LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Southern Beauty
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TWO WEEKS / LISBON TO SERPA
This route is around 340km, and can be done largely on public transit, though you’ll be able to explore more remote regions and less travelled coastline if you hire a car.
This trip will give you a chance to visit spectacular contrasts in scenery through following Portugal’s southern rivers, beaches and ridges. From Lisbon head to the Costa da Caparica, going far south of the tourist hordes to wild, sparsely visited beaches. Next, stop in Setúbal for a seafood feast and a visit to the beautiful protected area of the Parque Natural da Arrábida.
From here, it’s up to the mountains of Monchique, where you’ll find densely wooded hills and the Algarve’s highest point at 902m. Take advantage of the picturesque walking, biking and pony-trekking opportunities, followed by a spa visit in refreshing Caldas de Monchique.
From here you can dive back down to the coast, heading west to the surreal cliffs of Cabo de São Vicente, with an overnight in the laid-back beach town of Sagres. Go straight east along the coast to Faro, where you can take in its fine medieval centre before journeying out to the lush Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a lagoon system full of marsh, creeks, dune islands and the wetland birds that live there. From there, head to Tavira, set with genteel 18th-century buildings straddling the Rio Gilão. This picturesque river town is a fine base for a boat trip across to the peaceful, sandy Ilha de Tavira.
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