Top Summer Activities

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Anyone who knows the Algarve understands that its coastline is a piece of beauty, sculpted by the winds and seas of the Atlantic that wash along the various beaches visited by thousands of visitors all year. Many tourists are unaware that the Algarve has much more to offer, than stunning beaches and calm waters. From the most courageous who loves extreme activities, to the most peaceful adept of quiet activities, there are many summer activities here to suit the tastes of all visitors. If you're visiting the Algarve for the first time, check out our suggestions for summer 2024 activities and holiday homes to rent.

1. What're the best adventure activities in the Algarve?

Some summer activities get the adrenaline pumping and should be experienced in stunning surroundings, like the Algarve. Find out about the best adventure activities and let go of the pressures of everyday life with these summer activities.

Photo by Toby Christopher – Unplash

• Wakeboarding in Lagos is practised near the airfield, at Wake Park Lagos, in an area with two large lakes with obstacles that challenge even the most fearless. Wakeboarding originated in the 1980s as an alternative for flat days (days without waves). In this extreme sport, the athlete is pulled by a boat or other motorised vehicle and uses a board that resembles a snowboard attached to the feet with boots. The auxiliary boats, when moving, create waves and so the riders can make manoeuvrers in the water.
  
• Kitesurfing is practised in Alvor, in the middle of the estuary (Ria de Alvor), where the wind conditions are favourable, and there's a nature reserve with unspoilt landscapes. If you don't know this extreme sport yet, you should know that the engine that makes the board and the kite move is the power of the wind. The aim of this sport is to fly and glide over the water, and the Alvor estuary is the best place in the south of Portugal for the less experienced. If you already know how to kitesurf, you can practise it in the sea at Alvor beach, which borders the Ria. Learn how to glide in the sea or rent equipment at the Alvor Kite Center.
  
• Surf, one of the most practised water sports in the world, became popular in the 1960s, and Portugal was not far behind. The Algarve has an advantage over the rest of the country. There are two surf coasts here; one has calmer waters and invites the less experienced surfers to try this water sport. The other one, the winds, the tides and the few bathers who stay on the beaches offer the best conditions for surfing. We leave you two options of surf schools to ride the waves in the Algarve. The first school is located near Meia Praia in Lagos, where you can make your first surfing attempts and rent equipment at the Lagos Surf Center. The second surf school, Carrapateira Surf School and Rentals, is located on the sandy beach of Bordeira, where the constant winds make for great surfing days.
  
• After water sports, there is nothing better than returning to land and practising an extreme sport in the midst of nature. The high ropes course at Parque Aventura de Lagos is our suggestion for a varied day out with the family. This summer activity is designed for different levels of experience, which means it is also suitable for people with no physical preparation and even for children. The high ropes course is a high-altitude activity where you overcome various paths and obstacles between the trees, including giant slides. We guarantee you will be addicted to adrenaline after this activity in the Algarve!
  

Days filled with extreme activities call for a stay in a tranquil and spacious place. Discover your holiday home in the Algarve with Casas do Barlavento Rentals.

2. Do you know what gastronomic tourism activities are?

Regional gastronomic experiences can be the only incentive to visit a particular place. The Algarve's gastronomic heritage, simple, rich in nutrients and with a Mediterranean influence, is one of the best places to experience, taste and fall in love with unique flavours.

Photo by Kelsey Knight – Unsplash

• The Rota do Petisco is a true gastronomic odyssey around the tables of Algarve restaurants, without adventures, only with excellent culinary surprises. In this route, participants follow the directions of the initiative's passport, which can be purchased at any participating establishment. For a symbolic value, participants will have surprising gastronomic experiences with a dish and a drink, in the categories of tapa, dessert, and Chef's Route. The 2024 Petisco Route starts in September and ends in October.
  
• Portugal is a country with strong links to wine. Thousands of bottles of the nectar of the gods are exported and awarded nationally and internationally. The Algarve wines are made on Mediterranean terroir or in the lowlands, which gives a unique identity to every wine note. By now you can probably guess what our next suggested summer activity is: tasting Algarve wines, of course! Taste the wines of the Algarve's wineries and spend quality time among vineyards, creating moments of pure pleasure. Start this wine tour at Monte da Casteleja in Lagos with a wine taste of an organic and artisanal harvest. Then head to Lagoa to Quinta dos Vales, where you'll fall in love with the wine and the winery's colourful sculptures. Finally, by the Odelouca stream in Silves, enjoy a wine tasting at Quinta do Francês and lose yourself in the vastness of the landscape of this 8-hectare winery.
  

Do you appreciate a holiday based around gastronomic tourism? Stay in an apartment in the city centre, just a few minutes from the main restaurants in Lagos. Book your holiday in the Praça das Armas II apartment and enjoy a breathtaking city view.

3. Out of ideas for kids' activities this summer?

This summer, join in and have fun with your children. Prepare the greatest activities for kids using our ideas. There is no excuse to be bored in the Algarve. Allow yourself to be spontaneous and provide the ideal holiday for children this 2024 summer.

Photo by Sandra Seitamaa – Unsplash

• For discerning children, we offer quality activities and pure fun! Near Lagos, there is a place full of nature and animals that the little ones will love to visit. They may learn about more than 150 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and amphibians that coexist in the Lagos Zoo. Plan a full day at the zoo and bring your picnic basket and swimwear to swim at the beach, a replica of the Boulders Beach in South Africa. Like on the real beach, here you will also find a family of penguins who knows how to become friends with humans.

• Why not add a bit of science to a day of activities for children? At the Centro de Ciência Viva in Lagos, kids learn while playing in various centre activities. Adults are also welcome to explore the permanent exhibition 'From Astrolabe to GPS,' telling the tale of the past with futuristic instruments and team games. In this space in Lagos, you can also catch temporary exhibitions on various themes.
  
• Introduce one of the most enchanting activities for children. A donkey ride from Aldeia da Pedralva into an area full of nature. The guided donkey rides last between 1.30 and 3.00 and include a picnic on the way. On the way back, you can show the children this renovated village, where the old style has been preserved with its whitewashed houses and cobbled streets. The old Algarve, typical of rural areas, was rebuilt in 2010 in Vila do Bispo. At Pedralva village, you will find a restaurant, a community oven and other activities for the whole family.
  
• The best activities for children are those in which adults can and should also participate. Slide away at Slide & Splash, the oldest water park in the Algarve. There are also restaurants and picnic areas here for family meals. Lawns with deckchairs for sunbathing and catching your breath after the great water attractions. Pools for all ages, bird of prey and macaw shows, and a spa to relax with massages and fish spa tanks.
  

Spend your holiday with the kids in fun places with plenty of outdoor space. Vila Formosa villa in Alvor is the ideal place for family games, whether by the pool or in the garden of this villa overlooking the countryside.

Let us know the dates of your holiday and we'll tell you the best holiday homes in the Algarve for you. If you need more suggestions for summer activities, just ask us when you book. We wish you a wonderful holiday in the Western Algarve.