Gale, Vale da Parra, Guia

Along this stretch of coastline you will find some of the Algarve’s very best beaches. The beaches near Gale, Vale da Parra and Guia broadly fit into two categories. Gloriously wide, tourist friendly expanses of sand and the more intimate coves that are bigger on caves and stunning rock formation but smaller on facilities and convenience.

The broad and inviting Salgados and Gale fit firmly in the first camp whereas Sao Rafael, Castelo, Coelha, Praia do Manuel Lourenço and Evaristo are more representative of the latter. However the idea of these smaller beaches having fewer facilities is relative. On every beach you will find at least one restaurant and beach bar, offering snacks and sumptuous seafood dishes.

The inland villages of Vale de Parra and Guia are also very close and accessible to the old town and beaches of Albufeira, which is just a short drive or taxi journey away.

Vale do Parra, which roughly translates to Valley of the Grapevines, is a peaceful inland village nestled among vineyards and citrus trees. Gale on the other hand is a coastal resort. Both are quiet places, with just a few shops and restaurants. However, despite their contrasting descriptions, they are just minutes away from each other and their proximity to the attractions in the area make Vale do Parra or Gale well placed relaxing, residential areas, close to the lively Albufeira.

A good example of the superior location of Vale da Parra and Gale is their proximity to a plethora of family friendly venues in the Algarve. The interactive zoo and waterparks Zoomarine and Aqualand, the bar and amusement park Scoobys Pool Bar, the equestrian centre Centro Hipico Quinta Da Saudade and the high octane Azumit Paintball are all within 10 minutes.

If for whatever reason this selection doesn’t do it for you the zoo/theme park Krazy World, the huge waterpark Slide and Splash and tree top assault course and paintball venue Parque Aventura are all within 20 minutes.

There is plenty in the area for nature fans to enjoy. The freshwater wetlands of Lagoa dos Salgados are close by. This eco-tourism hub has become one of the most rewarding and sought-after birding hotspots with its numerous flamingos, waterfowl and other aquatic birds. Also some of the Algarve’s best beaches are within easy reach of Vale de Parra and Gale. Here you can contrast the rocky secluded Coelha and Lourenço with the long stretches of golden sand at Galé.

There are some fantastic eateries in or close to Vale do Parra and Gale which are well worth a visit too. The house turned restaurant São Domingos with its quirky backstory and well-reviewed food and the converted farm house-come-restaurant Restaurante & Bar Quinta da Saudade near the riding school are not just dining experiences. They, like the Indian restaurant Restaurante Jompra, have spectacular designs to compliment the well-loved food and are all a short taxi ride away. For even more choice, just 10 minutes away is the charming village of Guia, home of the popular spicy piri-piri chicken restaurants and the Algarve Shopping centre.

For those looking for a lively night there is Planet Fusion within walking distance of the centre of Vale do Parra of Gale. However for a wider selection of both restaurants and nightlife Albufeira’s Marina and iconic Strip are a 10-15 minute taxi ride away.

Gale, Vale de Parra and Guia are peaceful residential areas compared to the livelier resorts nearby. However being the Algarve you are still within a stone’s throw of a beautiful and challenging golf course.

Less than ten minutes’ drive away from Gale, Vale de Parra and Guia, next to Praia Dos Salgados and Salgados Lagoon Nature Reserve, the Salgados GC is a cracking 18-hole course linking the dunes to the sea. Exposed to the elements and designed to flow perfectly with the surroundings its open nature has seen it described as a links course. However unlike traditional links courses where golfers are in a constant battle against the wind and rain, Salgados has traded those elements for year round sunshine.

If this course doesn’t do it for you, being the Algarve, there are plenty of other golf courses an easy drive away in Albufeira, Carvoeiro, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura.

Guia is ideal for those looking for a blend of old traditional Portugal but with access to all the normal attractions they would want on holiday. Situated seven kilometres inland from Albufeira, the village is a well-known and popular place to visit.

The nearest beaches such as Praia de Gale, are just 5 km away and are considered amongst the best in the Algarve. Offering a range of watersports, facilities and beach bars a trip to the beach is as good a place to start as any.

There are also several water parks either in or just a short drive away from Guia. Within minutes of the village you will find Zoomarine. This combination of marine zoo and theme park is one of the premier attractions in the Algarve, offering a blend of shows featuring marine mammals, informative exhibits and water park attractions. With all these activities ‘under one roof’ Zoomarine is probably the most comprehensive family destination to visit from Guia.

Another interactive zoo with activities for the whole family near to Guia is KrazyWorld. Their focus is a lot more land based than Zoomarine. This fun-filled theme park stands out for the sheer amount of entertainment available there, combining a mini-zoo, petting farm, crazy golf, paintball and much more. Then there is the huge Slide & Splash water park with its large areas dedicated to safe, supervised family fun.

For a dry family friendly activity close to Guia the Parque Aventura Adventure Park offer a fantastic day out suited for family or large group excursions. Primarily a tree top adventure assault course, they also have a large Paintball battle field area the perfect venue to settle some family disputes. Also within easy distance of Guia is the dedicated paintball centre Azumit Paintball. An awesome place to tire out the kids with a stealthily healthy excursion, Azimut Paintballing is another great space to spend an afternoon or a morning with friends and family.

If you are looking for a more relaxed day out, only a few minutes east of Guia you will find Algarve Shopping. This modern shopping centre has an excellent range of shops, a large supermarket, and a great food court offering a large variety of restaurants. You can easily spend the whole day at Algarve Shopping. Within the complex you will find the ‘RocknBowl´ bowling alley and funhouse and a 9 screen Cinema that shows many films in English with Portuguese subtitles.

Guia is also famous throughout Portugal for being the home of chicken piri-piri, so naturally you will find plenty of chicken piri-piri restaurants. Around the village you will also find lots of old-school, authentic, family-run restaurants serving both Portuguese and international cuisine such as O Atlantico at in the heart of Guia’s old town.

If you have even a passing interest in wine and how it is made a visit to the Adega do Cantor or ‘Winery of the Singer’ in Guia is highly recommended. The vineyard was founded by Sir Cliff Richard in the 1960s and has gone on to produce award winning Vida and Onda Nova wines. Tours of the winery are very popular. Sir Cliff is known to turn up on occasion so if you are lucky you may catch a sight of the man himself.

As authentic Portuguese villages with excellent tourist facilities nearby, Gale, Vale da Parra and Guia occupy a sweet spot among Algarve holiday destinations. When you are based in one of these places you are exposed to a slightly different side of Portugal than if you were staying at one of the resorts. The large beachside resorts sensibly concentrate on the coast whereas Vale da Parra and Guia hang slightly further back. Exploring from this pair of inland villages you get a different holiday experience.

Looking to the interior, Caliços Municipal Market is popular with visitors and locals and from here you pick up some outstanding local produce cheaper than at some of the supermarkets. Running on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month the beautiful historic building and courtyard in the middle of Calicas is transforms into a genuine, cosy marketplace.

Also away from the coast and well worth a visit is Sir Cliff Richard’s vineyard Adega do Cantor or ‘Winery of the Singer’. There are several tour times throughout the day, depending on the time of year and availability. Kids under 18 are welcome to go on the tour but, unfortunately for them, they cannot try the goods.

Further inland in the town of Pera the FIESA is a mega exhibition of sand sculptures. Run annually between March and November since 2003 the festival is the only event of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula and is considered the largest sand sculpture festival in the world. Another adventure you can get into with your back to the ocean is eating piri piri in Guia. A meal in the quaint streets of ‘the chicken capital of Portugal’ is very different to what you would experience on the coast.

Heading back to the seaside towards Gale, the Albufeira marina is worth a visit. From there you can go on to explore the ocean through amazing sea excursions or stay dry and peruse its own run of restaurants and bars. While you are down on the coast why not check out Salgados lagoon and the beaches by horseback for a unique perspective of the Alagrave. Centro Hipico Quinta Da Saudade offers rides and lessons for beginner as young as five. Their rides take in the natural habitat and carriage tours are available if you want to investigate the lagoon, dunes and coast without mounting a horse themselves.