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Tips for your Algarve Easter holidays

It’s almost Easter! Are you lucky to have booked your Easter holidays in the Algarve, the South of Portugal? Cool!

We’ll share some tips on the best activities during this time of the year. Most activities and things to do in the Algarve depend on the weather and ocean conditions.

The good news is that temperatures have been ranging between 10 and 18ºC. January and February normally are quite rainy months, but between rain sunny days can defenitly be enjoyed.

Today was a sunny day, but you never know what to expect from tomorrow. Given the volatility of the rain, we recommend you to be prepared for both.

Bring some outfits for sunny spring weather but also for rainy days. Spring,  considering March & April as rainy months, and May, the first extreme sunny days can be enjoyed.

The Algarve is mostly visited to enjoy nature and specifically the ocean. In fact, the south of Portugal has stunning beaches and an impressive coastline. That’s why most of the activities are related to the ocean.

On easter sunday, some families just prefer to enjoy family holidays in a region with many things to do.  Outdoor activities, boat tours, watersports, day tours, and a lot of others.

We’ve seen a trend over the years and realized that boat tours, either to the caves or the dolphins, are the most popular activities during your Algarve Easter holidays.

The best things to do in Easter in Lagos are:

Dolphin watching

Dolphin watching in Lagos is, with no doubt, one of the most popular activities in the Algarve.

Out of all boat tours and water sports, the dolphin watching boat tours are the favourite under families. Kids love dolphins and adults get emotional on seeing these mammals in their natural habitat.

Most dolphin watching tours take about 90min and depart from the Marina of Lagos. There are several kind of boats that do these tours, from big stable ones to speedy and agile rigid inflatable boats. Choosing the type of boat is a matter of personal preference.

The dolphin watching tours from Lagos are suitable for all ages, from two-years-old to 80-years-old. We even went on a tour on a rigid inflatable boat with our 80 years old granddad once.

If you’ve got back or neck problems, then you might want to check the ocean conditions before and choose the boat accordingly.

Dolphin watching tours are a true adventure. The dolphins are wild animals and as they are not fed, you never know when and if you’ll find them.

Dolphins and other marine life are spotted on about 90% of the tours, so the chance is very high. Yet, please bear in mind that seeing marine life is not given.

Dolphin watching tours are very safe and life-vests are mandatory.

Cave boat tours

The whole coastline of the Algarve is known for its amazing rock formations and marine caves.

The regions of Lagos and Benagil are particularly known for their unique beauty. To be able to enjoy the beauty of the coastline, boat tours are very popular.

Many families and groups of friends choose the grotto tours as the outdoor activity of their Easter holidays in the Algarve.

Among all activities in the Algarve, the cave tours are mostly sought by families and elder people as the tours are very calm.

These boat trips are ideal for nature lovers and people who like to take pictures. The rock formations and grotões are very photogenic!

The cave boat tours can be one to two hours and there are also several different types of vessels you can choose from.

Some days the boats cannot go out because of the ocean conditions, but fortunately, this is rare. Cave tours in Lagos are very safe and life-vests are mandatory.

Benagil cave boat tour

Benagil is one of the most impressive marine caves of Portugal and even Europe. The best way to observe this impressive cave is by boat.

That’s why the boat tours to the cave of Benagil are a very popular activity for Easter holidays in the Algarve.

Again, there are several types of vessels and even different locations of departure. While some boat tours to Benagil start at the fishermen beach called Carvoeiro, others start in Armação de Pêra.

We are specialized in Benagil boat tours, and offer over 30 tours to this cave.

Cave and dolphin boat tour in Albufeira

If you’re staying near Albufeira, you’re lucky because you can go on the cave and dolphin boat tour.

This tour combines the best out of the activities in the Algarve described above. This is one of the most popular things to do during any holiday in this region.

This tour will show you the beauty of the rock formations and caves of the coastline in the region of Albufeira and also take you on a dolphin watching adventure.

This boat tour departs from the Marina of Albufeira and there are two different types of vessels.

If any of these boat tours sound good to you and you’d like to include them into your plans for your Easter holidays in the Algarve, we recommend you to book as soon as possible. We also recommend to book your flights and hotel or villas in the Algarve on time to benefit from the best prices!

During the holiday season, some boat tours, like these that are the most popular ones, may get fully booked. So, book now and avoid disappointment and waiting lines.

If you’re looking for more or other tips for your Algarve holiday, let us know. We’d be happy to help! Happy Easter and enjoy the region!

If you’re planning your trip to the Algarve, the South of Portugal, holidays in Vilamoura can be a good choice. In our point of view, Vilamoura is one of the Algarve’s finest resort towns. If you go for holidays in Vilamoura, you’ll get so much more than just amazing beaches and a pleasant climate.

In the 80’s, Vilamoura was envisaged as an exclusive beach resort and elite golfing center. Today you can still feel this “exclusivity” as the town has matured into a modern and stylish holiday destination known for glorious golf courses, a trendy marina and outstanding tourist facilities.

Where to stay during your holidays in Vilamoura

We recommend you to stay within the modern marina development. In the Marina of Vilamoura you’ll be surrounded by charming restaurants, fancy cocktail bars and a chic nightlife.

In the Marina you’ll find some of the best things to do during your holidays in Vilamoura: boat tours and watersports. And from the Marina, it is only a short walk to the white sanded beaches.

Also, it’s only a short drive to the championship grade golf courses around Vilamoura. Vilamoura, and specially the Marina, has world class hotels and fine apartments.

The best thing to do in Vilamoura

Unforgettable boat tours and watersports

Most likely, your holidays in Vilamoura will mostly be spent around the Marina. Boasting a 1,000-berth marina, Vilamoura has a lot to offer in terms of boat tours and watersports!

For the ones who prefer a serene day out in the Atlantic, there are dolphin watching tours or coastal tours of a half or full day. There are super speedy jet boats and jet skis for the ones who are looking for an adrenaline boost. Sailing is also an option. Fishing tours in Vilamoura are also very popular, from shark fishing to family fishing tours.

In terms of watersports, how about enjoying a unique view over the Algarve while parasailing or you can go for the Action Pack and do several watersports with your friends for three hours.

Play golf

Only a few minutes drive from the Marina of Vilamoura, you’ll find the five 18-hole golf courses that make Vilamoura one of the best locations for a golfing holiday in Portugal. Are you new to playing golf? This ultimate step-by-step guide for beginners may help you out 😉 

In the Marina you’ll find agencies that rent quality clubs and provide transport to all of the major courses throughout the Algarve. There are five golf courses in Vilamoura:

• Victoria (18holes – used for the Portugal Masters)
• Pinhal (18holes Par 72)
• The Old Course (18holes Par 73)
• Millennium (18 holes Par 72)
• Laguna (18holes Par 72).

All five golf courses are operated by the Oceanico Golf company. They have a worldwide reputation for the highest standards and excellent facilities.

Enjoy the beach

The beaches of Vilamoura are stunning. You’ll find soft white sands and crystal clear sea waters that are safe for families. You can enjoy and relax on the sun loungers while the water sports in Vilamoura (jet skis, banana boats and parasailing) will entertain “kids” of all ages.

There are two main beaches in Vilamoura:

• Vilamoura Beach (or “Praia da Marina”) to the east of the Marina
• Praia da Rocha Baixinha to the west of the Marina

Both of these beaches in Vilamoura have sun loungers to relax comfortably and lots of fun water sports to entertain the most active ones.

There are plenty of beach bars for delicious fresh meals and refreshments. There’s a third beach if you decide to spend your holidays in Vilamoura at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura hotel. The Tivoli Vilamoura has a private Purobeach!

Have fun in waterparks

For the days that the ocean is too rough to enjoy a boat tour or do some watersports in Vilamoura, there are many alternatives. The Algarve is great for kids and teenagers, who will love Zoomarine (a marine park in Guia) or the waterparks of Aquashow and Slide and Splash (in Quarteira and Lagoa).

Taste local culture

Holidays in Vilamoura are also interesting for those wishing a more cultural holiday. Within a few minutes drive you could visit the historic city of Faro, the capital city of the Algarve. The market town of Loulé is also a nice day tour.

Who goes on holidays in Vilamoura?

Vilamoura is great for holidays with your family. There are many excellent family hotels and in the town children will be welcomed in all restaurants, cafes and shops. Large groups who are on stag/hen do’s or simply looking for a cheap drink holiday don’t usually pick Vilamoura. For this sort of holiday Albufeira is more adequate.

Given its modernity and exclusivity, some visitors may find Vilamoura devoid of Portuguese charm and character. This is compensated by its outstanding tourist facilities and services.

If you’re looking for a more traditional Portuguese holiday destination, we recommend the historic city of Lagos or the charming town of Tavira for example.

Are holidays in Vilamoura expensive?

Holidays in Vilamoura are not the cheapest destination in Portugal. Vilamoura is known for exclusivity, so is marginally more expensive than the other popular resort towns of the Algarve.

In fact, Vilamoura is popular among travelers who are looking for a refined and luxurious holiday destination, with a preference to quality over cost.

In Europe, Portugal is a comparatively inexpensive country. In general, food, accommodation and transport are much cheaper than many other established holiday destinations like the Balearic Islands or Greece.

For the season of 2017 Vilamoura is expecting a sell-out summer, following the success of 2016. So, to secure the best prices, we suggest to book accommodation, flights and other things to do far in advance.

In fact, our advice is, if you are seriously considering a holiday in Vilamoura, to book accommodation now.

When to go on holidays in Vilamoura?

Vilamoura has long warm summers. Spring and Autumn are pleasant and winters are mild but unpredictable. During the winter Vilamoura has an equal number of bright days as wet days.

The high season is from July through to August. During these months the beaches are packed and most hotels are sold out.

June and September tend to be popular months with couples. These months before and after the high season are outside the school holidays and you’ll find a Vilamoura without the hordes of children. Weather is usually still fantastic during these months.

To enjoy the beach during your holidays in Vilamoura, we recommend traveling from mid-May until mid-October. The two ends of the season provide great value with last minute accommodation deals and cheaper flights.

During the winter season, tourist facilities in Vilamoura close down to fully reopen for Easter.

Most restaurants and cafes in the marina complex stay open year round. However during the winter the region will feel very quiet excepting Christmas and New Year, when there is a lively atmosphere.

How to get to Vilamoura?

The closest airport to Vilamoura is the main airport of southern Portugal: Faro airport. Faro airport is located 25km to the west of Vilamoura.

Faro is a major airport with flights covering the whole of Europe. As the Algarve is a popular holiday destination during the summer time, there is frequently a shortage of seats/flights in the summer. So, we advice to always book well in advance to secure the best prices.

Unfortunately, there is very limited public transport from the airport to Vilamoura. The route requires two bus journeys and takes between 1.5-2hours depending on connections. That’s why most visitors pre-book a transfer.

Transfers from and to the airport can be a private transfer or shared (mini bus or coach), prices per person range from €50 for private to €25 for shared. Another option is of course to rent a car.

Holidays in Vilamoura are great if you’re looking for a real taste of Algarve luxury. Vilamoura is one of the biggest private tourism resorts in Europe and is know to be one of the most prestigious in Portugal. Even if you are not staying in Vilamoura during your holidays in the Algarve, it really is well worth a visit, just to see how much the Algarve has to offer.