Coastal hike in the Algarve: Stage 1

Stage 1 of the long-distance hike starts directly at the airport Faro - The "Parque Natural da Ria Formosa" nature reserve is only 2 km from the terminal.

If you land in the morning, you can start your vacation with a half-day hike without further transfer time and hike to Quarteira, for example. Quarteira is the first place on the hiking route and lies approximately in the middle of stage 1 (from the airport Faro approx.15km).

If you only land in the afternoon, I recommend an overnight stay in Praia de Faro (Tip: Overnight at the "Luxury Beach Guest House"). Praia de Faro is a small beach town on the Ilha de peninsula in front of the airport Farothat seems to be just sand. The next morning, stage 1 can be tackled completely (27 km) or divided into two varied half-day hikes.

In the "Parque Natural da Ria Formosa" the hiking trail runs on an elevated dam through a fascinating lagoon landscape. Whoever sees lonely figures standing in the lagoon: these are most likely shell collectors who are currently doing their work. After about 1 km on the dam, a small, worthwhile detour leads to the right past seawater salt pans, which are used for salt extraction. In an arc it goes back to the main path.

The next section of the trail is still marked on the left by the lagoon. On the right, however, there is a view of golf courses and elegant villas. From kilometer 10 (calculated from the airport Faro) the path now runs directly on the beach for the first time. Soon the first red rocks so typical of the Algarve appear and shortly afterwards a white sea of ​​houses - the holiday resort Quarteira.

In Quarteira, the hiking trail leads over the pretty promenade and small parks to the large harbor basin of the Marina de Vilamoura, where the tourist offer is concentrated. Countless hotels, apartment complexes, restaurants, bars, bistros and shops surround the harbor basin and attract a correspondingly large number of people.

Shortly afterwards, the 6 km long sandy beach Praia da Falésia is much more lonely: Here, direct development has largely been dispensed with. The Falésia beach is characterized by its steeply falling red cliff. It is advisable to hike a part above (with a view of the beach) and a part below (with a view of the red rocks).