Towns and Villages of the East Algarve or "Sotavento"

Difficulty Level **

Sotavento means leeward, away from the wind. This area is sheltered by a mountain rage and has a calm and amenable climate. This route is easy and is for people who enjoy exploring quaint villages and countryside while getting a taste of the real Algarve. This can also be a gastronomic adventure as the food and drink of the interior is very good. The stages in this trip are relatively short, but difficult as the interior of the Sotavento is very hilly. You can see how much climbing is required and how many kilometres need to be covered at the end of each of the summaries bellow each stage.

This is a one week Tour lasting five days and five night, however it can be combined with "Towns and Villages of the Western Algarve" for a truly epic cycling holiday that takes in all that is best in the entire region without overwhelming you with kilometers of cycling. 

View from the Castle at Castro Marim

Stage One

Vila Real de Santo António - Tavira 32km

Vila Real and Tavira are quite close, 18km to be precise. However this stage of the trip takes in some beautiful country lanes and villages along the way so we will use 30km to reach our destination. The towns visited are Vila Real and Tavira, while the villages we will visit will be many. Including Manta Rota, Cacela Velha and Cabanas. This stage all takes place in a national park, the Ria Formosa lagoon, which you can read about in the section on "Cycling in the Algarve -Vila Real and Tavira" This stage is very picturesque, easy and safe. Along the way we can suggest some excellent places to eat. This part of the journey passes some of the best seafood resturants in the Algarve. You can eat oisters practically over looking the Lagoon they were caught in. 

The bike friendly and charming town of Vila Real de Santo António

Stage Two

Tavira - Santo Estevão - Tavira or Rest Day

This stage takes you from Tavira up into the hills, passing along the way quaint villages and river valleys and gives you the opportunity to visit the waterfall at Pego do Inferno. At Santo Estevão you will have the opportunity to eat a good lunch typical of the more inland regions of the Algarve. There is much less fish on the menu and more meat such as black pig and game. After Santo Estevão and having had a brief taste of the mountains you head down to the coast once again to see the pretty lagoon side villages including Santa Luzia. The day ends back where it started at your hotel in Tavira.

The road to Santo Estevão

Stage Three

Tavira - Loulé

This is the longest stage of your trip so far. Leaving Tavira in the dirrection of Olhão you arrive at the first village of the day called "Luz de Tavira". from here we take rural roads through orange orchards o the town of Moncarapacho. At Moncarapacho there are caves to see and an old church of some interest. There is also a neolithic temple by the caves. This is a good place to stop for a coffee and cake before heading on to Estoi. Estoi is home to many attractions of historical interest including roman ruins and a rococco palace. Estoi is also a good place to eat lunch. From Estoi you will head along through the countryside to Santa Barbara de Nexe, a beautiful and typical Algarvean village. Leaving Santa Barbara you have to go up a big hill, which rewards you with a fantastic view over Faro. At the top of this his and deep into the "Barrocal" o turn west down a valley and descend for five kilometers before the last slog up to the mangificent town of Loulé.

Stage Four

Loulé - Praia de Ancão - Loulé or Rest Day

On this day you are free to choose between a well earned rest exploring the town of Loulé or taking a trip to the coast again to see a nice sea side views and the quaint villages at Praia de Faro and São Lourenço and many other even smaller localities along the way. You will have time for a good sea side lunch in one of the many cafés and bars along the way. The beaches in this area are very famous and quite nice, if you fancy a dip. Most of your trip is relatively trafic free, although as distinct from the other days, there are some traffic "hotspots" which are marked in your route book

Stage Five

Loulé - Alte

The final stage is also the best and the hardest cycle. You leave Loulé and head north into the mountains. You pass many very picturesque valleys, hills and bubbling stream on your way to the quaint village of Querença. Querenças is a good place to explore. It has museums, a very pretty square and people selling local produce. From Querença we head out and over a step hill and descend into the next valley along. From here we take a left and go west towards another very pretty town called Salir. Salir is home to a Moorish castle and two areas that are protected as nature reserves: Fonte de Benemola and Rocha da Pena. In your route book we explain a little further about these two places. On from Salir we pass a grand valley with a huge 2 kilometre long escarpment to our right. We pass the little town of Benafim and descend the final 5km into Alte. At Alte, you will unfortunately be met by a long climb to your hotel! But the view will repay you for your effort many times over. 

What's provided:

-Accommodation for day of arrival to day of departure (7 nights in total)