After booking the trip to the Algarve Coast in Portugal through my study abroad program, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, or if I would be getting the bang for my buck. The trip seemed to be mostly beaches, and for me, I can easily get that right in my backyard. Being a first time traveler on my own, I figured it wasn’t worth the risk to look further and travel alone, but to simply experience these places with my school abroad. Looking back on the activities, I definitely enjoyed most of it, but there would be a few things I would change.
Tavira
Tavira is considered a quaint fishing town on the southeast side of Portugal. This little city has a historic center in the center of town and is also considered to be one of the most scenic cities in southern Portugal.
When we stopped in Tavira, we skipped the entirety of the town and went straight to the beach. I would love to come back to this town to explore the town and wander the streets! In order to get to the main beach, we hopped on a ferryboat that dropped us on the other side within five minutes. We couldn’t be happier at the small amount of time it took, as the wind made this area freezing! Or at least to us, used to our 105-degree weather in Sevilla, this balmy 70-degree weather was quite chilly.
We spent 3.5 hours on this island at the beach, and for my Northeastern translucent skin, this was a huge mistake. Apparently after living in the north for two years, I had forgotten how to apply sunscreen, missing the entirety of the backsides of my legs – including my knee pits (yes, that’s the part behind your knees that no one has a name for). Bending my legs for a few days after the burn was painful to say the least. I had also forgotten a towel, and this small beach area sold nothing other than food, cocktails, and my personal favorite, a Nutella milkshake.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved this small island with a mini lighthouse on the edge, but I would have much rather still been translucent and exploring the small town of Tavira, or our second destination: Lagos.
Lagos
I’m sure you’ve heard of Lagos sometime during your life, and if not, seen a picture of the pristine beaches and cliffs. Beaches upon beaches line this coast of cliffs, but I didn’t mind the beaches here. They are different than I am used to back in flat Florida, and the water offers a translucent crystal blue color, making the beach even more beautiful than it already is.
We spent a day in this area, exploring the town and the beaches. There are so many excursions available around this area, that I wouldn’t have minded doing another on top of my three hour kayaking excursion. Although, I would’ve needed more time; I had just about enough time in my day to relax on the beach for an hour, enjoy my expedition, and head back to the hotel to shower to go watch the sunset at Cape St. Vincent!
Each beach lining this coast offers something different – whether the water is balmier in one area compared to another, less people, or a different layout of cliffs. If I were to ever go back, I would definitely spend some time exploring the different beaches!
Kayaking with Kayak Explorers in Lagos
My favorite part of this entire weekend was my kayaking expedition, which we had to find on our own. There were various companies, but we settled on Kayak Explorers, at a price of 25 Euros per person. I would have done it all over again for another 25!
We kayaked along the cliffs, past a myriad of beaches (all with a different view), in-between rocks, and into the grottos. My friend and I had a little trouble navigating the rocks as she was new at kayaking and I was in charge of taking pictures – and I took a lot of pictures. After a few bumps and scrapes here and there, we finally got the hang of it as long as we steered clear of everyone else who also had no idea how to kayak near cliffs.
On the way back into the port, we all connected by a rope and were towed by a little boat. Sounds lovely, right? No! The water was splashing everywhere, drenching us in 66-degree water. It was definitely a fun experience once we got over how cold we were!
Cape St. Vincent
Cape St. Vincent is the southwestern most point in Portugal, displaying a nice lighthouse, and cliffs that rise to about 250 feet. Watching the sunset here involves a lot of wind, and I mean A LOT of wind, a sun, some haze, some waves, and MORE wind.
This area is beautiful, at least from what I’ve gathered watching the sunset, but for your own sake, pack a parka. I spent 10 minutes of the 30 minutes hiding behind a bush for warmth…my jeans and sweatshirt were not enough! Okay, I’m exaggerating, don’t bring a parka – a sweatshirt will be just fine, but there is a lot of wind and it will be cold.
Albuferia
Albuferia is another beach town located on the Algarve coast of Portugal, between Lagos and Tavira. It’s a huge tourist destination with cobblestone streets, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Again, we lay on the beach for a couple hours, walked along the cliffs, and then explored the town. Finding a pop-up shop with cork jewelry was the highlight of this area. I bought a few cork bracelets, and as a gift in return, this friendly man gave me a wooden flower ring.
Visiting the Algarve Coast in Portugal
The Algarve Coast in Portugal is a beautiful area of the country to visit, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation on the beach. I enjoyed seeing the various towns on the coast, but I can easily say Lagos is my favorite! The cliffs, the beautiful water, and the excursions we took made this part the best for me.