Faro, Portugal. (Oct 22)
A last minute birthday weekend in the Algarve, courtesy of a crazily low priced (hand luggage only) flight to Faro!
The first morning took us across the Ria Formosa lagoon to the empty beaches and turquoise waters of the Península do Ancão. The final stop of the number 16 bus deposited us at the very end of a link bridge and onto the mid-point of a vast natural sand spit which, end to end is several miles in length. We turned left and just kept on walking! The sand strewn road quickly gave way to a rickety old boardwalk where makeshift shacks, bars and houses are nestled in the dunes. The area has a bohemian feel to it with back packers and camper van owners enjoying the emptiness, I’m guessing that’s because we are here outside of peak season. It’s also a bird wildlife and sea-life haven, so I wish we had more time to explore. Maybe next time !
We found an isolated spot on the beach and spent the afternoon soaking up the sun, swimming in the sea and listening to the waves. There was hardly a soul in sight but the sun was still hot and the sea a lot warmer than expected.
Not wanting to leave this little corner of paradise we stayed well into the evening and ended up watching the sunset at a beach shack-restaurant (called Wax) where we enjoyed a lovely meal on a table right on the beach. Such an amazing and idyllic start to the weekend!
We shared a taxi back to Faro with two random people we met back at the bus stop (who like us had misread the low season timetable) before heading out to the town and some amazing live music at a local bar. It was a late one!
Day two – and we headed off for a tour of two iconic Algarve sights, first the Benagil caves (where we swam/body boarded in from the ocean) and then onto Marinha with its cliff top walks and secluded beaches; both were as awesome as promised. Our return to Faro found us at the “Old Tavern”, a lively rustic restaurant in a corner of the old town we had spotted the day before. We enjoyed a tapas style menu with a crazy ending – it’s not everywhere the waiters insist on sharing complementary shots of triple sec and brandy at the end of the meal! Cheers, two bangs of the glass on the table and down the hatch.
That’s great service!
We ended the evening back near our accommodation in a roof terrace bar watching another sunset and enjoying the balmy night.
Our final day, and we headed off for a hearty unlimited buffet breakfast on the swanky roof terrace of ‘Hotel Faro’, it also boasted great views overlooking the marina (hack of the weekend with a walk in breakfast rate of £13). We then took a river taxi across the lagoon and returned to the area we visited on Saturday. Another dip in the ocean and beer in a beach shack gave us the perfect way to end our short break. The bus ride to the airport took only took a few minutes, so we were able to eke out as much time on the beach as possible.
This place is great for a weekend escape with quiet beaches on the one hand and lively bars on the other – especially the areas adjacent to the old walled town and harbour. Incredibly good value for money… It’s not one of Europes main cultural or historical hotspots, but there was more than enough going on to keep us busy (we merely scratched the surface) and it’s also a great place to have as a base to access the wider region or simply for a wind down over a weekend.
