This is not just a holiday. It’s an Algarve holiday, which means there’s a whole lot more than perfect sand, hot sun and invigorating seas to enjoy.
Yes, the beaches are divine. If you want lovely nightlife, plenty of great bars and excellent eateries, that’s no problem at all. But if you’d like to refresh your spirit with some seriously gorgeous, world-class eye candy, you can do that here as well.
Here are some of the Algarve’s most beautiful natural wonders, each one unique and every one as Instagrammable as the next. Prepare for heavenly.
First a bit about Algarve wildlife
It might not be far from home, a short haul flight away, but the wildlife on the Algarve is as varied as the landscapes. Think hoopoes and eyed lizards, Iberian lynxes and European chameleons, water voles and weasels, hedgehogs, rabbits and Iberian hares. You might spot any number of migratory bird species as well as the locals, especially on the unique salt marshes, lagoons and dunes.
There are a load of bat species here, around 20 different bats as listed here in this cool article. Then there are parsley frogs and polecats, otters and martens, genets, red foxes and wolves. Plus geckoes and seals, mongooses and wildcats, wild pigs and boars, a variety of mice, rats and voles, the list goes on. The sea life is just as thrilling and the landscapes are just as varied as the wildlife living in them, as you’ll see.
Fabulous Cape St Vincent – Cabo de São Vicente
Head for the most south westerly tip of Portugal, the very edge of continental Europe, to see the dramatic cliffs and famous lighthouse at cape St Vincent, a place seafarers and explorers sailed past on their way to adventures into the unknown, the dangerous, the dodgy and the downright weird. Many never came back, a few are still famous to this day for discovering this and that.
The São Vicente Lighthouse is worth a visit all on its own, the ultimate in dramatic settings. You can almost smell the history here as well as admiring the natural wonders of the coastline. Don’t miss glorious Samoqueira Beach, a destination to die for, a jewel in the Algarve coast’s crown.
Magical Ria Formosa Natural Park
Ria Formosa Natural Park offers an enormous, incredibly diverse natural landscape including strange flat barrier islands, lagoons, dunes, salty marshlands and rich wetlands seething with life, along with a host of fascinating bird species, more than 200 different birds in all. You can also have fun with water sports like kayaking and windsurfing.
Awe-inspiring Benagil Sea Cave
It might be one of the biggest coastal attractions in the Algarve but a visit to this sea cave is worth every second of the effort, a geological jewel set on the south coast. Accessible only by sea, you’ll experience the awe you only get in a place like this: huge, strange and somehow moving. The massive sunlit dome inside, where the rays shine through, light up the pretty sandy beach inside and the rough limestone walls and crystal-clear waters add to the amazement. Think surreal and you get the idea. Do it by boat, kayak or paddleboard and you’ll never forget the experience.
Extraordinary Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve
Head for the equally inspiring Alvor Nature Reserve in south west Portugal for even more exciting and unusual wildlife habitats, everything from lush coastal environments to hilly country, home to outstanding flora and fauna and a wonder-a-minute for bird watchers.
The waters here are crystal clear, very beautiful, and like the Ria Formosa Natural Park, as well as natural wonders to die for there’s also a wealth of thrilling outdoor activities including canoeing, kayaking, and wild swimming. You’ll also adore the ancient ruined Moorish fortifications, ancient Roman ruins and more, which help you stitch together the human history of this awesome place.
Breathtaking Monchique Mountains
So much of the Algarve experience is about the views, and the Monchique Mountain range never disappoints. This is a place of truly stunning natural magic, with oodles of breathtaking views and landscapes to upload to your Insta account, each one a mini masterpiece.
The mountains extend to not far short of 300 km square, at their highest an awesome 902 m above sea level. A lovely lyrical landscape of green valleys and rolling hills, the place is criss-crossed with wonderful hiking trails and nature walks, along which you’ll find waterfalls so dramatic they’ll take your breath away. We love the Barbelote fall in particular, accessible via an hour’s thrilling hike through fragrant pine forest to the peak of the Algarve’s highest mountain, Monte Fóia.
Glorious Vila Real de Santo António Marsh nature reserve
If you’re up for another spectacular Algarve natural reserve you’ll love the Vila Real de Santo António Marsh, a reserve dedicated to protecting the area’s unique wetlands ecosystems. It covers the municipalities of Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, a stone’s throw from the Spanish border, and there’s just over 2000 hectares of natural excitement on offer.
This is where salt marshes, mudflats, salt pans, and dune systems collide to create an incredibly diverse landscape of different ecosystems, a crucial breeding ground and food source for countless interesting birds, majoring on waterfowl. Watch out for elegant avocets, leggy black-winged stilts and a wealth of water waders, all doing their birdy thing in perfect tranquillity and solitude.
Mesmerising Ponta da Piedade
Here’s another mind-blower for you. Ponta da Piedade, near Lagos, is a bizarre natural seascape of tall, craggy stacks and arches, all in lovely golden sand stone – basically fossilised sand – with the strata clearly visible. This visible geology reveals the millions of years the rock took to form in layers, quite a sight.
These stunning rock formations and towering sea cliffs, surrounded deep turquoise and emerald waters, were created by the constant crashing of the Atlantic in all its glory, creating numerous scenic arches, caves, and grottoes thousands of years in the making. See it all from the ocean by boat or kayak, or take in the views of this remarkable landscape from the cliff top pathways.
Unforgettable Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
You’re spoiled for natural park choice in the Algarve region. Next on our list is the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, more than 100km of outstanding coastline taking in everything from secret coves and beaches to ridiculously pretty ancient hilltop villages. This is a paradise for nature lovers with its beautiful sand dunes, unique wetlands and glittering lagoons, a real hot spot for biodiversity.
Here’s where, with a bit of luck, you’ll see the Iberian Lynx – a big cat to remember – plus actual eagles: huge birds wheeling and screaming high above on the thermals. Plus endless unusual flora and fauna. There’s more to do here than walk, see and wonder. You can also experience coastal camping under the stars as the waves rush and crash and seethe, sending you into a peaceful natural sleep.
Natural Algarve tours
Many of these outdoor adventures are available on Algarve tours, the easy way to get to and from the magic without any of the faff. Whether you adore the inland region’s serene valleys and majestic mountains or are fascinated by the work of the sea and wind, how it transforms, the coastline, there’s something for everyone.
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