Summer-like weather, golf, hiking by the sea and birdwatching are just some of the Spring-like activities you can enjoy in Portugal’s southern coast at the turn of the season.

If you’re wondering where to go during Spring Break, torn between the lively and the safe, the family and the fun… think no more.

Summer-like Weather

In Portugal’s southernmost coast, there is a place where Spring feels like Summer, and the warm, tranquil waters welcome visits every day.

The Algarve’s mean temperature during the months of Spring varies – but is seldom less than 20 and often close to 30 degrees Celsius. This means you can actually enjoy a beach holiday from March onwards – with the added advantage of lesser crowds and cheaper flights.

World Class Golf Courses

And for those of you looking for a bit more action, you mustn’t forget the golf. Come sunshine or, well, sunshine, golf is the preferred sport of the Algarvian native.

With over 30 golf courses in the region, most of them tucked away nicely inside luxury resorts, you will feel like the whole world has emptied just for you viewing put.

Hiking

But because golf isn’t for every member of the family, you can always go on long hikes by the sea, in famous trails like the Telheiro Beach Trail, the Cordoama Beach Trail, the Castelejo Trail and the Pontal da Carrapateira Trail.

Birdwatching

For those more of an introvert nature, who appreciate the fine things in life and the quiet of their own thoughts, bird-watching is the name of the game.

The Algarve is the best region in Portugal for bird-watching, because it is the one which homes the greatest diversity of avian species. In total, there are close to 400 different birds species and all of them keen on sunshine and warm weather, which makes bird-watching trips pleasant and often rewarding.

The bird-watching hotspots of the region include Cape St Vincent, Alvor Estuary, Cabranosa, Quinta da Rocha, Salgados Lagoon, Castro Marim Nature Reserve and Quinta do Lago in the Ria Formosa.

General Information

The Balaia Golf Village Hotel is a 4-star accommodation, located in the Albufeira area just 500m from Maria Luisa Beach. Is known for being one of the best golf resorts in the Algarve. It was designed for those looking for calmness, nature, style and quality.

Location: Balaia Golf Village Hotel is located in the Albufeira area, between the beautiful Balaia and Maria Luísa beaches which are just a short walk away. As the name suggests, this hotel is just a step away from the Balaia Golf Course. Albufeira’s strip is just 1.8km away, Algarve Shopping 3km, Pine Cliffs Golf Course 2.9km and Olhos de Agua Beach just 1.6km away. Please click here to open the map with Balaia Golf Village Hotel’s location »

Amenities: Balaia Golf Village has 6 outdoor swimming pools; a health club with wellness club, Jacuzzi, Turkish bathroom, massages; bowling green; golf club with academy; 4 tennis courts; gym; kids’ club; 2 restaurants (“Le Club” and “A Varanda”); bike and bike rental; business corner, among several other services.

Rooms: Balaia Golf Village has 11 accommodation types (apartments and villas), with a capacity up to guests and a price range between €33 and €321 per night. All rooms feature sofa, dining area, kitchen, coffee machine, microwave, electric kettle, balcony, heating, iron, wardrobe or closet, outdoor furniture, among other facilities. The room types are designated as:Superior One-Bedroom Apartment, Standard Two-Bedroom Apartment, Superior Two-Bedroom Apartment, Superior Two-Bedroom Villa, Standard Three-Bedroom Villa and Superior Three-Bedroom Villa.

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Transportation from / to Faro Airport

Balaia Golf Village is a 35 minutes drive from Faro Airport. We can take you there in total comfort just from €33. Private, direct and hassle free.

Portugal’s southernmost region is much more than just fish and chips shops and white sand beaches. There’s history and culture below its clear blue skies, and it’s our duty as hosts to tell you all about it. For the fancy tourist in all of you, here are the top 5 museums to visit in the Algarve.

Museu Regional Do Algarve

To begin at the beginning, as the bard once said. The Algarve’s Regional Museum is a must-stop spot to learn all about the region’s past. From long-forgotten occupiers to the arts and crafts that shaped the Algarve’s many villages, this is your chance to drop some generic culture in an otherwise bucolic destination.

Cerro da Vila

Dating back to the 3rd century, the archaeological findings at Cerro da Vida have become more than just ruins, they’re a proper museum. The spot used to be a village, inhabited during the Roman, Visigoth and Arav occupations. This dates from the 1st century BC to the 11th century AD. All of this sounds way more interesting when you visit this open-air museum, where you get to walk through the remains of the Roman villa.

Museu Municipal de Faro

One of the biggest and most famous museums in the region is Faros’ National Museum. Here you have 5 long-term exhibitions which look back to the city’s past and legacy, dating back from the Roman occupation. But this museum’s best feature is the fact that it’s located in what was once a stunning convent.

Lagos Wax Museum

You might have heard of the Portuguese’s central role during the Age of Discoveries, but now is your chance to really experience it. Well, maybe not ‘really’, but certainly ‘waxy’. Plus, it’s located in the beautiful village of Lagos, so you’ll have your hands full after you leave.

Did you know that Yellowfish Transfers has a long term partnership with AirEmotions? On your transfer voucher you will find an exclusive discount coupon for the Air Race Experience. Don’t miss the opportunity and try a different and exciting experience!

About AirEmotions (website here)

Air Race Experience
Experience the feeling of a ‘Barrel Roll’ or a ‘Loop the Loop’ during your flight at an experienced aviation centre. You will be a part of a spectacular display of grace and elegance, whilst viewing the world from a different angle and defying gravity. Sit back and enjoy the exhilaration as you encounter well-known aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops, rolls, stall turns, chandelles and steep turns. You will fly at speeds of over 100mph, thousands of feet in the air and test your nerves in this adventurous, white knuckle ride.

Location here

What’s Included?
– Aerobatic Flight Experience in an Extra 330LX plane
– 1h Experience, w/ 15min flight
– Personalised Flight Certificate
– A full pre-flight safety briefing to explain principles of an aerobatic flight
– The flight duration includes taxi, take off and landing time

What happens?
Your experience starts with the qualified instructor giving you a pre-flight briefing which will enable you to understand how the aircraft is capable of aerobatic flight. Once in the air, your instructor will accelerate the aircraft to over 100mph before starting a sequence of aerobatic manoeuvres, which may include loops, rolls, and wingovers. Due to the nature of this experience it is unlikely you will be able to take the controls, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. This experience is not for the faint hearted and is definitely not recommended with a hangover. Please note that the manoeuvres described above are only an example of what you may experience and can differ depending on the location.

Did you know that Yellowfish Transfers has a long term partnership with Skydive Seven? On our vouchers you will find an exclusive discount coupon for the Tandem Skydive experience. Don’t miss the opportunity and try a different and exciting experience!

About SkyDive Seven (website here)

Skydive Seven, based at Portimão Municipal Aerodrome, is the Tandem Skydiving leader company in Algarve, at Portugal south coast. We provide an Unbelievable, Exhilarating, awe Inspiring and mind-blowing beautiful jump, on the most incredible view. Definitely the most happiness team in Europe, safe and well-cared. We jump all-year-round (7 days a week) on great weather conditions, even during winter.

Location here

Tandem Skydiving:

What Is a Tandem Skydive?
Tandem skydiving is when a first time passenger is harnessed to a licensed, tandem instructor. No experience is needed for people who want to try first time tandem skydiving. Read our step-by-step process for going on your first skydive!

Harness Up & Training
Airplane Ride
Harness: Adjusted to passengers body shape/size. Instructor reviews free fall body position – ‘arch’ and ‘lift legs’ for landing. Look out the window – relax, smile and enjoy the Algarve view! 10-15 minutes depending on aircraft.

Skydive seven algarve
From 15,000ft – the top experience
Jump from the highest altitude in Europe – up to 15,000 ft with a 70 second freefall. Skydive with your buddies! Safety record that is second to none! Best Tandem Skydiving prices in Algarve – get the most bang for your buck!

Exit and Freefall
Instructor double checks harness to ensure it is hooked up properly and secure Airplane door is opened by skydivers Passenger and instructor walk towards door and exit! Freefall Free fall lasts 20-60 seconds depending on exit altitude Free fall reaches speeds upwards of 120-140 mph Feels more like floating than falling – no stomach drop sensation

Parachute Ride and Landing
Deployed at 5,500 ft by instructor. Lasts 5-7 minutes depending on weight of passenger/instructor/size of parachute. Passengers can fly the parachute with the aid of their instructor. Instructor will fly a landing pattern just like an aircraft would use for landing on a runway with a predetermined downwind, base and final approach calculated based on the given wind direction and speed. Passenger will be instructed to lift legs so that both can slide in on the ground. A slide in landing is the safest way to avoid injury to ankles/legs.

Is Skydiving For Everyone?
A Tandem Skydive is something that most people can do and requires no prior experience. If you can jump off of a dinner table and land on your feet without any trouble then you are most likely physically capable of skydiving. Skydiving center’s have restrictions based on age and weight for tandem skydive passengers. Weight restrictions are in place to with customer/instructor safety and to meet requirements made by tandem harness manufacturing companies.

The Algarve isn’t all just fine sandy beaches and pristine waters. Portugal’s southernmost region is a gauntlet of history and religion. A place where Romans, Phoenicians, Christians and Moors clashed to form a rich and unique cultural heritage.

When walking through the cobble streets of Algarve’s fishing villages and quasi-metropolitan towns, you’ll often find yourself in narrow, uphill paths, surrounded by other pilgrims. If you’re wondering where the path will take you – it will most likely be a place where Kings and Queens reigned and armies fought off attempts to siege their land. You’ll find yourself in a castle.

Silves

A national monument of pride, Silves’ Castle is probably the first to warrant a visit. It might just be the single most important – and is certainly the largest – in all of the Algarve.

You’ll fight off tourists on your way up, but its Islamic roots and breathtaking views will make up for it.

Castro Marim

Widely considered one of the most important Middle Age legacies in the region, the Castro Marim castle dates back to the 13th century, and now stands oddly centred within a huge natural park and a tiny – but very touristic – town called Vila Real de Sto Antonio.

Among the castle’s biggest highlights are the medieval fair which it welcomes every year. That’s an absolute must-see even for the weariest of travelers.

Lagos

Again a monument of Islamic roots, the picturesque Lagos Castle was originally built by the Romans, and later occupied by the moors, who used their engineering know-how to reinforce it.

Unfortunately, it suffered the horrors of the great earthquake which shook the country and nearly destroyed the capital in 1755, causing a tsunami which brought the castle to its knees.

Paderne

If you look closely at the Portuguese flag, you’ll find 7 little castles pictured in the centre of the coat of arms. One of those, is the Castle of Paderne.

Built during the Moorish invasion, it is considered a national monument and remains one of region’s most treasured.

Aljezur

Another built by the Moors in the 10th century, this hill top castle features an impressive set of walls connecting two great towers. It was taken by the Christians three centuries later and offers visitors an impressive view over the land.

As the festive season draws to a close, there’s still time to visit Portugal and taste some of the sweetest pastries the country has to offer.

From deep fried goodies to puddings and chocolate logs (yes, that’s right), this Mediterranean gem’s Christmas treats should be enough for you to visit the country in the winter time. If it’s not, you can draw some satisfaction from the 18 degrees Celsius and the radiating sunshine you’ll get during the day.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, and the adventurous soul of a traveling foodie, here are the top five treats you should look out for.

Portuguese Pasta Pudding (Aletria)

Think rice pudding, but made with vermicelli noodles. Sounds kind of gross, right? But like most disruptive pastries, it’s absolutely delicious.

In a saucepan, add 2.5 cups milk, 1/2 cup water and heat until it boils. Add the sugar, lemon rinds, and butter to the saucepan. Stir it well. Reduce to medium heat. Finally, add the vermicelli noodles and mix again. Let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes. Beat the egg yolks well and then add them to the saucepan along with the last 1/2 cup milk. Stir it well as it simmers for another 3 minutes. When ready, cover with cinnamon powder.

Fried Pumpkin Cakes (Sonhos de Abobora)

It doesn’t get much better than this. Think of a smooth cloud of sweet pumpkin which melts in your mouth after each bite.

In a saucepan cook the pumpkin with the water and salt. Once the pumpkin is soft and tender, remove the pumpkin and let it strain most of its liquid. If you have a cheese cloth it is best for straining the liquid. If not use a regular strainer. This should take 3-4 hours. In a blender, add the pumpkin, rum, and sugar and blend it until it is a smooth and even consistency. Once done, pour it into a bowl and add the flour and mix it in well. Use a tablespoon and begin to knead the dough into balls for frying. If the dough does not have a strong enough consistency, add some more flour and knead it in accordingly. Pour a one inch layer of oil into a frying pan and begin frying the balls. Usually it takes about 1-2 minutes on both sides until they are golden brown. Fry them individually until they are golden brown, then set aside on paper towels to dry. Once they are all done and fried, cover the fried cakes with sugar and cinnamon.

Christmas Log (Tronco de Natal)

If there is one cake which invokes perfectly the holiday season, it is the Christmas Log. Linked to the need of perpetuating the tradition of using a real log to heat the living room, this chocolate-covered treat will warm your hearts instead.

Mix the eggs and the yolks with the sugar with a mixer for 15 minutes. Next carefully incorporate the flour. Grease a form and cover it with tracing paper also greased. Place the dough on the form and bake it for 25 minutes at 180ºC. Meanwhile, prepare the chocolate cream. Boil the cream, remove from the heat and let cool for a while. Melt the chocolate and let it cool for a while. Then mix them. As soon as the cake is baked take it from the oven, turn the form on a kitchen tea towel and remove the tracing paper. Spread part of the chocolate cream on the cake. Roll it and, using the tea towel, tight it well. Cut obliquely one of the ends of the roll. Place them as if it was a branch of a yule log. Cover the roll with the rest of the chocolate cream. Decorate the Swiss roll with Christmas motifs as you like it. Then your Tronco de Natal recipe is ready to be served.

Portuguese French Toast (Rabanadas)

They’re just like French Toast, but better. Much better. Think of a properly sweetened, moist, cinnamon-covered bread slice soaked in egg yolk and warm milk. This is our personal favourite.

In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon until blended. In a large shallow dish, whisk eggs and milk. Dip both sides of bread in egg mixture, soaking lightly. In an electric skillet, heat 1 in. of oil to 350°. Working with a few slices at a time, remove bread from egg mixture, allowing excess to drain, and fry 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip warm rabanadas in cinnamon-sugar to coat all sides. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Christmas King-Cake (Bolo-Rei)

Candied fruits and nuts are holiday classics you either love or hate. We love it, so this traditional centre-piece style cake suits us perfectly.

Warm up the milk to 96ºF . In a bowl dissolve the yeast with 1/3 of the warm milk until totally dissolved. Sift the flour and put 1 cup in a bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yeast with the milk, a pinch of sugar and sprinkle some flour on top. Leave for 10 minutes to rise the yeast. If it doesn’t rise it’s not active and you need to start with fresher yeast. If the yeast rises continue with your cake. Put the remaining 6 cups of sifted flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the flour and yeast from the bowl, the sugar and the remaining milk. Attach the flat beater and mix slowly at first so the flour and milk don’t fly everywhere. When all ingredients are combined mix at medium speed to get a stiff dough.

Add the butter at room temperature, a chunk at a time, the Port wine, the salt and the eggs one at a time. When the dough starts to unattach from the sides of the bowl change the flat beater to a spiral dough hook and beat at medium speed for 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little flour, cover with a clean tea towel and put on top of a wooden board, in a warm and draft-free place. Allow to rise for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled. Add all the nuts and candied fruit and mix to divide these evenly in the dough. Take a 2 1/2 diameter cookie cutter and wrap it with a 5 inch wide strip of parchment paper all around. Tuck a bit of the parchment paper under and inside the cookie cutter so it doesn’t open. Butter and dust the outside of the parchment paper. Transfer the dough with the ingredients onto a lightly floured counter top. Line a big square or round baking tray with parchment paper. Transfer the dough and make it into a circle leaving a wide hole in the middle and attach the ends of the log. Cover the cake with a clean tea towel and allow to rise on a wooden board in a warm and draft-free place for 1 hour or until double in size.

General Information

Tivoli Marina Vilamoura is a luxurious and sophisticated 5 star hotel located between the marina and the beach. Due to its beachfront location, is has fabulous views over the Atlantic ocean. It is know for being a family-friendly hotel, with activities for everyone, from adults to toddlers. It is also very appreciated by couples.

Location: Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, is located right in front of Praia de Vilamoura, a blue flag beach which is know for being cosmopolitan, with excellent accessibility for everyone and several services such as beach clubs, bars and restaurants. As the name suggests, the hotel is located within the marina, which is Vilamoura’s entertainment center, always with something happening. Centro de Congressos do Algarve, a modern congress centre, is located right next to the hotel. Vilamoura is a world class golf destination and you’ll find several top quality golf courses just a few minutes drive away. Please click here to open the map with Tivoli Marina Vilamoura’s location »

Amenities: Five star facilities suitable for each family member. Tivoli Marina has a Golf Desk always available to advise golfers. Purobeach is a Beach Club where you’ll feel closer to Summer, it has a vibrant atmosphere ideal to enjoy from fine dining to live DJs. You’ll find an outdoor and an indoor pool and also the Tivoli Spa where you can relax with several treatments provided by some of the best professionals in the Algarve. In regards to gastronomy, there are different types of cuisine, such as the Italian Oregano, or international in the Chilli Restaurant or even sushi at the Sidebar.

Rooms: Tivoli Marina Vilamoura has 15 room types, with a capacity up to 4 guests and a price range between €98 and €1.188 per night. All rooms feature air contitioning, free WiFi, balcony, hair dryer, LCD TV, safe, turndow service, iron and ironing board, bathrobes and slippers and mini bar. The room types are designated as: Superior Room with Marina View, Superior Room with Sea View, Deluxe Room with Marina View, Deluxe Room with Sea View, Premium Room with Marina View, Premium Room with Sea View, Family Room with View, Premium Purobeach Marina View, Premium Purobeach with Sea View, Junior Suite, Family Junior, Junior Suite with Sea View, Vilamoura Suite with Sea View, Junior Suite Purobeach with View and the Presidential Suite with View.

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Transportation from / to Faro Airport

Tivoli Marina Vilamoura is a 25 minutes drive from Faro Airport. We can take you there in total comfort just from €28. Private, direct and hassle free.

There is much to discover, old castles such the one in Paderne, amazing landscapes and places like Alte natural springs. There’s a lot to explore if you venture inland.

Why not take the opportunity and go on a off-road guided tour with Yellowfish Adventure to experience a bit more of what the Algarve has to offer you?

Drive along dirt/muddy tracks, enjoy magnificent natural landscapes, typical villages, vineyards, orchards and places of historical or cultural interest. During the experience you will also have the opportunity to stop in several places for a few minutes to take pictures of the landscapes and locations.

These are low-speed tours, so you can safely enjoy the sites and landscapes of the course and avoid disturbing wildlife and local residents as much as possible.

Get to know the Algarve from a different perspective at the wheel of a Buggy or Quad tour.

With over 3000 years of history, Portugal’s southern coast is an archeologist’s dream. Track the Algarve and you’ll find traces of Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors.

The Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, has more than 3000 years of history. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the mixed waters of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean encircle a place of ruins, temples and footsteps of ancient civilizations.

If you’re traveling to the white, sandy beaches of the Algarve, hoping to spend your days discovering hidden caves and secret waterfalls, take some time off the coast, and head inland for some history.

During different periods, the region was occupied by various Mediterraneans such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors.

The Romans took the region from the Carthaginians in the 1st century BC, and introduced Latin and structure, changing agricultural practices, building roads, bridges and villas.

The Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, but a few of those landmarks survived the test of time.

Here are three of the Algarve’s richest Roman ruins, which you can still visit today.

Roman ruins of Cerro da Vila

Visiting the touristy marina of the resort of Vilamoura, you wouldn’t guess there lies the historical remnants of a Roman villa.

Following its construction in the 2nd century, the villa was periodically occupied by the Visigoths and the Moors.

A group of silos from the Moorish period, in the interior of the Roman houses, still act as living proof of further occupation.

Roman ruins of Milreu

Located near the historical village of Estoi, 8km from Faro, Milreu shows its continuous occupation from the 1st all the way to the 11th century.

It was known to harbor rich and wealthy families, influential in politics and society. It’s also said that the villa would cater to the needs of the wealthy, by offering leisure and distractions from the squalor of rural living.

The richness of this villa lies on the sheer size of its archeological findings. From mosaics to ceramics and decorative sculptures.

Roman ruins of Abicada

If you’ve ever visited the Alvor Estuary, you’ll know of its many riches. But you might not have heard that it harbors a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century.

The centre of this villa, the “Domus” or main house, features a perfectly geometric plant, made of three independent constructions joined by a gallery which opens its view to both the estuary and the sea.

The bonus of living in it, if you were a Roman, was that you could take a boat directly from it onto the estuary.