Logo Quinta Maragota | adults-only apartments East Algarve

Surroundings Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve

In the immediate vicinity of holiday accommodation Quinta Maragota, located in the peaceful Eastern Algarve at 30 minutes east from Faro, there is much to see and do. Take a nice walk or get on a bike. Visit fishing villages and other lovely towns. Browse markets, relax on one of the beautiful quiet beaches or take a boat and go island hopping. Eat fresh fish or other specialities on the sunny terrace of one of the many cosy restaurants and discover local crafts, such as the olive oil and cork production. Golfing is also very well possible in the area, the nearest 18-hole courses (Benamor Golf and Quinta da Ria) are 20-25 minutes away. The Mediterranean climate, the many hours of sun and the pleasant temperatures in every season make your holiday and excursions in the Eastern Algarve extra special. Below you will find more tips and of course you can contact us for extra information, we love to share our favourite places. 

Logo Quinta Maragota | adults-only holiday apartments Eastern Algarve
Fuseta beach | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve

Walking and cycling

In the immediate vicinity of Quinta Maragota you can make lovely walks and cycle tours, on quiet unpaved and paved roads. Market village Moncarapacho, fishing village Fuseta, nature reserve Ria Formosa with its salt production, lagoons and many birds (including flamingos), are just a few kilometres away and can be reached via beautiful routes. You will pass almond, peach, apricot and citrus orchards, which you can enjoy even more in the first months of the year because the trees are blooming beautifully and are sometimes deliciously fragrant. Also, along the entire Algarve coast, from Sagres to Vila Real de Santo Antonio at the Spanish border, runs the EcoVia, a route that can be taken on foot or by bicycle through beautiful nature while passing various villages and beaches. If you want to go further away than you are able to cycle or walk, it’s possible to hop on the train (bike can be taken) in Livramento only 2 kilometres away from the quinta, to take you East or West. From there you can cycle back (or the other way round). Further inland, there are also beautiful trips to make, through a somewhat rougher landscape in the hills. Bicycles can be hired in Fuseta or Tavira.

Walking through fruit orchards | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Walking through fruit orchards | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Springtime, blossoming almond trees | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Springtime, blossoming almond trees | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Flamingos in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Flamingos in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Early spring in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Early spring in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Yellow oxalis in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Yellow oxalis in Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Lagoons and salt pans in Ria Formosa | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Lagoons and salt pans in Ria Formosa | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Morning walk through the fields | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Morning walk through the fields | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Pink almond blossom in spring | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Pink almond blossom in spring | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Salt lake summer Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Salt lake summer Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Green salt lake Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Green salt lake Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Salt harvest Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Salt harvest Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cycling tour farmland Moncarapacho | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cycling tour farmland Moncarapacho | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset beach fihing village Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset beach fihing village Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Laguna and sea opening in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Laguna and sea opening in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Walking at low tide on Fuseta beach | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Walking at low tide on Fuseta beach | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fuseta island Atlantic Ocean side | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fuseta island Atlantic Ocean side | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Wide deserted beach Praia do Barril | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Wide deserted beach Praia do Barril | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View on lagunas in Cacela Velha | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View on lagunas in Cacela Velha | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Laguna and island of Fábrica | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Laguna and island of Fábrica | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View from island to Fuseta village | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View from island to Fuseta village | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Buoy washed up on beach of Barril | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Buoy washed up on beach of Barril | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset above Fuseta seen from island | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset above Fuseta seen from island | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View on Fábrica bay from restaurant | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View on Fábrica bay from restaurant | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
The wonderful colors of Fuseta beach | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
The wonderful colors of Fuseta beach | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve

Beaches and islands

The nearest beach is in Fuseta (4km), adjacent to a beautiful bay, with a beach bar and great views to the opposite island (Ilha da Armona). In the summer months, you can take the ferry from Fuseta to this island (5 minutes) with its equally beautiful, quiet, elongated beaches. In those months there are also beach bars, parasols and sun beds available, directly on the Atlantic Ocean. During the rest of the year, you can take a water taxi and go for lovely walks along the beach, for example to the western tip where you can eat and drink in the village of Armona. From Olhão, ferries go to Armona all year round as well as to Ilha da Culatra, a real fisherman's island. Just 10 minutes east of the quinta is the beautiful beach of Barril, on Ilha da Tavira, to which you can walk via a bridge. On this island there are also other fine beaches on the eastern tip, some with year-round facilities, accessible by boat from Tavira. Fábrica (with a restaurant right on the waterfront) and Cacela Velha (a 30 minutes' drive) are also worth exploring, if only for the stunning views on the Ria Formosa lagoons and the Atlantic Ocean from the hilltop chapel in Cacela Velha.

Villages and towns

Fishing villages Fuseta and Santa Luzia (5 and 15 minutes drive) have colourful streets, harbours and cosy restaurants with delicious fresh fish and other specialities. The towns of Tavira and Olhão are a 15 minutes drive away. In romantic Tavira you can discover churches, an old bridge over the river Gilão, a botanical garden and cosy shopping streets. In Olhão, you can get lost in narrow alleys with tiled Moorish houses, shop for fresh produce in the famous market halls and enjoy a drink at sunset overlooking the harbour and offshore islands. Further inland are the villages of Moncarapacho (5 minutes drive), where you can enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants under the trees on the church square, and Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo (15 minutes drive), where you can buy delicious olive oil directly from the producer. You can also visit both places for a large monthly market where you can eat a simple but delicious meal of grilled chicken or bacon with bread and a crunchy salad. A little further away (30-40 minutes drive) are the towns of Faro, Loulé and Vila Real de Santo Antonio, with nice streets to wander through, a marina and medieval centre (in Faro), an old market hall and castle (in Loulé) and a beautiful boulevard and stately square (in VRS).  

Colorful fishing village Santa Luzia | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Colorful fishing village Santa Luzia | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Typical tiled house in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Typical tiled house in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cheerful fishing boats in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cheerful fishing boats in Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Restaurants at square Moncarapacho | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Restaurants at square Moncarapacho | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Colorful street with ditto laundry | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Colorful street with ditto laundry | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Old bridge over river Gilão Tavira | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Old bridge over river Gilão Tavira | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View from botanical garden Tavira | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View from botanical garden Tavira | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fish market in famous market Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fish market in famous market Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Streets decorated with fishnets Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarv
Streets decorated with fishnets Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarv
Street art of fishing life in Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Street art of fishing life in Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset view over Olhão harbour | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset view over Olhão harbour | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Street decorations in Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Street decorations in Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rocky beach Aljezur, Western Algarve | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rocky beach Aljezur, Western Algarve | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Landscape south Alentejo near Beja | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Landscape south Alentejo near Beja | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Nice street in Mertola, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Nice street in Mertola, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset above Mertola river, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Sunset above Mertola river, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Traditional crocheting in Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Traditional crocheting in Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View in Castro Verde, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
View in Castro Verde, Alentejo | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Typical Portugese chapel | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Typical Portugese chapel | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Portuguese tiles landscape scene | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Portuguese tiles landscape scene | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rising tide at Praia dos tres Irmaos | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rising tide at Praia dos tres Irmaos | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cliffs Cabo São Vicente West Algarve | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Cliffs Cabo São Vicente West Algarve | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rockformation at hidden beach Sagres | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Rockformation at hidden beach Sagres | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Dried peppers in market hall Silves | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Dried peppers in market hall Silves | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve

Daytrips

If you want to make a longer trip, then you could go further inland and make a tour through the mountains towards Salir and Alte, where you can swim in a mountain river. Or head east and take the scenic route along the M507(-2) parallel to the River Guadiana (which marks the border with Spain), stop for a drink at one of the cafés by the river, continue to Alcoutim (with its river beach and zipline crossing the river), possibly head further to beautiful Mértola and drive back with stops in the mountain villages of Cachopo and São Brás de Alportel. Near São Brás de Alportel you can also visit a cork factory and on the way there from the north you will see several cork oaks. Also the old Moorish town of Silves, built on a hill with colourful streets and a castle to explore, is also well worth a visit And don't forget the beautiful south-west coast of the Algarve, where in the south between Praia da Marina and Praia do Vale de Centeanes you can walk the beautiful 6km long cliff walk Seven Hanging Valleys or visit Cabo de São Vicente (Europe's westernmost point). On the west coast there are also very beautiful beaches and secluded bays surrounded by rock formations, such as near Aljezur and Odeceixe. All these places in east and west can be reached in 1-2 hours from our quinta via scenic (toll) roads.

Food and drink

Portuguese cuisine is known for its simplicity, purity and use of fresh seasonal and local produce. Traditional dishes in our area include Feijoada (a stew of brown beans and pork), daily fresh soups (often vegetarian and prepared with various vegetables and potato) and Bacalhau á Bras (a tasty dish of dried cod, onion, garlic, rösti and scrambled eggs). Of course, there is also many fresh fish, seafood and squid around, often prepared on large barbecues with olive oil, garlic, parsley and a creamy boiled potato and crunchy salad to go with it. Of course accompanied by a nice glass of wine, because Portugal is a great producer of not only Port, but also of delicious white and red wines. In all supermarkets you will find a great selection and in our area you can also visit some wineries. To end the meal, there is always a choice of various home-made desserts or fresh fruit. And of course at least once you must order a Pastel de Nata with your coffee, tea or freshly squeezed orange juice, the traditional Portuguese delicacy of puff pastry and custard, very yummy! We are happy to give you more tips about our favourite restaurants, cafes, bakeries and other special foodie places.

Wine & lupine beans O Postigo Loulé | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Wine & lupine beans O Postigo Loulé | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Restaurant Carlo e Franco Quatras Aguas | Quinta Maragota East Algarve
Restaurant Carlo e Franco Quatras Aguas | Quinta Maragota East Algarve
Polvo at Casa do Polvo, Santa Luzia | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Polvo at Casa do Polvo, Santa Luzia | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Creamy homemade cake for desert | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Creamy homemade cake for desert | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Daily fresh fish at markethall Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Daily fresh fish at markethall Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Seaview in Vila Real Santo Antonio | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Seaview in Vila Real Santo Antonio | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fresh meals at A do Fernando, Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Fresh meals at A do Fernando, Olhão | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Portugese olive as a snack | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Portugese olive as a snack | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Wine with view on Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Wine with view on Ria Formosa Fuseta | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Street vendor of home grown produce | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve
Street vendor of home grown produce | Quinta Maragota Eastern Algarve