While looking for a new vacation destination for the fall, Portugal was recommended to us by friends. Portugal? We know it from surfing videos, from the Portuguese pub on the corner, from the delicious pasteis de nata that you can buy frozen at the supermarket. But otherwise. Portugal?
It takes just under 3 hours to fly from Memmingen to Faro, from there it's another 90 minutes by shuttle/rental car to Sagres. Sagres is a Portuguese municipality in the west of the Algarve, near Cabo de São Vicente, the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe. And let me tell you: it's worth the drive. This corner of the world is somewhat remote, but offers incredibly wild and opulent natural beauty that we didn't expect to find in Europe.
In the Martinhalthe family resort right on the beach, we immediately felt at home. In one of the bay houses we were able to make ourselves really comfortable and really relax thanks to the full service. As we had only booked with breakfast, we were able to decide spontaneously every day, depending on our mood, whether we wanted to stay in one of the three restaurants of the resort or whether we preferred to get pizza or cook for ourselves. A special mention for families with small children: each restaurant has a supervised children's play cornerwhere the little ones can be kept busy before/after the meal if required. Wonderful!
Of course, our boys couldn't wait to plunge into the waters of the Atlantic, even though the water temperature was only just under 20 degrees. The waves were the most important thing and they are not to be missed. A paradise for body boarders, surfers and wave riders. Equipment and courses can be booked/rented directly on the beach - even by the day.
The surrounding area offers a wealth of sights for excursions:
Cabo de São Vicente is the most south-westerly tip of the European mainland and a windy headland with huge cliffs facing the raging sea. At the top of the 75m high cliffs stands one of the most impressive lighthouses in Portugal, which can still be seen 50km away in the sea.
Sagres itself can be reached on foot from Martinhal in a good 45 minutes, but there is also a shuttle service several times a day. Sagres has an original charm, where hippies and surfers hang out and this multicultural flair probably contributes to the special charm of the area. The town has relaxed cafés and traditional Portuguese restaurants.
The fishing harbor of Sagres is located on the sheltered eastern side of the headland and during the day you can watch the fishing boats return and unload freshly caught fish. From here we also have our little adventure from here - we wanted to see dolphins. And indeed, during the tour in a small motorboat led by a marine biologist, which lasted around 2 hours, around a dozen dolphins actually jumped around us and played in the wake of our boat. What an unforgettable experience! However, if you get seasick easily like we did, you are strongly advised to take a preventative travel pill.
But even if you don't want to make any big trips to the notorious surfer beaches in the area, the Martinhal tennis courts, pools, playgrounds, bike rental, water sports, spa and miles of hiking trails through the breathtaking nature reserve in which the Martinhal is located.
The seven days passed far too quickly. And we returned home with our heads full of wonderful memories of the hospitality and genuine warmth of the people, the unspoiled wild beauty of nature and a new favorite country in our hearts - Portugal.
