Albufeira….a visit to Loule, some nearby beaches communities, a search for flamingoes and a wrap
Categories Portugal 2024, 2017November 27th, 2024
Our remaining days in Albufeira are numbered. Today, being nice weather-wise, we decided to visit Loule, a hilltop town about a 40-minute drive east of Albufeira, and some beaches close to Albufeira…
Loule has a rich history dating back to the Phoenicians and Romans, who established it as a trade hub. The town flourished under Moorish rule (8th-13th centuries), evidenced by its castle and narrow, winding streets. After the Christian Reconquista in 1249, Loulé became an important market town and over the centuries evolved, while preserving its traditions, such as craftsmanship and festivals. Today, Loule’s historical landmarks, like the Moorish-inspired market and the 13th-century Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church and the Loule Castle originally built by the Romans and subsequently the Moors and then the Christians, reflect its vibrant past and cultural heritage…
A short but pleasant visit after which we took in several beaches/beach communities in the vicinity of Albufeira, to see what we thought of them in the event we would return to the Algarve…the first was Quarteira, which offers a mix of traditional charm and modern leisure. It has a long promenade, flanked by palm trees, which runs alongside a golden sandy beach linking up to the Vilamoura Marina and golf courses and further on the Praia de Falesia. Condos and hotels line the promenade and what we found appealing was that everything was largely on the flat!
… a little closer to Albufeira was Praia do Oura, about 20 minutes to the east of our condo in Albufeira. It is known for its golden sands, clear turquoise waters, and dramatic cliffs … as well there are numerous condo developments and services available close by:
It had been a pretty full day and we decided to enjoy the sunset, eat “Chez Nous” and just relax at the condo…
November 28, 2024
We woke up to the promise of beautiful morning so we just had to get going and do an outdoor activity…
We had heard that the Algarve had several areas which at times during the year are home to flamingoes. Having seen them in Mexico we thought it would be great to see these lovely birds again…one such area was nearby …Lagoa dos Salgados. This area is very close to the Praia do Salgados and is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including flamingos and other bird species. It was a pleasant walk on the boardwalk which carry’s-on for several kilometres. At one point we spoke to some birdwatchers in a blind and they told that our timing was off as there were no flamingoes in the area since conditions were sub optimal for them. However there was no shortage of different birds around (apparently some 200 species have been observed here) and it was a pleasure to take the time and watch these guys in a natural state…this could be an interesting hobby to take-up but I don’t know if I have the patience!
As we reached the end of the Lagoa dos Salgados, the walkway continued to the town of Armacao de Pera...
…but after checking out a small resto literally on beach, unfortunately it was not yet open, we retraced ours steps back to the parking lot taking a quick peak at the Praia Grande de Peras (another good one) and headed back to the condo for lunch.
In the afternoon we wandered around Albufeira’s Old Town, bought some souvenirs and took some “final” pictures…the Old Town has some charm but has been significantly vulgarized, with dozens of stores selling the same Portuguese souvenirs made anywhere but in Portugal, numerous “English” pubs etc., I guess that ‘s the price of attracting the tourist masses. To be fair there are shops that sell very nice products at various price points…
…as we were getting hungry we decided on an early supper and succumbed to the wiles of an older, somewhat toothless lady beckoning us in several languages to her” restaurante tipico”. Both our dishes were quite tasty, albeit simple and the wine was ok, so O Valeiro was a success…
November 29th, 2024
Today was a “wrap-up” day as we wanted to visit Praia dos Arrifes, a beach very close to the Marina below us but kept putting it off since it was so close > so it was now or never…
As well, we had wanted to see the Fort & Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha as we had only seen a glimpse of it on our boat trip. The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha (Our Lady of the Rock) is a small whitewashed structure that dates back to the 15th century, though its origins may be even older. It is believed to have been a place of worship since the early Christian period. Adjacent to the chapel are the ruins of the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, which once served as a defensive structure protecting the region from maritime invasions…quite frankly not much remains but it is a stunning site and would be a great spot to view a sunset…
Well that just about wrapped up our stay in the Algarve, a bit of a celebratory dinner in the Old Town….a tapas place called In Certo Cafe, a very pleasant eatery with a Scotish waiter no less, very good tapas and his wine recommendation was excellent…very different from the “tipico restos…
…then back up the hill for a nightcap on the deck watching the lights and music of the Feira Franca de Albufeira (a traditional fair where clothes, footwear, household items and toys are sold as well as entertainment such as carousels and bumper cars, to the delight of children and adults) serenading us …lights-out and “boa noite” Algarve!
Thanks for the tour. Enjoy reading the history of the region
Thanks, Ruth…all the best!
Hello Mark, very informative and detailed description. We love Portugal and have been twice to Albufeira, Lisbon, Nasaeth, belem and Fatima. Everything about it is gorgeous. Wish you many more trips to come.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New year filled with good health and more travels.
Sonia Mohsen
Hi Sonia….hope all is well with you ….thanks for the nice comments, we feel that Portugal is a great destination and certainly enjoyed the Algarve. Best wishes for Christmas and hopefully 2025 will be a better year on many fronts!