This Algarve tour through the Faro and Beja regions starts and ends in Armação de Pêra, a charming little town about 50 km from Faro. Originally a fishing village, its beautiful beaches have made it a popular tourist destination. It's a great base for exploring the Algarve.

You can drive the trip to Portugal yourself or have your motorcycle transported. If you don't have one, no worries, you can rent motorcycles and quads nearby. See the link in the review.

We leave the campsite and drive quietly north out of town on a narrow road through a beautiful green area dotted with small villages. After about 20 kilometers, we arrive at the Barragem do Arade reservoir. A stunning piece of nature in the Algarve, perfect for a short stop for a walk and some photos.

After a few hours of quad biking, it's time to relax. You can do this in São Bartolomeu de Messines at one of the cafes or restaurants. Here, you can also visit the Museum of Costume and Traditions of São Bartolomeu de Messines, located on the edge of the village in a typical Algarve rural house, specially restored for this purpose.

We continue on a beautiful, winding road through a lovely area. There are few crowds and beautiful scenery. We drive to Malhão, a settlement with a monastery, Humkara Dzong - Mosteiro de Mú, the first Buddhist monastery in Portugal. There is also a Stupa Budista. A stupa is a Buddhist building containing the relics of a Buddhist saint. Originally, a stupa was a massive, round structure built on a square hill. From this hill, you have a beautiful view. Please note that the road to the stupa is unpaved.

We now drive from the Faro region to the Beja region, again through a beautiful hilly and mountainous area dotted with green meadows, trees, and small houses. We follow the Ribeira de Odelouca river on a narrow road through a lovely green valley. This section offers beautiful scenery and winding roads, but be aware that some of the roads are of very poor quality, with cracks and potholes. After this journey, we take the IC1 and head south again, following the border of the "Mata Nacional da Herdade da Parra" National Park. For those who enjoy it, it's possible to stop here for a walk through this beautiful and rugged area.

The next stop is Silves, one of the Algarve's oldest and most beautiful towns, and definitely worth a longer break. Silves is located inland and boasts a magnificent old fortress, which attracts many tourists. Silves lies on the Arade River behind Portimão. The town was Moorish until the 13th century and was an important settlement in the region for centuries. The town's wealth even attracted the Normans on their plundering raids to this area. From the 13th century onward, the town returned to the Portuguese king. Silves boasts charming, narrow, steep streets, beautiful old houses, and whitewashed houses. The town's cathedral dates back to the 12th century and served as a mosque during the Moorish period.

Rising above the town, you can see the Silves Fortress from afar. The fortress can still be visited and is a major attraction in the town. The fortress walls are still standing. However, the interior is dilapidated, and only the foundations remain. You can climb the old walls and survey the surrounding area from them. The strategic importance of the fortress is immediately apparent, as the view is magnificent and you can see far into the surrounding area. The various stork nests around the fortress are also beautiful. The interior of the fortress is further enhanced by a beautiful garden, full of roses and fruit trees.

After this, we drive back to the campsite to enjoy this beautiful trip with its beautiful roads through beautiful areas and all the beautiful and fun things we saw and did along the way.