Seabirds wing past as you stand on a lofty promontory watching Atlantic breakers pound the cliffs up and down the shoreline.
The trails of the Algarve can take you to dozens of such vantage points overlooking the ceaseless drama of the seaside. Along the way, you can spot wildlife, explore ruins from the distant past or simply relax on a hidden beach accessible only on foot.
Just inland, you’ll find quite different landscapes, from the woodlands and wildflowers of the barrocal region (a transition zone between mountains and sea) to the abundant birdlife of the Ria Formosa wetlands.
Apart from these five not-to-be-missed hikes, the Algarve also has several long-distance treks, including the 300km (186 miles) Via Algarviana and the twin routes of the Rota Vicentina, which follows the west coast into the Alentejo region.
Best clifftop hike 5.7km (3.5 miles) one-way, 2-3 hours, medium
You’ll take in mesmerizing views over turquoise seas on the so-called Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, a clifftop walk on the Algarve’s central coast. From the first steps onto the boardwalk near Vale de Centeanes beach, you’ll leave the din of modern life and enter a realm of salt-tinged air and geological wonders. Sprouting high above the crashing waves are multi-hued rock formations that seem to glow under the early morning light.
The rocky path has a few ups and downs, sometimes dropping into scenic coves right along the water’s edge. Key photo ops include views of the Alfanzina lighthouse and the twin arches over the water near Praia da Mesquita.
The walk passes right above the Benagil Caves, but if you want to see the hidden beach inside, head down to Praia de Benagil where you can arrange an excursion (by boat, paddleboard or kayak). Be sure to bring along your swimsuit for a dip off Carvalho beach along the way. You can also go for a swim at Praia da Marinha, the stunning beach at the journey’s end.
Best historic hike on the coastline 6.3km (3.9 miles) one-way, 2-3 hours, medium
Inaugurated in 2018, the Trail of the Headlands is one of the Algarve’s newest walks. Like the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail nearby, this one takes you along the cliff tops with jaw-dropping views for the duration of your hike.
Unlike its better-known sibling, however, the Caminho dos Promontórios passes some historic monuments, including the Torre da Lapa, a restored 17th-century watchtower used to alert villagers of impending dangers – pirate attacks mostly – lurking off the coast. Just east of there, you can see a few fragments from the Presa da Moura, a reservoir built by the Romans for salting and preserving fish.
You’ll also pass numerous viewpoints overlooking craggy rock formations and the striated limestone cliffs formed some 150 million
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Although the legend of Dionysus—a Greek deity responsible for wine and other pleasurable pursuits—is centuries old, the mythological figure is still influencing modern-day Greece. The nation’s indigenous grapes and unique terroir create one of the world’s most exciting wine-producing countries, but given Greece’s vast and mountainous geography it would take as much time to visit all the different regions as it did to build the Parthenon.
Remi Lucidi, a sergeant in the French Army, died far from a battlefield. His body was found last week aside a Hong Kong skyscraper where he had been spotted near the rooftop.
One aspect of the Paris Métro is minimalism. Most stations are simply white subterranean vaults with no surface building to sully the beauty of the streets. Sometimes, a station entrance is indicated by art nouveau iron flowers of no known genus (except possibly triffid), and these – the creations of Hector Guimard in the early 1900s – signify the flamboyance that coexists with the minimalism.
Carefree days lounging on the sand are a hallmark of an idyllic vacation for many travelers. But beaches themselves are a commodity, vulnerable to retreat that’s exacerbated by climate change. In fact, nearly half of the Earth’s sandy beaches could be extinct by 2100, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.
Ever dreamed of packing up everything and moving to another country? Here are the most livable cities in the world, according to a study by The Economist.
A recent report released from travel marketing engine Sojern, analyzed travel trends from January 2015 to April 2016 and found the top international destinations for U.S. travelers as well as the top emerging and declining international spots.
Jet lag—the grogginess, dehydration, and general discomfort that follows a long-haul flight, has always seemed unavoidable. Especially now, as airlines pack even more passengers into dry, pressurized cabins and decrease their average seat size. Right?
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
As travel continues to soar towards—and past—pre-pandemic levels, air travelers are once again getting familiar with busier skies and more crowded airports. In fact, 1 out of every 4 flights landing at New York City’s Newark airport arrives more than 15 minutes late.
We might not have a Kardashian-level budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an equally luxurious vacation to Morocco. And the “Red City” of Marrakech is the perfect place to start. With over a million people calling it home, and millions more visiting every year, Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most popular cities. The city’s culture is reflected in its architecture, which includes traditional Islamic designs as well as influences from Europe and North Africa. This extends to the city’s luxury hotels. From riads — a traditional property set around a central garden or courtyard — marble clad opulent palaces accommodations, to big-name hotels, there’s an impressive collection of stunning properties scattered across the bohemian city. To help you make an informed decision about your vacation to Morocco, here is a list of some of the best Marrakech hotels.
There’s no shortage of unique hotels in Cape Town, South Africa, that show you how a vacation should be done. Positioned between ocean and mountain, the breathtaking landscape is matched by a thrilling downtown district dishing up farm-to-fork fare and wines from the local vineyards. With international and boutique hotels vying for your attention, whittling down where to stay in Cape Town is the biggest hurdle. Complete with swimming pools and views for days, these luxury hotels in Cape Town’s top neighborhoods have you spoiled for comfort and location.
The turquoise waters and paradise beaches of Brazil’s Região dos Lagos have earned this watery region the nickname Caribe Brasileiro, the Caribbean of Brazil. The area lies on a lake- and lagoon-filled coastal outcropping in Rio de Janeiro state, just a couple hours’ drive north of the city of Rio. While it’s best known for the glitzy beach resort of Búzios, the less-traveled town of Cabo Frio is less than an hour south of Búzios and offers a lot to those fortunate enough to visit. Locals cherish Cabo Frio for the high quality of life, the ease of getting into nature, and the fact that you can have gorgeous places to yourself.