A hidden beach: Praia de Albandeira
To the west of Albufeira (a disappointment, other than the beach) we followed a recommendation and headed to the hidden beach of Praia de Albandeira [map]. It's a winding drive on quiet single-track roads through lovely countryside that eventually ends in a stone car park.
Lain out below was a beautiful cove with sheer cliffs made from millions of seashells, a giant rock pool and crystal clear waters. The kids explored the nooks and crannies and made camp in sand filled lulls in the rocks. Overlooking the cove is a small cafe selling pizzas and light snacks, and also offering sightseeing canoe trips into the surrounding sea caves and the beautiful sea arch (below) which can be seen from the cliff top a few minutes walk to the west.
This was stunning and a highlight of the trip that the children still talk about.
The hinterland and the hills
This was a risky endeavour to propose to the kids, Abandon the lure of the sea and hotel pools and head to the hill villages and valleys a short distance inland. We had agreed on a brief stop in the two main destinations of Salir and Alte with a picnic in between.
We ambled our way around Salir [map], where the walls of an earthquake-damaged castle had been absorbed into the village, staring across the valleys below. Being a Sunday meant the small museum was closed and the winding pedestrian paths were deserted apart from swifts calling overhead and distant cockerels calls echoing through the white washed walls (right). It was also where our younger daughter discovered her first lizard, instantly turning her into a reptile tracker for the rest of the day.