Posts in ‘Things to do in Algarve’

Holidaymakers taking Algarve tours in April will be able to visit Portimao as the coastal town plays host to the Formula One Powerboat World Championship.

The 2009 season of powerboat racing will kick off with a contest in Portimao on April 5th before heading to Russia for an event in St Petersburg on June 6th.

Travellers will be able to catch up with the competition in destinations including Lahti, Finland; Shenzhen, China; Doha, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates before it comes to an end in December.

According to the organisers of the Formula One Powerboat World Championship, the sport can be described simply as "the most spectacular watersport in the world".

Spectators will be entertained by the sight of catamaran boats accelerating from 0 to 160km/h in less than four seconds and reaching top speeds of 225km/h as they fly across the surface of the waves.

People on Algarve tours who are interested in trying out some watersports for themselves can go scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing or kayaking in Portimao, with other activities available elsewhere in the holiday region.

Why not book the Eastern Algarve and Spain tour in advance?

Algarve tours could well prove popular with motorsport fans in April as the region plays host to a leg of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The Portugal Rally will see some of the world’s best drivers visiting the Algarve between April 2nd and 5th as they compete for this year’s world title.

Covering no more than 1,000km, the route taken by the rally will include fast, open stretches of land as well as more technical and challenging areas to test the drivers’ skill.

The closing ceremony of the contest will take place at the Algarve Stadium near Faro airport, which will also serve as the operational centre for the event.

Portugal will be the fourth country to host the WRC this year, with races already having taken place in Ireland and Norway and Cyprus set to host its leg of the championship between March 13th and 15th.

Motorcycling fans will be able to head to Estoril in Portugal in October this year when it hosts one of the final races of the MotoGP season.

Why not book the Jeep Safari 4×4 experience in advance?

Holidaymakers may be tempted to fit a visit to Tavira into their Algarve tours this year when the city hosts a festival celebrating regional cuisine.

Set to take place between March 21st and April 10th, the Festival de Gastronomia Serrana will focus on food that is produced in the uplands of the Algarve’s mountain regions.

Lovers of good food will be able to visit participating restaurants to tuck into excellent meals while also enjoying some of the Algarve’s most beautiful countryside.

Establishments taking part in the festival include Cantinho da Serra in Bemparece, O Constantino in Montes e Legares, A Mesa do Cume in Alcaria do Cume and Monte Velho in Umbria.

An added incentive for visitors will be the opportunity to enter a prize draw offering a free weekend in a local hotel.

People on Algarve tours can try all sorts of foods during their holiday, including the hot and spicy chicken that the region is famous for and the fresh fish that is caught every day in coastal towns and villages.

Why not book the Unspoilt Algarve tour in advance?

Portugal will not be the only country that people on Algarve tours will be visiting this year as the region hosts a series of events celebrating the culture of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

The short season will come to the Algarve city of Portimao’s Teatro Municipal from March 7th to 31st.

A display of photography by Julio Pantoja entitled ‘Las Madres del Monte’ will be open for free in the theatre’s exhibition hall throughout the festival.

Between March 12th and 14th, film fans will be able to see screenings of work by the director Lucrecia Martel, who was one of the members of the ‘New Argentina Cinema’ movement that began in the late 1990s.

Other events set to take place at the Teatro Municipal before the end of March include tango performances in the main auditorium and a showing of the theatre production The Coleman Family’s Omission.

During a tour of Portimao, travellers can visit locations such as the attractive main square or the beach of Praia da Rocha.

Why not book the Portimao Shopping Tour in advance?

Holidaymakers on Algarve tours will be given the chance to try the best cuisine that the region has to offer at a special festival next month.

The 16th Monchique Sausage Fair will be held on March 7th and 8th, celebrating a particular type of sausage made in the town of Monchique from the meat of black pigs bred in the area.

Originally set up by the local council, the food fair has been held in Monchique on the first weekend in March every year since 1994.

People whose taste buds are not stimulated by the idea of eating meat will be able to find plenty of other local delicacies at the event, including regional brandy and honey, homemade bread and local confectionery.

Monchique itself offers plenty for people on Algarve tours to see and do, with a picturesque location at 902 metres above sea level, nestled between two towering hills.

The town has retained its rural and rustic atmosphere, with cobbled streets, a 17th century Franciscan monastery and a 16th century parish church.

Why not book the Silves and Monchique Sightseeing Tour in advance?

Film buffs on Algarve tours will be able to expand their cinematic knowledge in May when the Portuguese holiday region hosts its 37th International Film Festival.

The festival will be represented across the full extent of the Algarve, with various events and screenings frequently being held in big towns such as Portimao, Lagos, Albufeira and Faro.

Set to take place between May 1st and 10th, with an exact date to be announced soon, the festival is Portugal’s oldest cinema event, with a history dating back to 1972.

Each year, an overriding theme is selected for the festival, with this year’s event focusing on the concept of "cinema and globalisation".

This subject will be used as the focus for the short film competition, one of the most significant sections of the festival, which will be based in Portimao from May 4th to 9th.

The Algarve is Portugal’s most popular holiday region, boasting an attractive blend of big towns, seaside hotspots and picturesque landscapes.

Holidaymakers on Algarve tours who enjoy a spot of golf will be able to visit one of the many courses that are dotted all over southern Portugal.

Why not book the Unspoilt Algarve tour in advance?

More awards are bestowed on Algarve beaches year-on-year for cleanliness and management giving visitors a greater choice.

But as an alternative to sitting on one, holidaymakers can get a good look at the coastline by spending the day onboard the stunning pirate-ship Santa Bernarda.

This beautiful two-masted sailing vessel runs regular trips from Portimao and travels along the Algarve coast to Armacao de Pera in the east and Lagos in the west.

Guests are required to arrive 30 minutes before departure on the full-day excursion which leaves port at 09:45 and sails gracefully out to sea past a mediaeval fortress.

Small launches enable guests to explore coastal caves before the ship drops anchor at a beach which is accessible only by sea for a BBQ lunch.

Here you are free to swim, go snorkelling or just take in the sun before returning to port under wind power in the evening.

The Santa Bernarda complies with EU safety regulations and crew members give a short tutorial on the use of all safety equipment on board.

For Algarve holiday reviews reviews and more about holidays in albufeira go to www.ilovealgarve.net.

More awards are bestowed on Algarve beaches year-on-year for cleanliness and management giving visitors a greater choice.

But as an alternative to sitting on one, holidaymakers can get a good look at the coastline by spending the day onboard the stunning pirate-ship Santa Bernarda.

This beautiful two-masted sailing vessel runs regular trips from Portimao and travels along the Algarve coast to Armacao de Pera in the east and Lagos in the west.

Guests are required to arrive 30 minutes before departure on the full-day excursion which leaves port at 09:45 and sails gracefully out to sea past a mediaeval fortress.

Small launches enable guests to explore coastal caves before the ship drops anchor at a beach which is accessible only by sea for a BBQ lunch.

Here you are free to swim, go snorkelling or just take in the sun before returning to port under wind power in the evening.

The Santa Bernarda complies with EU safety regulations and crew members give a short tutorial on the use of all safety equipment on board.

Active and Adventure – Air Activities – Enjoy an exhilarating helicopter ride over New York or a serene hot air balloon ride over the Australian outback.