Section 2 starts at Quinta do Lago. The Quinta do Lago is a tourist resort in the Algarve (Almancil parish, Loulé municipality), one of the most luxurious in Europe. It is inserted in the Ria Formosa Natural Park (protected area), a wide landscape of pine trees with stunning views of the lake and the Atlantic Ocean. Quinta do Lago is also a luxury destination for bird watchers, like the São Lourenço Lagoon. Quinta do Lago names a then existing beach with a long sand and no rocks. If you like golf, this area is ideal to practice. There are several luxurious courses of incredible beauty, just choose.
Following trip comes to Quarteira, a distinctly tourist place of the Algarve, especially in the summer. With an open marginal palm, which extends parallel to the ocean where it draws beaches divided by jetties.
The next destination to discover is Vilamoura, one of the largest leisure resorts in Europe. Golf, tennis, horse riding, a casino and an aerodrome are examples of complements of a tourist complex where the big star is the marina. Great beaches with extensive sands and excellent accesses and plenty of day and night entertainment make Vilamoura a destination of excellence.
Continuing trip arrives to Albufeira. From the Arabian, Albufeira inherited the narrow small streets, the old castle and the very white houses with arches. From the old fisherman village of old traditions, nowadays it is left the Pescadores Beach (Fishermans beach) dedicated also to the tourist visits to the fabulous sea caverns of this coast. It offers about 30 km of coastline and more than 20 golden beaches, both with respect to the natural environment and in terms of occupancy and tourism. A walking path by the will offer you magnificent views over the city, the beaches and the cliffs, ending in the beautiful cave of Xorino.
Between Albufeira and Armação de Pera you can visit the Zoomarine, a fascinating and educational oceanographic park in Portugal, created in the image Algarve’s secular tradition with the sea. Visit Zoomarine and spend a fascinating day filled with dolphins, seals, sharks, turtles, exotic and marine birds, crocodiles and tropical fish. You can also enjoy take a dip in the pool or venture into one of the park’s attractions.
Following your route reaches of Armação de Pera, which deserve mention its extensive beach and warm waters. On the eastern side of the beach remembering the fishing traditions of this town some colorful fishing boats are displayed on the sandy area. Nearby, in the village of Pera you can visit FIESA – The International Sand Sculptures Festival (usually between mid-March and October) that is the only event of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula and, given its dimension is the largest in the world. And if all day long you can appreciate the sculptures in full detail, at night there is a varied program of live music, theater, dance and circus arts.
Lagoa is the next county to find out. Natural heritage stands out Algar Seco, a spectacular natural rock formation that gave rise to a network of caves which lets in the sea water, the estuary of the Arade River, or the unique natural area – Sítio das Fontes. A very rich municipality also in built heritage, churches and a convent, forts, lighthouses and features chimneys.
The final location of this section is Ferragudo, with its white houses, leading down to the banks of the Arade River, Ferragudo is a picturesque fishing village, located opposite Portimão which ends this section.
This section is part of the Ecovia do Algarve, a 214 kilometers cycling route that connects Vila Real de Santo António (Section 1) to Cabo de São Vicente (Section 3), crossing 12 counties along the southern coastline of the Algarve.
Comments: Section 2