The Ria de Alvor (Alvor Estuary) is located between the towns of Lagos and Portimão. Covering 1700 hectares it includes a diverse mix of habitats of brushwood, forest and agricultural land, comprising the estuary, dunes, marshes and salt-pans, and also the Quinta da Rocha and Abicada peninsula.

We recommend it as a Family favourite nature walk. Please us for more info!

Prainha Beach is made of sheltered little sandy areas or coves with shell shape. They are isolated by pretty rocky formations, with relief eroded by the water and the wind.

Starting with a little bit of history, Alvor was founded in 436 BC by the Carthaginians as a commercial port named Portus Hannibalis. Taken by the Moors in 716, the settlement began to be referred to as Albur, and gained an impressive castle, with only vestiges remaining. This bastion was conquered in 1189, by the forces of King Sancho I of Portugal, with help from Crusader forces. It was retaken two years, and definitively reconquered in 1250. Rebuilt by King Denis in 1300, it served for 500 years the coastal defences against attacks by pirates and privateers until it was destroyed in 1755 by the tsunami and earthquake that devastated Lisbon.

Although the 1755 earthquake resulted in the death of only one person, it was responsible for the destruction of homes, the fort, the Facho tower, and the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, in addition to altering the river's course. Its effects also resulted in the decrease of the local population by 1000 residents; by 1900 the population included less than 3014 souls, owing to the effects of the earthquake.

In the closing decades of the 15th century Alvor was a centre of the Jewish community in Portugal.

Alvor has many bars and restaurants. We will give you our favourites!

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Fabulous 4km beach with golden sand... ideal for a great day on the beach

Amado is a large beach stretching along three valleys. The warm red and ochre hues of the cliffs dominate to the north; and to the south, the grey of the craggy schist rocks once again comes to the fore. Amado Beach is famed for its versatile, diversified waves that justify the constant presence of on-site surfing schools. It is a frequent venue for national and international competitions in the sport. Despite being a very popular beach, you can still find some peaceful spots if you walk along the sands for a bit. A network of walkways leads visitors to various parts of the beach and to viewpoints overlooking it. There is road access via the cliff to the north, allowing you to reach Bordeira Beach, passing by the place known as Pontal and the curious fishing harbour at Zimbreirinha, where the boats are moored on wooden platforms suspended on the cliff. Along the route, there are various stopping points from which you can admire the stunning scenery along this stretch of coast.
With the right winds this is a family favourite to surf.... on the way back we recommend a stop at one of the favourite local restaurants.

Lagos is one of the most visited cities in the Algarve and Portugal, due to its variety of tourist-friendly beaches, rock formations (Ponta da Piedade), bars, restaurants and hotels, renowned for its vibrant summer nightlife and parties. Yet, Lagos is also a historic centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, frequent home of Henry the Navigator, historical shipyard and, at one time, centre of the European slave trade. In 2012, travel website TripAdvisor, classified Lagos as the number one travel destination, on a list of "15 destinations on the rise" worldwide.

There is plenty to do and see. We will adapt recommendations to your needs.