About the regions

Its pleasant climate makes the Algarve an ideal holiday destination in Portugal throughout the year. The south of Portugal is extremely varied and offers many interesting destinations apart from just sun, sea and the beach.

The Western Algarve has a wild coastline with small bays, beaches, fishing villages and unspoilt nature. Further north you’ll find vast Cork Oak plantations and the green interior has forests and mountains.

The Central Algarve, between Faro and Lagos, offers long sandy beaches, intimate bays, traditional villages, interesting culture and lovely food. Most of the coastline has spectacular golden yellow rock formations.

In the Eastern Algarve you’ll find small sandy beaches, old fishing villages and historic ruins. This less touristy part of the Algarve, east of Faro, is a treasure trove of nature as well as culture.

The Western Algarve has a lot for nature lovers including the nature reserve Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina with its unique flora/fauna, and the green Serra de Monchiqe with subtropical plants. Both offer beautiful natural landscapes. Lively towns worth a visit in this part of Southern Portugal are Lagos with its historic centre, picturesque Odeceixe and Aljezur, situated on a hill.

Inland the rolling countryside with its many plantations is quiet and in the north slowly blends into the Serra de Caldeirão and Serra de Monchique.

Interesting sights in Eastern Algarve are Faro's old city centre, beautiful Tavira with its 30 churches, Cacela Velha with its fortress and the typical Portuguese Moncarapacho with its unique church museum. Nature lovers must visit the Parque Natural da Ria Formose with its many lagoons, small islands and sandbanks.

Beautiful sandy beaches are found in all the Algarve regions offering swimming, sunbathing and water sports. The beaches vary from idyllic small bays on the rocky coast to long sandy beaches near lively seaside resorts.

Western Algarve is the best place for surfers. The South as well as the West coast have areas with ideal surf conditions. Walking is great along the coast or in hilly Serra de Monchique with the Fóia and Picota peaks (902 metres and 773 metres respectively).

Bird watchers should definitely visit the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina nature reserve which hosts hundreds of bird species.

Central Algarve has many golf and tennis courses and other sports facilities. Two exclusive golf resorts are Vale do Lobo en Quinta do Lago. Both have villas, hotels and apartments hidden under pine trees. Some of the large seaside resorts offer surfing, water skiing, snorkelling and boat trips. Walks lead along the cliffs following the coast or inland over the green rolling country side.

Sports are a good option in the Eastern Algarve too. Cycling is possible on the many small country lanes and mountain biking following the unpaved sand tracks. Although most of the golf courses are located in the middle of the Algarve there are some beautiful ones in the east too. To explore the rich birdlife take a boat trip through the lagoons of the Natural Park Ria daFormosa

Portucasa is the specialist for unique holiday rentals in the Algarve. Our Algarve selection is subdivided into three regions: Eastern Algarve, Central Algarve and . We visit and select all houses giving you the assurance that you?ll be renting a good quality house with all modern comforts.

Portucasa's holiday accommodations are far away from mass tourism and offer tranquillity, space and privacy. Our villas, apartments and country houses are situated in a nature reserve, a fishing village, a small seaside resort, on a river, surrounded by vineyards, in a valley or on top of a hill on the coast.

Many of these holiday accommodations have a pool and a garden where you can enjoy the Portuguese climate and life.

Because we have a wide variety of holiday homes and locations you'll always be able to find a beautiful spot in the Eastern, Middle or Western Algarve to spend your dream holiday. If you'd like some advice, have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us. We love to help!