This Algarve tour starts and ends in Armação de Pêra, a charming little town about 50 km from Faro. Originally a fishing village, it has become a tourist attraction thanks to its beautiful beaches. This makes a great base for exploring the Algarve. You can drive the route to Portugal yourself or have your motorcycle transported. If you don't have a motorcycle, don't worry; there are two nearby businesses that rent motorcycles and quad bikes. Links are included in the review.

The roads are reasonable to good, and along the way you can enjoy the beautiful Algarve landscape. You'll occasionally pass a typical Portuguese house, farmhouse, or village. In the villages, it's a good idea to stop for a drink at one of the local cafes. Often, there are also old buildings worth exploring in the town center. Along the way, there are several options for stopping and enjoying the Algarve in a different way.

For amusement park and marine aquarium enthusiasts, the first stop, just 5 kilometers away, is Zoomarine Algarve. You can watch presentations featuring dolphins, seals, and sea lions, as well as tropical birds and birds of prey. Besides these presentations, there's also an incredible shark aquarium, various habitats, a 4D cinema, attractions, entertainment, swimming pools, and the new Zoomarine beach, making your visit to Zoomarine unforgettable. You can, of course, also schedule this for the end of the day.

We take a beautiful back road, winding our way to the "Albufeira da Barragem do Arade" reservoir, where you can enjoy a beautiful piece of Algarve nature, ideal for a short stop for a walk and some photos.

The next stop is Silves, one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in the Algarve and definitely worth a longer break. Silves is located inland and boasts a beautiful old Silves Fortress, which attracts many tourists.

Silves lies on the Arade River behind Portimão. The city was under Moorish rule until the 13th century and was an important settlement in the region for centuries. The city's wealth even attracted the Normans to this area during their raids. From the 13th century onward, the city 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 stop, we take the M502 north. This fantastic road winds through the beautiful Algarve landscape along the border of the Mata Nacional da Herdade da Parra National Park. Those who enjoy it can stop here to stretch their legs with 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 surrounding the "Barragem de Odelouca" reservoir. It's possible to deviate from the route in some places and drive to the reservoir.

At Umbria, we turn right and drive along a narrow, winding road to Monchique. We take a detour because this is a very beautiful stretch of road with beautiful panoramas here and there, so stop whenever possible to enjoy it.

Monchique is located just below the highest point of the Algarve. The village is characterized by narrow cobbled streets that wind up the mountain. It's a charming village with many 18th- and 19th-century houses. The central square is very atmospheric with its fountains and beautiful flowerbeds. The drive up through the stunning scenery alone makes a visit to Monchique well worth it.

We'll make a brief stop at the Penedo do Buraco waterfall, which is located near a paved road and therefore offers favorable conditions for visiting. We'll then drive along the old path to Foia to a small parking lot, from where it's a short walk.

If you haven't eaten anything in Monchique yet, you can enjoy the stunning view during lunch at the "Miradouro da Fóia" viewpoint. There's a cafeteria and sometimes a food truck.

Stop at the "Miradouro da Fonte Santa" viewpoint, located on a bend with a parking lot. Enjoy the beautiful panorama and take some photos. Unfortunately, it can be foggy at this altitude.

After this short stop, the final leg of the journey begins, heading south back to the coast. We return to the campsite via Portimão, where we cross the Arade River over the "Ponte de Portimão" suspension bridge.