THE ALGARVE AREA
Beautiful and versatile Algarve
Both Villa Foz do Banho and Villa Ribeira do Banho are located in the Western part of the Algarve, on the foot of the Monchique mountains. A 20 minutes drive from the beautiful coast with its wide beaches and rugged rocks.
But besides the beautiful beaches, is there so much more to experience in the Algarve.
The Western Algarve is a surprisingly versatile green area where you among other, can play golf, go horse riding, cycling, or walking. In the Algarve there are many picturesque (coastal) villages with weekly local markets, and which are worth a visit. In the coastal towns you can often book boat and fishing trips. (www.unknownportugal.com)
If you are looking for something totally different you can visit water/ theme parks (e.g. www.aquashowparkhotel.com) where the children can enjoy a fantastic day.
Monchique
The city of Monchique is a 10-minute drive uphill from our houses. The road up to Monchique offers spectacular views and is totally different from the Algarve coast. The towncenter is characterized by many narrow cobbled streets with a good number of cafes and restaurants. The central square has a marble water park, including an example of a Moorish water wheel.
Monchique is a very quiet and relaxing place, ideal for enjoying the fantastic view. In Monchique you will find a large supermarket (Intermarché) for all your groceries and the tourist agency.
Restaurants
Portuguese cuisine is a simple honest kitchen without too much fuss. In most restaurants fresh fish and chicken Piri Piri is on the menu. Within walking distance of the villas you will find Restaurant Foz do Banho, where you can enjoy local food at a good price.
Along the coast you will find many small restaurants wich are located on the beach. How nice is it to eat outside and have a beautiful sea view as well? In the coastal towns you can almost always find a nice restaurant at the harbor.
Golfing
The coastal area Algarve offers you more than 40 world-class golf courses. Within a 15 minute drive from the house is the beautiful Morgado golf course (www.nauhotels.com) and less than a 25 minutes drive from the houses you will find the wonderful Penina golf course with its challenging championship course and the 9 hole’s resort course for a more relaxed game of golf (www.penina.com).
More information about the golf courses in the Algarve can be found on www.visitgolfalgarve.com.
Beaches
The beaches in the Algarve are considered the most beautiful in Portugal. The Algarve coast is 90 kilometers of small coves, bays and inlets, all with golden sandy beaches, on the surf of a crystal clear Atlantic Ocean. At a 25 minutes drive from our houses you’ll find beachtown Portimao, along the promenade it is fun to stroll around and do some shopping.
On the beach you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. But if you prefer unspoiled nature, you can indulge yourself with breathtaking views and deserted beaches during a ride along the coast. On the internet you find many websites with information about the coast and beaches of the Algarve. www.algarvetips.com is such a website.
Walking and Cycling
The green area of the Monchique mountains is ideal to explore by foot or by bike. Because of the mild temperatures, autumn and spring are the best seasons for these activities. Experience how nature comes to rest in the autumn and how all the green and flowers reappear in their full splendor in spring.
The tourist office in Monchique has cycling and walking routes for you. More information about cycling and walking can be found on www.pedalportugal.com and www.walkalgarve.com.
