are rewarded with fantastic views of the local landscape. An old steam train runs through the vineyards several times a week, during the summer season. However, there is also the option of a cruise where you can lie back and watch the verdant scenery roll past you. The colour of this scenery changes throughout the year as the vines mature and is at is most beautiful in February and March, when the almond trees in the area are also in blossom and when the landscape is dotted in pink and white.

The capital of the Douro is not Oporto, as one would expect, but Regua, which is also the headquarters of the Port Wine Institute. The town is backed by the Serra Do Marao Mountains, which provide some of Portugal’s best hiking trails. The town really comes alive at night when the riverfront bustles with a lively selection of bars and restaurants.

The nearby town of Villa Nova Foz Coa should also be visited on your Portugal hiking trip. Villa Nova Foz Coa is famous for its 22,000 year old rock paintings that were discovered during the construction of a dam. The whole region is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely worth exploring on a Portugal hiking holiday.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a Portugal hiking holiday with Ramblers you can walk the Portugal’s most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.

Faro, Portugal. What to see in the Algarve capital.

I’ve spent the past few years of my life working out of Faro airport in Portugal. I tend to deal with a lot of tourists who’ve come to explore the Algarve coast to the east and west. But, as people are always asking me about what there is to see in Faro itself, I thought I’d write a quick guide for anyone who’s thinking of coming here. If you book airport shuttles in Faro I may even get to tell you in person!

One of the places you’ve probably heard of is the Old City. It’s not the easiest place in the world to access in a airport shuttles, but Faro is like that sometimes. The reason for this is that the whole area is still surrounded by a Roman wall. Luckily it’s easy to get into on foot, and once you’re inside there’s a spacious open square that used to be a Forum back when the Romans used it. Nowadays there’s a Cathedral that is still over 700 years old, and if you’re feeling a little macabre you can have a look inside the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo which is lined with the bones of over 1,200 monks…

If that thought hasn’t sent you running back to Faro airport, then Portugal’s finest nature reserve (in my opinion) will keep you hanging around. The Ria Formosa lagoon is over 17,000 hectares big and lies just off the shoreline of Faro. Though it may seem a little expansive and  underwhelming at first, it attracts hundreds of types of birds during the Spring and Autumn and can be a lovely place to relax in the sun. It’s particularly beautiful in the summer when you can take boat trips out to explore the area and watch the sunset reflect off the water.

A similar distance outside of town (about a 20-minute drive) are the luxury resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo. Now, I’d say that about half the people who book airport shuttles in Faro are looking to head out to these two resorts. Usually they’re mad on Golf or Tennis or Horses or just looking for a bit of an all-inclusive retreat. It’s easy to see why, as they’re pretty lavish places and if you’re looking for high-end tourism I can’t really imagine anywhere better.

Back in Faro, there are all the things you’d normally find in a city to keep you entertained. The shopping areas are well stocked, and the architecture of the centre makes it a pretty enjoyable experience even if you’re not the most eager shopper in the world like me! There’s also a particularly good theatre near the centre that I’d recommend visiting if you have a spare evening and fancy imbibing the culture.

Personally though, if you do one thing after you’ve arrived at Faro airport, transferred to your hotel and freshened up, I’d recommend heading down to the harbour. Portugal, as you already know, is a sea-faring nation. Because of this there’s still a strong fishing industry based around the coastline. If you head down to the shore you can watch the locals fishermen mending their nets and look out towards the sea and the Ria Formosa lagoons. There are some gardens in the nearby square and a few cafes around the area too. It’s not the most exciting place in the world, but if you get talking to some of the locals I think you’ll get a real flavour for Portuguese life that you might not find elsewhere.

So there you go, hope that has helped a little. Have a read around a see if you like the flavour of the city. There’s definitely more to the place than just Faro airport; Portugal’s beauty is in the atmosphere, the climate and the culture and I think this may be one of the best places in the country to experience them.

Eduardo Jorge is a Faro airport transfers driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

One of the first things that you’ll notice about Tavira is the traditional style of all the houses. The majority of which have the traditional Portuguese platibandas, a simple border etched with floral motifs or geometrical patterns that frame the windows and doorways. This gives the buildings a distinctly art nouveau appearance, that you will notice on your walking holidays in Portugal.

One of the best examples of Portuguese art nouveau architecture is the 16^th century church, which has barely changed in appearance since the date it was built. The imposing renaissance porch takes up a large part of the main façade and the church has many distinctive features inside, including a statue of the Nossa Senhora de Luz, or Our Lady of the Light which stands in the centrepiece of the church.

Tavira is very much a fishing village and, on a stroll through the Conceicao de Tavira, you will see many quaint fishermen’s houses tucked down narrow cobbled streets. This winding street is where many visitors to the Algarve get their first view of the sea and yellow sand shoreline. Whilst on hiking in Portugal, you should also take the opportunity to visit some traditional almond or orange groves. This will give you an insight into the more traditional methods of agriculture that are still employed to-date in this old-fashioned town.

However, don’t be mistaken as the town of Tavira is equally popular for its modern pursuits, it is one of the best places in the country to practice the sport of kite-surfing and the Isla De Tavira Beach, which benefits from a northern south-easterly wind, is the best place in the country to practice this sport. In fact, Tavira seems to have been designed with adventure-junkies in mind as surfing, windsurfing and rock climbing are all popular pursuits with tourists in the area.

Those passionate about all aspects of walking will be interested to know that hiking in Portugal has its own word “caminhadas”. A great place for caminhadas in Portugal is the Rio Formosa National Park, which is not only full of rolling sand dunes but a great place to spot some of the wildlife of the region. A hike through the famous National Park gives you the chance to explore a beautiful and varied landscape, which ranges from golden sand dunes to verdant pine forests. The National Park is also popular with many ornithologists as many migrating seabirds make their homes in this reserve.

After a week of hiking in Portugal you may want to relax and play a few rounds on one of Tavira’s perfect golf courses. The most popular is Benamor, which was designed by Sir Henry Cotton and which offers perfect views of the surrounding mountains and azure blue seas, for which the Algarve is famous.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a Portugal hiking holiday with Ramblers you can walk the Portugal’s most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.

The Levadas

Madeira is famed for its wonderful fortified wine and its most adventurous son – explorer Christopher Columbus. But the island is also known for its unique ‘lavadas’; an intriguing network of man-made canals that weave their way from the highlands, down a web of pathways to the low lying regions of the island. Named after the Portuguese word ‘levar’ – to carry – they  were built around the sixteenth century by the first settlers, who realised that in order to sustain their crops, they needed to devise a method of bringing the abundant water supply of the high mountains down to their farms below. Walking in Madeira alongside the path of these ancient canals is an incredible insight into how difficult a task it must have been.

The levadas wend their way through solid basalt cliffs, along sheer rock walls and through lush, dense forests. Many workers lost their lives in their creation and in some of the more inaccessible areas it is easy to see why. In some sections which were literally hewn by hand out of the mountain, workers had to be lowered down in wicker baskets. Originally used for maintenance, today the walking paths that run parallel to more than 1,000kms of the waterways are popular trails for walking. In Madeira there are over 200 separate levadas, and whether for both experienced or novice walkers, there is a level for everyone to enjoy.

As you make your way along the levadas you follow a magical journey through the interior of Madeira. The banks of the canals are studded with a profusion of wild flowers and mosses and you can see an astounding array of vegetation – thanks in the main part to the canals themselves. The island is home to Europe’s oldest and largest Laurel forest and some of the rare species of plant life are found in this region almost exclusively.

The lavadas will lead you through dark, damp tunnels which emerge into charming fairy glens of forest; past towering waterfalls which spill into crystal clear ponds; and out onto rugged mountain paths overlooking spectacular ocean vistas. Walking in Madeira along the pathway of levadas will reveal the raw, unspoilt natural beauty of this island wonderland and unlock the secrets of its past.

About the author

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. On a holiday walking in Madeira with Ramblers, you can walk the most scenic landscapes at the best value prices.