Things to do and attractions to visit during your holiday at Casa Arabella.
You really are spoilt for choice in the Algarve, let's look at the essentials first .. Restaurants, Bars and Cafés
....... As in many of the continental European countries, the distinction between a bar and a café is very slim. In Portugal you will find the same place referred to using both terms. Outside the pure tourist areas, bars and cafés are the same, whether they are on a street, in a supermarket or garage forecourt. They will all serve a range of water and soft drinks, along with alcoholic beverages and spirits. There are usually several different types of coffee and tea available, plus very often a selection of the delicious pastries that the country is noted for (never mind the calories ... that's what a holiday is for, go on spoil yourself). They are a great meeting area for the Portuguese population and invariably relaxed and friendly.
The range of restaurants in the area is superb, offering everything from excellent traditional Portuguese dishes to a varied International Cuisine. As you might expect from a seafaring nation, seafood features highly in many Portuguese restaurants, but sometimes overlooked are their many dishes using the home grown produce from the land. Not so many years ago Portugal had one of the biggest Empires in the world, reaching virtually all parts of the globe, and they have very successfully integrated many of the customs and dishes into everyday life.
Lunch is a popular meal with the Portuguese, and many of them eat out during the day. As a change from the larger restaurants try to sample some of the smaller roadside cafés, away from the "tourist" areas. Look for the ones that have lots of cars, tractors and trucks, parked between 12 and 2 pm. Very rarely will you find a "menu", instead it is common to find only one dish available. It is always good, and usually served with fresh bread and excellent local wine at prices that do not dig very far into the holiday budget. There are many places that cater for tourists, but you will find that few will give such quality and value as their Portuguese equivalent.
Beaches and Attractions
Famous for its superb beaches stretching for mile after mile, and bathed in sunshine almost every day of the year, the Algarve has so many more things to offer if you really need a change from relaxing by the pool at Casa Arabella.
The beaches themselves range from golden sand reaching as far as the eye can see to tiny little secluded coves that can only be reached by sea or a thrilling walk down narrow cliff trails. Most of the larger beaches have a café or two where welcome cool drinks and meals are readily available.
Almost all of the Algarve coast is made up of beaches, beaches and more beaches so we will not list any of them in particular. If you prefer the busier more active type of beach drive no further than the area between Albufeira and Praia de Rocha near Portimão. For a quieter beach, the further West that you explore, the quieter will be the beaches. The coastline on the Western side of the area, heading North towards Aljezur can be deserted even in the height of summer.
If you decide to explore the western beaches, make a full trip of the day and call in at "Sagres" and "Cabo de São Vicente", both very important towns in the history of the Portuguese as a nation of early world explorers.
The coastline from Burgau, (a short distance West of Lagos), all the way to Sines, (North of Aljezur), has since 1988, been made a Nature Reserve. Providing invaluable nesting and breeding grounds for species such as Bonelli's Eagle, Kestrels, White Stork, Heron and many other bird species.
Near Cabo de São Vicente there is also a colony of sea otters that you may be very lucky to glimpse.
Beyond the waterline you will find Surfing, Jet Skiing, Fishing trips, Scuba Diving, in fact if you can think of it, it is probably available somewhere along the coast.
Moving inland there are Water Slide Parks, and Zoos, including the World renowned "Zoomarine", famous for their long term dolphin breeding and care programs, you can even arrange to swim with the dolphins (golfinhos).
Watch seals and sea lions, penguins, parrots and an excellent bird of prey display. Their aquarium facility has displays containing much of the local sea-life, including the sharks found off our shores.
Several of the reservoirs (barragems) have facilities for many water activities such as sailing and canoeing. The Barragem do Arade, only a few minutes drive from Casa Arabella, has a wide variety of activities from "high energy and strenuous" right up to the most difficult "sipping a cool beer in the sunshine" type of activity. (Make your choice ...... or try them all).
We won't bore you by asking you to read through a huge list of things to do, it is a lot more pleasant and fun to come here and explore the many attractions yourself. There are leaflets available for many of the attractions that will help you plan your enjoyment. Just to whet your appetite a little, here are just a few ideas to start you off ....
Horse riding and Pony Trekking
Tennis
Deep Sea Fishing
Country Walks
Bird Watching (Buzzards and Short Toed Eagles are regular visitors in the sky over Casa Arabella)
Historical Sites (and Sights)
Museums
Churches
Shopping (shopaholics might like to read more on our Location page)
Bars
Restaurants
Night Clubs (The vibrant night-life of Albufeira is only 15 minutes drive)
Traditional Festivals and Carnivals
........and of course for Golfers, the Algarve golf courses are legendary, and all within easy reach. (We have full details of all the regions' courses and can help with arrangements if required)
A guaranteed entry can be arranged, to a Stapleford Competition, played at Balia golf course every Wednesday. Prizes and trophies are included.
Centrally located, we do not have any large golf courses "on the doorstep", However with good access to all areas, we are ideally placed to make Casa Arabella your base for a superb Algarve golfing holiday.
