On arrival at Faro airport, the visitor should turn East and explore this attractive side of the Algarve. This lesser known area is well worth the visit to see its authenticity and local colour.

The East Algarve is an area where there are miles of golden sandy beaches with easy access, flanked mostly by the Ria Formosa nature park visited by a large number of migratory birds and home to flocks of flamingos.

On the far east bordering onto Spain, the Guadiana River offers spectacular scenery all the way up to the charming village of Alcoutim, take in Vila Real de Santo Antonio with its magnificent unspoilt center and brand new marina.

The towns of Tavira and Vila Real de Santo Antonio are delightful and the former described in the guide books as one of the prettiest of the Algarve.

	Tavira
	Pedras da Rainha
	Photo 3
	Photo 4

The motorway across the Algarve makes it quick and easy to travel allowing the visitor to take in a game of golf at the beautiful Quinta da Ria golf course with its 36 holes or the one in Castro Marim or even the Benamor golf course, close to Tavira. Property prices are very appealing and there is a wide variety to choose from, to give a few examples:

A charmingly restored 3 bedroom house in Tavira is available at Euros 224.460, on the outskirts of town a brand new 3 bedroom villa with central heating and swimming pool is Euros 225.000, within 3km in the fishing village of Cabanas, close to the beach, golf course, a 2 bedroom villa in Pedras da Rainha within a tourist complex with facilities for letting and ideal for children the price is Euros 205.000, and a 2 bedroom apartment with very large terraces is Euros 150.000, 3km inland where the countryside is quite unspoilt and the rolling hills afford beautiful views, 3/4 bedroom villas (* see photo 3), are available from approximately Euros 350.000, and a restored 3 bedroom cottage (* see photo 4), with 9.000m² is on the market for Euros 210.000.

Professional assistance is at hand whether it be for building, designing or decorating, legal or medical – several private clinics have opened offering a wide variety of services.

Eating out is inexpensive and of a very high standard, most of the restaurants are Portuguese run using nothing but fresh product, the fish and shellfish are caught and sold daily in the markets and the fruit and vegetables produced locally. There are also several hotels and excellent guest houses in the area offering very reasonable prices.

Winters are very mild – it never freezes! And Spring is here in January with the arrival of the swifts and swallows and the famous almond blossom which makes the Algarve quite a picture. Carnival time is usually in February with 4 days of celebration particularly in the pretty inland town of Loule.

The tendency for a warm climate in the East Algarve is due to the Mediterranean influence hence its name “Sotavento” – “in the lee of the wind”, the area is not subject to the strong Atlantic winds that blow in from the West, this allows for more agriculture, market gardening and orange groves and is perfect for green houses full of flowers, plants and tropical fruits.

For all of these reasons, the East Algarve is a must and every visitor to the South of Portugal should include this lovely region in his visit.

Este Algarve Propriedades Lda is a well known estate agency, working and specializing in properties of the East Algarve for more than 24 years, with 2 offices, they can be contacted at:

Website:	www.estealgarve.com
E-mail:	belosantospedras@hotmail.com
Main office	Tel: 281-951165 Fax: 281 – 951438 Mobile: 91-2177055

EN 125, Vila Nova de Cacela, 8900 Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Tel. 281 951165 Fax 281 951438
Int. Tel. +351 281 951165. Fax +351 281 951438 E-mail: belosantospedras@hotmail.com

Centro Commercial, Rua 28 de Maio, Cabanas (on the waterfront/am Ufer), Tel/Fax: 281 370277 Tavira International Tel. +351 281 370277

 

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