Portugal · The south coast
The Algarve is Portugal's sun-warmed south coast, a long ribbon of ochre cliffs, hidden coves and easy beach days. The light is softer here, the water clear, and the rock has been carved by the Atlantic into arches, stacks and grottoes that beg to be explored by boat.
The star turn is the Benagil sea cave, a great domed chamber with its own sky-lit beach, reached by boat or by kayak on calm mornings. Nearby, the golden rock arches of Ponta da Piedade rise off the cliffs of Lagos, and between them lie sheltered coves and long sweeps of sand beneath the cliffs.
Base yourself in a whitewashed town like Lagos, Tavira or Albufeira, give it three nights or more, and let the days unfold slowly. A hire car helps you reach the quieter beaches, and we are always happy to point you to the ones the crowds miss.
