As the serenity of autumn settles over the Algarve, it’s the perfect time to explore the region in peace. The temperature is plenty warm enough to enjoy time on the beach and golf course, as well as a host of other activities and cultural delights.
According to Kronos Homes, which owns and operates the Algarve’s prestigious Vale do Lobo, autumn is the ideal season to take to the courts to hone your tennis and padel skills. One of the largest such facilities in Portugal, the Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy welcomes players of all ages and abilities, with tailored coaching sessions available on an individual and group basis.
Autumn is also an excellent time to spend on the fairways of the Vale do Lobo’s two championship 18-hole golf courses. Both courses provide stunning views of the Algarve’s coastal landscape, as well as its lush greenery, with challenging courses designed for golfers to play their best game.
The resort welcomes younger golfers, as well as adults, with its popular Junior Golf Academy taking place once more during the October half term break. It’s the ideal autumnal activity for parents who are keen for their children to spend time in the fresh air during the holidays, offering five days of personalised and supportive training designed to grow young players’ skills and confidence.
Autumn is also an excellent time to explore local markets and events throughout the Algarve, which range from charming antiques markets to the popular Mediterranean gardening fair in Lagoa in mid-October.
For wine connoisseurs, the annual Vale do Lobo Wine Connection Tasting Experience on October 11 and 12 is the unmissable event of the season. Featuring both spirits and a curated selection of exceptional wines from Portugal and around the world, the event enables visitors to connect with passionate producers and gain insights into the winemaking process, along with the latest trends and innovations. Live music adds to the convivial atmosphere, as does a food court packed with traditional cheeses, hams and other regional delicacies.
Continuing the celebratory autumn spirit, one of the largest events of the season is the Santa Iria Fair in Faro, less than 30 minutes from Vale do Lobo, held from October 20-29. The fair has taken place in some form for over 500 years, celebrating the region’s unique gastronomy and artisan crafts. With fun for all ages, it is home to fairground rides and diverse entertainment, as well as a wide selection of stalls and pop-up eateries.
Also with a strong foodie focus is Aljezur’s famous Sweet Potato Festival, which this year takes place from November 28-30, presenting an incredible range of delicious ways to enjoy this abundant local crop.
Aljezur is close to a string of pretty beaches along the Algarve’s western coastline. It’s a coast that many of those buying homes at the nearby Salema Beach Village, where stunning two-bedroom homes just 500m from the beach are priced from €340,000, are keen to explore. During the autumn months, long walks along near-deserted beaches provide not just restorative sea air but endlessly changing, mesmerising ocean views. There are also plenty of delights for surfers, with consistent swells with high-quality, glassy waves along the westward-facing coastline.
Back on the Algarve’s south-facing coastline, those who prefer being in a watercraft rather than balancing on top of a board will find that autumn is the perfect time for kayaking to the famous Benagil cave. The large dome cave is home to turquoise waters and a hidden beach, which provides the perfect place to stop and contemplate the beauty of nature.
For those seeking a long-term connection with this part of the Algarve, the nearby Monte Santo Resort is the ideal choice. Just minutes from Benagil, it offers a choice of apartments and villas, with prices starting from €279,000. The outstanding on-site amenities include multiple communal swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, the popular Aroma restaurant and eight acres of scenic grounds. With the picturesque town of Carvoeiro on the doorstep, the local area offers a diverse selection of restaurants, cafes and shops, for a relaxed lifestyle with all the essentials to hand.
Head almost directly north from Carvoeiro and the Algarve provides autumn entertainment of a different kind. From the thermal springs of Monchique to the challenge of climbing Fóia, this is an area in which to embrace the outdoor lifestyle. Walkers, hikers and cyclists have much to discover in this beautiful, hilly rural landscape.
Nature lovers will also do well to visit the Algarve’s breath-taking Salgados Lagoon. There, hundreds of ducks converge during the autumn months, including flocks of teal, red-bills and pintails, as well as trans-Saharan migrants including whinchats and wheatears. As winter approaches, skylarks and white wagtails add to the incredible array of species, while common kestrels can regularly be spotted hovering in the skies overhead.
Visitors wishing to enjoy the lagoon throughout the seasons can find the perfect property at Flamingos Salgados, where apartments deliver iconic sea and golf views (from the fourth floor), just steps from the nature reserve. Prices at the resort start from €575,000.
Alda Filipe, Regional Director and Partner at Kronos Homes, says: “Every season is special in a location as magical and varied as the Algarve. In autumn, the warm weather cries out for spending time outdoors reconnecting with nature. It’s also an ideal time to sample the region’s gastronomic delights, with everything from artisanal food stalls to seasonal restaurant menus celebrating the flavours of the Algarve in autumn. The region’s property offering is as diverse as its natural charms, with something to suit every buyer along the length of the Algarve coastline.”
For more information, call (+ 351) 289 353 499 or visit www.kronoshomes.com
Sponsored Content
