This tour in the Algarve starts and ends in Armação de Pêra, a pretty little town, about 50 km from Faro. The fishing village of origin has become a tourist attraction because of its beautiful beaches. This is a nice base for journeys in the Algarve. You can drive the ride to Portugal yourself or have your motorcycle transported, you don't have a motorbike, no problem nearby are two things that rent motorbikes and quads. Links are in the review.

The roads are reasonable to good and on the way you can enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Algarve. You occasionally pass a typical Portuguese house, farmhouse or village. In the villages you can take a good break to have a drink in one of the local cafes. Often there are also old buildings in the center that you can see. Along the way there are a number of options to stop and enjoy the Algarve in a different way.

For lovers of amusement parks and marine aquariums, the first stop is after 5 kilometers at the Zoomarine Algarve (RP2). You can view presentations with dolphins, seals and sea lions, with tropical birds and birds of prey. In addition to these presentations, there is also an incredible aquarium with sharks, different habitats, 4D Cinema, attractions, entertainment, swimming pools and the new Zoomarine beach, making your visit to Zoomarine unforgettable. Of course you can also schedule this at the end of the day.

Via a beautiful inner road we drive with one arc to the reservoir "Albufeira da Barragem do Arade", but you can first rent a quad and explore the rugged area in the Algarve. To do this, turn left at RP5 to rent a quad at "Hugo Quad Bike Adventures" and enjoy off-road driving in the Algarve. A fantastic day out for everyone! Each tour is safely led by Hugo, an experienced English-speaking guide. There are endless off-road tracks that take you deep into the local national park, where you can enjoy wildlife such as deer and partridges. Let Hugo take you on a quad ride in the Algarve that you will never forget! Prices on average between € 60-80 for a 2 or 3-hour tour. If you don't feel like driving a quad, just continue driving at RP5.

At RP8 we arrive at the dam of the reservoir Barragem do Arade. A beautiful piece of nature in the Algarve, ideal to stop for a short walk and to take some pictures.

The next stop is planned in Silves (RP9), this is one of the older and most beautiful towns of the Algarve and definitely worth planning a longer break here. Silves is inland and has a beautiful old Fort of Silves, which attracts many tourists to the village.

Silves is located on the Arade River behind Portimão. The city was in Moorish hands until the 13th century and was for centuries an important location in the region. The wealth of the city even lured the Normans on their plunderings to this region. From the 13th century, the city came back into the hands of the Portuguese king. Silves has characteristic nice little steep streets, beautiful old houses and whitewashed houses. The cathedral of the town dates from the 12th century and served as a mosque during Moorish rule.

Above the city you can see the Silves fortress from far away. The fort can still be visited and a major attraction of the town. The walls of the fort are still standing. However, the inside of the fort has been dropped and only the foundations of it are visible. You can climb the old walls and view the surroundings from these walls. You immediately understand the strategic usefulness of the fort, since the view is beautiful and you can look far into the surroundings. Also nice are the various stork nests around the fort. The inside of the fort is further embellished with a beautiful garden, full of roses and fruit trees.

After this stop we take the M502 to the north, this is a great road that winds through the beautiful landscape of the Algarve, at RP12 you drive along the border of the National Park Mata Nacional da Herdade da Parra. Enthusiasts can stop here and stretch their legs for a short walk through this beautiful and rugged nature park. We continue on the M502, which becomes the N267, through the beautiful green and wooded area around the reservoir "Barragem de Odelouca". It is possible to deviate from the route in some places and drive to the reservoir.

At Umbria we turn right and drive via a narrow winding road (RP13) to Monchique, we drive with a detour because this is a very nice piece of driving with here and there beautiful panoramas, so where possible stop for a moment to enjoy.

Monchique (RP15) is located just below the highest point of the Algarve. The village is characterized by streets with small stones that wind up towards the mountain. It is a beautiful village with many 18th and 19th century houses. The central square is very atmospheric with its fountains and beautiful flower beds. The drive up through the beautiful nature alone is more than worth a visit to Monchique.

At RP16 we approach the Penedo do Buraco waterfall, which is close to an asphalted road and therefore has good conditions to visit. To do this, turn left at RP16 and drive a little over the old path to Foia, from where it is a short walk.

If you have not eaten anything in Monchique, you can enjoy the beautiful view during lunch at the "Miradouro da Fóia" (RP17) lookout point. There is a cafeteria and sometimes a food truck.

At RP18 the viewpoint "Miradouro da Fonte Santa" is in a bend, there is a parking place here and you can enjoy the beautiful panorama here. Unfortunately it can sometimes be foggy at this altitude.

After this short stop, the last part of the journey begins, heading south back to the coast. Via Portimão, where the Arade river crosses over the "Ponte de Portimão" suspension bridge (RP21), we drive back to the campsite.

With its beautiful roads, beautiful nature, nice villages and sights and activities, this ride is worth more than 5 ***** stars.