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 Walking through a Cork Oak Forest near the town of Monchique, Algarve, Portual. April 5 2007. (Photo by Peter Dudley) |
With autumn approaching, the Algarve’s sunbathers will soon have to share their space with other tourists who are looking for more active pursuits.
Yes, hikers are coming back to the Algarve.
Spending time hiking around this stunning Portuguese landscape is not something the locals do in any great numbers; however, savvy tourists know that Portugal offers some splendid hikes – and in the off-season – reasonable prices.
The best time to explore Portugal’s sunny south on foot is before June or after Labour Day – it is simply too hot during the summer months for strenuous outdoor activity.
You can either book your own hotels and go solo, using one of the many available guide books (the Sunflower Algarve book is quite good), or you can go with one of the several companies that offer excellent guided trips around the Algarve.
We toured the Algarve in April with HF Holidays, a U.K.-based company that specializes in international hiking trips (http://www.hfholidays.co.uk).
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Our one-week hiking trip, (booked through Teachers’ Travel in Toronto: http://www.teacherstravel.com) was as stress free as you can ask for.
We stayed in the beautiful city of Silves, the ancient capital of the Moors, which lies about 16 kilometres inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The package included a private bus transfer from the international airport at Faro (about a 45 minute drive) and a private room with ensuite facilities overlooking the centuries-old Moorish fortress. Breakfast and dinner were included in the cost of the trip.
Why go on a hiking holiday? Well, for one thing, it allows you to literally “stop and smell the roses”, something you cannot do from a bus or train. It also allows you to travel to places inaccessible by public transportation. On our trip, we walked to the top of cliffs and saw some incredible vistas that simply could not be reached other than by foot.
We trekked a total of about 60 kilometres on our five organized hikes. HF Holidays offers shorter hikes each day for those who prefer to walk less. In addition, they offer a second week option for people who really want to explore the region on foot.
What better way to work up an appetite than by walking up and down the Algarve all day long?
The food and wine will not disappoint even the most discerning tourist. The local fish is outstanding and plentiful. As our HF Holidays trip included half board, we were able to enjoy grilled sardines, tuna, squid, prawns and cataplana (a seafood stew) without an additional cost.
For those who prefer something less fishy, chicken piri-piri – a local specialty – is available. Be forewarned – piri means pepper in Swahili, and this dish can be served very hot.
Of course, you will have a chance to sample a variety of beverages. On the HF Holidays trip to Silves, wine was included in the price – a nice surprise.
Souvenirs are plentiful in the Algarve. This area was once the world’s foremost cork producing region. Cork oak trees continue to be stripped of their bark every nine years and on one hike we walked through a cork oak forest that had recently been harvested.
Much of the cork is made into products such as purses, wallets, notepads, as well as – you guessed it – stoppers for wine bottles.
The cork museum in Silves is a must-see and explains in detail the history and importance of the industry to the region. The well-stocked gift shop has something for everyone.
The Algarve has many things to offer tourists besides beautiful beaches. While northern Europeans have been vacationing there for decades, Canadians have only begun to discover the region.
According to Statistics Canada, Canadians made 72,000 visits to Portugal in 2005. This compares to 170,000 Canadian visits to Portugal’s neighbour, Spain. That number pales in comparison to Canadian visits to the United States – a hefty 15 million in 2005.
With the Canadian dollar as strong as it is, Portugal is one of the most reasonable European holidays Canadians can find.