Things to do in The Algarve

The Algarve's most famous sea cave, with a skylight opening in the cliff, is seen from a boat or a guided kayak on the Benagil Cave Boat Trip, and from Lagos small boats slip into the grottoes and narrow arches carved into the golden cliffs of Ponta da Piedade. Dolphin watching cruises head out to sea from Algarve marinas such as Vilamoura, where bottlenose and short-beaked common dolphins are the species most often seen. In the east, experienced Olhão fishers run boats across the Ria Formosa lagoon to the islands of Armona, Farol and Culatra, and early-morning trips from Tavira toward Cacela Velha pass salt pans and flocks of flamingos. Tavira Old Town sits on the Gilão River estuary with whitewashed houses and lace-like chimneys, while at the far west the clifftop Sagres Fortress, closely tied to the Age of Discovery, guards a mysterious stone compass rose uncovered by chance in 1921.

Good to knowLanding on the beach inside Benagil Cave and swimming into it are prohibited, and kayaks must be guided, so book with a licensed operator. Pack sunscreen and a windproof layer for dolphin watching on the open water, and choose an early-morning boat from Tavira if you hope to see flamingos. Sagres Fortress is open daily except a few holidays, and Tavira's nearby salt pans and boats out to long, empty beaches fit easily into a day in the old town.