Discover Portugal. Includes FREE planning and background information. Love it or loathe it, it’s easy to see the allure of the Algarve: breathtaking cliffs, golden sands, scalloped bays and long sandy islands. And let’s not forget (as too many do) the stunning inland area, which boasts beautiful countryside and pretty castle towns. It’s the inner Algarve that really shines. To bypass this area is to miss the Algarve proper: cork tree– and flower-covered hillsides, historic villages (many with restaurants serving intoxicating cuisine), walking tracks and birdlife. Highlights include stunning Silves above the banks of the Rio Arade, sleepy Alcoutim on the picture-perfect Rio Guadiana, and quaint Monchique. The region has some excellent walking opportunities and the Via Algarviana passes through the area.
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