The new Algarve Coastal Route
Explore the Algarve – a four day trip for sun and fun on the NEW Algarve Coastal Cycle Route – Ecovia do Litoral.
This is a 214 km route from Vila real de San Antonio at the Spanish border and on to Cabo de Sao Vicente. You will be staying in decent hotels in interesting towns along the way.
This holiday is available from the newly established cycle partnership between C2C Guide and Activity Algarve. We have put together a comprehensive cycling package to enable you to get the most out of the new wonderfully scenic new route.
Ecovia do Litoral combines trails in nature protection areas with linking stretches on traffic calmed or car-free routes. It runs across 12 Algarve municipalities and is designed to provide you with four moderately challenging days of cycling.
Ecovia Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Faro Airport
We will collect you from Faro airport and get you equipped with your bicycle for the tour. Then we will transport you and your bicycles over to Vila Real de San Antonio for your first night.
Here you will stay in a modern and comfortable hotel situated right in the centre of Vila Real de San Antonio. Vila Real San Antonio is a quaint old town on the edge of the Guadiana river just inside the Portuguese side of the border with Spain.
The hotel rooms are equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning and satellite TV. There is also a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Your accommodation here is on a Bed and Breakfast basis, though there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.
Day 2: First day of Cycling
Following a well marked route, with supplied maps, you will cycle west towards Tavira a charming old fishing town that has been around since Roman times. This is a great place to stop and have lunch as it is roughly half way along today's route. Continuing along the coast your destination for this evening is the old fishing town of Olhao. Here your accommodation is a charming little hotel set right in the heart of the old fishing town, renowned for its moorish style architecture. The old Marina, the fish and vegetable markets and restaurants serving traditional portuguese cuisine and sea food are only a few minutes walk away on the sea front.
Day 3: Onwards through Faro
Your second day on the Algarve Coastal Cycle Route takes you through the regional centre of Faro and onwards past the prestigious golf resorts and the Marina at Vilamoura to the overnight stay at the Albergaria Sao Sebastiao in the traditional algarven village of Boliqueime.
Day 4: Through Albufeira onto Praia da Rocha
Another interesting days cycling through the popular resort of Albufeira and along the coast through Portimau to Praia do Rocha . Here you will stay in a charming hotel next to the old fort on the sea front . The Hotel offers commanding views of the marina and the wonderful beach and is ideally located to enable you to explore the surrounding area.
Day 5: Journey ends
Your final day of the cycling tour takes you on to the southern most point of Europe, Cabo de S. Vicente. We collect you and return to Boliqueime for your last night before your flight home.
Note:- If you wish to extend your stay after your tour and include some relaxation or maybe sight seeing then this can also be arranged. Please contact us to let us know of your requirements.
C2C Sell Price Each Month:
January € 405
February € 405
March € 405
April € 415
May € 425
June € 445
July € 565
August € 565
September € 475
October € 415
November € 405
December € 405
Note:- These prices are per person, based upon two people sharing a twin bedded room. These prices are inclusive of local taxes but do NOT include baggage transfer
So just to be clear on what is included in the above prices, this is as follows:
1. Airport collection.
2. Transfer to first night hotel, via bike shop.
3. Bike hire and associated equipment for 4 days cycling.
4. B&B accommodation for 5 nights (bed only on night 2 in Olhao).
5. Collection from end of route and transfer to hotel for night 5.
6. Transfer back to airport (assuming that you choose to fly home immediately).
7. Route assistance (maps and advice).
What is not included in these prices is:
1. Flights.
2. Lunches and evening meals.
3. Holiday insurance (strongly recommended).
4. Any variation in the above standard packages, such as extra days, extra activities etc. These can all be quoted for as extras, as can baggage transfer should you wish not to carry your kit.
2. Ecovia do Literol Maps
The official AMAL website for the route is at this address:
www.ecoviasalgarve.org
The site is mainly in Portuguese, but you can probably get a feel for some parts of it.
The route is available on this address:
www.geo.algarvedigital.pt
This site also has an English translation. You need to click on the "theme" Ecovia to highlight the route. This is the information that is printed out and handed to you for your route. You will also get a copy of the Rough Guide Map: The Algarve 1:100,000 which is marked up with the route and the necessary detours.
The route is 214km long and it is divided into 4 days of roughly 50 to 55 km per day. You may chose to detour from the route on some days.
3. Accommodation
The accommodation is as follows :-
Night 1
This hotel is in Vila Real de San Antonio, the end of the route by the Spanish border
Night 2
This hotel is in the heart of the old town of Olhao, great location for restaurants and nightlife.
Night 3 & Night 5 and suggested for ongoing nights if required
www.bolihotel.com
This hotel is slightly off route, but great quality and value for money. This also is a good alternative in that it helps break the route into roughly even and easily manageable chunks. Your host can collect you from an agreed meeting place and transfer them to the hotel if necessary.
Night 4
Saving the best till last, this hotel is a real belter, overlooking the vast beach of Praia da Rocha. It is more expensive than the rest, but cylclists have all appreciated the relative luxury and also the wonderful breakfasts.
Each of the hotels is within walking distance of a selection of bars and restaurants and alternatives of similar quality can be found nearby should they be fully booked. From the Boliquieme hotel, the popular resorts of Vilamoura and Albufeira are only a short (taxi) drive away.
4. Bicycles
The bike shop we use has a good choice of mountain and touring/hybrid. These can be kitted out with rear luggage racks and also panniers so you can carry your luggage. The bike shop also provide helmets. If you have your own click-in pedals and wish to bring those that is no problem. Spare inner tubes and repair kits are also provided, but to date we have had zero technical problems. We tend to recommend the hybrid tourers over the mountain bikes, but feel free to choose. Equally, if you wish to bring your own bikes, you may do so, airline permitting and if you think it is worth the hassle and cost. We would, though, adjust the price accordingly.
You can see more detailed photos of the bikes at our online gallery:
www.flickr.com
5. East to West or West to East
The holiday has been designed to start near the Spanish border and run down to the southern western most tip of Portugal.
6. Time of year
In theory the route could be cycled all year round. At least one of the hotels (Praia da Rocha) closes down from around November to February, so an alternative would be provided. The weather is unpredictable from November to February/March and can be wet, but could also be very good (compared to Britain).
7 Places of Interest along the way
The cycle path certainly passes through some interesting places and gives you a taste of the real Portugal, good and sometimes not so good! There are almost too many places of interest along the way that will appeal to people’s differing tastes. Some of the places are just quaint interesting towns, such as Vile Real at the start. However, to highlight just a few places that the route passes through, in order from east to west, the following are worth exploring:
Vila Real de San Antonio
Tavira
Fuzeta
Olhao
Faro
Quinta do Lago
Vale do Lobo
Quarteira
Vilmoura
Albufeira
Lagoa
Portimau
Praia Da Rocha
Lagos
Praia da Luz
Sagres
8. T shirts
As a reward/promotional tool, you get a souvenir T-shirt to commemorate your successful completion of the route.
9. This company
Your holiday has been organised by the C2C Guide in conjunction with Activity Algarve, who will be in situ to see that you are looked after.
10 Group sizes
Groups of up to 20 can be catered for. Prices are geared at a minimum of 2 but we can deal with single booking as long as you realise it will be dearer based upon single occupancy of the hotel rooms etc.