Hidden Secrets of The Eastern Algarve

Untouched landscapes, charming quaint towns and peace, quiet and tranquility await you in the Eastern Algarve. An hour from the hustle and bustle of towns like Lagos and Albufeira, the eastern Algarve remains less known and less developed with stunning pockets of natural beauty and hidden gems. Tucked almost to the Spanish border, the Eastern Algarve contains plenty of top rated attractions as well as many options for lesser known tours and experiences. To discover more of the Algarve see “Best Beaches of The Algarve” for additional recommendations to add to your itinerary/

Choosing to stay in the Eastern Algarve will put you about an hours drive from many of the main tourist destinations in the Algarve like Benagil Caves, Seven Hanging Valleys etc. We recommend spending a day trip from the Eastern Algarve to explore these top rated destinations but for the remaining three days (or 5 or 7, etc.), escape to a beach vacation with less tourists, more authentic Portuguese culture and some of the most stunning natural resources Portugal has to offer.

Our two favorite Stays in the Eastern Algarve were Villa Loreto ( Fuzeta, slightly closer to Lagos) and Verdelago Resort in Praia Verde. Both properties are adjacent to the water and feature stunning ocean views and have wonderful amenities on site. I am a sucker for good design and value in my accommodations and both these properties delivered on both!

Verdelago Resort:

Full disclosure: This is NOT a budget friendly accommodation. This is the splurge you commit to because you deserve a dream vacation and who doesn’t like to experience the highest level of service sometimes? A dream retirement destination, Verdelago offers all the best of what you want from a high end resort experience. Despite the price tag, the value of what you receive at this resort far exceeded my wildest expectations. We received an upgrade upon check-in to a two bedroom apartment (from a one bedroom) and included a full breakfast each morning. Full concierge service for booking excursions was on offer and the staff did everything to ensure our stay was exceptional. We went in early May and essentially had the resort to ourselves!

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The Amenities

Staying at Verdelago gives you unlimited access to Praia Verde via a collection of boardwalks that meander through the property. Complimentary bikes are offered at multiple locations across the property and you can just pick one up and leave one at your next destination. We spent a lot of time at the beach and loved the comfortable loungers and umbrellas offered to resort guests. Lunch at the Beach Club restaurant was delicious and offered a nice respite from the sun as well as stunning views along the dunes.

Yoga and complimentary Classes

A schedule of events is offered each week and we happened to be there when morning Yoga was offered! There were options like chocolate classes and wine tastings, all available free of charge to their guests!

Verdelago’s commitment to Sustainability

“There isn’t, on the entire Algarve coastline, a place as pristine and unexplored as the Eastern Algarve. Here nature reigns. We can still feel its presence authentically. Maintaining, caring for, preserving and respecting this ecosystem is part of Verdelago Resort’s intrinsic mission and existence. These values formed the basis of all decisions taken during the conception of the project, its solutions and projected infrastructures. Founded on these principles, we have idealized, based on the best current sustainability practices in terms of construction, energy efficiency, waste treatment, use and choice of materials and natural resources, and in all actions essential to its construction, a project where the environmental impact is as small as possible. More than being involved in nature, Verdelago Resort will be part of it. Taking care of her and letting her take care of us.” -Verdelago Resort

Villa Loreto

This newly opened small boutique hotel boasts high end design elements and a tranquil vibe perfect for relaxing by the pool. Located a little closer to Faro, this is a great destination to explore some of the Eastern Algarve’s hidden secrets. Enjoy a complimentary full breakfast each morning and explore the local back streets and salt flats with their complimentary bicycles! I spent the morning exploring this quiet neighborhood complete with some local horses, birding and some contemplative moments by the pool! I don’t think their rates will remain this reasonable forever so snag this value-packed accommodation option soon before they are discovered as the hidden gem of the Eastern Algarve!

Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you”.

Things to Do in The Eastern Algarve

We wished we had more time in this area of the Algarve but found some really fun and unique activities and hidden gems! Most of these are free and we did not encounter parking fees at any of these attractions. Many of the tours/excursions we were interested in were sold out so we highly recommend booking these ahead of time and leaving some downtime to explore these free and easy to access spots.

Tavira

We headed into Tavira at sunset and the golden glow over this charming city provided some great photo opportunities! We had dinner at Terraze that came complete with blankets and top notch service overlooking the river. A half day spent in Tavira offers a relaxing afternoon strolling by the river and exploring some of the hidden gardens and backstreets of this charming little city!

Castro Marim

We headed to Castro Marim on our way back to Lisbon. I was hoping to photograph the flamingos in the Salt flats that morning but only saw some briefly flying. Lindsey waited in the car while I did my thing and went in search of these unique birds. The salt flats are beautiful and full of a variety of birds. We also hoped to spend an afternoon here at the Aqua-Me Spa but days and times we had available were completely booked. The only way to book the spa on its own is through their direct website or if you are staying at Verdelago, they are happy to book this excursion for you. At the time of this post, there were no GYG or Viator tour options.

Cacela Velha

This tiny little town has some of the most stunning views of the Rio Formosa! Roaming this colorful and quaint town offers some cute places to grab a bite to eat before descending down the stairs to wander the tidal flats. Cacela Velha is one of the most beautiful secret gems of the Eastern Algarve and deserves a view hours with a picnic lunch/dinner to soak in the natural, untouched beauty of the Algarve.

Pego do Inferno

Traveling with young adults sometimes means infusing a little adventure into your itinerary… traveling with Lindsey means infusing A LOT of adventure into your itinerary! After spending the morning relaxing by the beach at Verdelago, it was time to get our adrenaline going! I had heard of this secret waterfall outside of Tavira and we set out to find this hidden gem! The GPS directed us to a closed private roadway but we continued circling around to find a small grouping of parking spaces. There is no sign indicating Pego Do Inferno but we saw other groups of young people emerging from the woods and hoped we had landed in the right place! The pathway is not marked and we explored through bamboo forests towards the sound of voices and the sound the rushing water. Emerging above the falls, we navigated our way down to the base. A group of young boys were daring one another to jump and some kind locals reassured us that the depth was safe enough to jump. After watching them jump, Lindsey could not possibly let these boys have all the fun!

“Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down.”

Ray Bradbury

Tours and Excursions

There were a number of tours and excursions we could have done during our time in the Eastern Algarve. We really wanted a mixture of adventure, relaxation and culture during this trip and didn’t commit to many excursions. There is plenty to see and do in the Eastern Algarve without needing to book excursions but when we return, here are some that we’ll be adding to itinerary!

Get out on the water and discover some of the islands surrounding Tavira. We love to see wild life on the water so these two boat tour options will be top of the list on our next visit!

We absolutely adored the Eastern Algarve! We chose to drive back to Lisbon through the Portuguese countryside- From Castro Marim we drove on N122 which afforded us so many views of Olive and Cork orchards and rolling vistas. Adding a little bit of drive time, but the views and small farming towns were worth the added time. We arrived in Sintra in 4 hours and the views were well worth the extra effort! For a detailed guide on visiting Sintra, check out “Why Sintra Is So Special” and continue sharing our journey with Stone Path Family Adventures!