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.

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).  

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.