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Spring has come and we are looking forward to joining and attending new festivals and interesting events in Algarve! more…

Alvor has been a fishing village long before it became something of a tourist attraction. In fact it still is a fishing village for all intents and purposes; its location in the western region of the Algarve and on the southern coast of Portugal making is a great place for visitors to explore the sea’s offerings.

Fishing boats still go do their trade each morning, but the overall Alvor boating scene has evolved in later years, with several tour operators establishing a series of Alvor boat tours to satisfy the curiosity of the many tourists that flock to their town.

Alvor boat trips

Regardless of the time of year in which you visit Alvor, there are several types of trips that you can choose from, ranging from deep-sea fishing and cruising around the bay to exploring the protected natural park that encompasses the region around the banks of the Alvor River.

The majority of organized boat trips will be departing from and returning to the same place – usually the first pier of the Marina which is right next to the fish market. But there are also trip available to neighboring Praia da Rocha, and depending on the arrangements, visitors can be taken to various places, disembark and explore those places, such as Lagos for instance.

This being a fishing village there just has to be boat fishing trips, and these are definitely meant for the more adventurous travelers, who don’t suffer from sea sickness and enjoy the sport of fishing ideally. Truth of the matter is that you don’t have to be a season pro in order to enjoy these trips, they will surely guarantee to please.

These trips will supply you with all sorts of modern fishing equipment and give you the chance to fight some sea bass, grouper, conger eel and many other weird and wonderful creatures of the deep and not-so-deep.

Portugal is known all over the continent for its very rich traditional cuisine thanks to its blend of rich Mediterranean flavors as well as embracing various other influences from around the globe, especially Moorish influences in the Algarve, and in Alvor of course.

Going on something of an Alvor gastronomy tour is actually suggested as it is by far one of the best ways of experiencing full-on the place’s culture, as well as interacting with its inhabitants and getting a better feel for the overall atmosphere.

The best way to experience the local gastronomy is to have at least two weeks at your disposal to get to see, taste and experience a wide variety of places in Alvor as well as the surroundings. However, if that is not the case then here are some quick tips on where and what to seek out.

Those of you staying at a hotel will most likely have a vast buffet breakfast at your disposal, make sure to try out the various cold meats, cheeses and home-made jams and baked breads that will surely start your day off properly.

Now the rest of the day will depend heavily on the type of visitor you are, whether you’re the self-catering type, or you’re interested in experiencing the local cuisine through the various eateries in Alvor.

For the first type of visitors, you’ll want to stock up on supplies so you’ll just have to go to the Alvor Market where you’ll find all manner of fresh fruit, vegetables, pastries and breads, it’s a feast for the eyes as much as it is for the belly.

For the second type of visitors, we would suggest you visit the Alvor harbor area which is filled with lovely restaurants which offer some of the best seafood you’ll ever have, all whilst offering some great views of the bay.

We constantly mention throughout the site that Alvor is a very family friendly destination, and that is very true of the relatively quiet and small fishing village, it’s great to visit if you have kids, so let’s take a look at what Alvor for children is like.

Let’s start with the easiest activities that you can involve your children in, namely the same ones that you’ll be undertaking such as visiting the beautiful beaches and caves, and of course the possibility of Alvor boat trips.

Head to the Lagos Zoo

This one again is not necessary limited to a children’s activity, but they will surely love it a ton. The nearby Lagos Zoo has around 120 animal species which include giant porcupines, monkeys, tortoises and a plethora of tropical birds. Lagos can easily be reached with the help of some Algarve car hire services.

Portimao Pedagogical Farm

While not in Alvor proper, the Pedagogical Farm in Portimao is a great place to visit with your kids. A two-hectare area that brings nature and farm animals closer to the city, to create a great opportunity for the children to learn about many farm animals such as goats, chickens and cows, and actually see them. The activities at the farm include them making their own bread, taking care of a vegetable garden and many others.

More importantly, the entrance is free and it’s open from Tuesday to Friday and on the weekends. Also if you happen to visit during Easter, the summer vacations or some other official holidays, the Farm will have special activities.

Water parks

Slide and Splash – Algarve wather park

The easily reachable Slide and Splash water park is by far one of the main attractions that Alvor has to offer to children, even though it isn’t technically in Alvor. Nearby Lagoa can be easily reached by rental car or by bus.

Also an other fun area will be Zoomarine Algarve – a park with ocean animals, where children can relax and have fun in the same time.

The children’s area is very well organized and is supervised at all times by a team of trained lifeguards. In the meanwhile, while they’re having fun splashing about, you can relax by one of the pools or in the Jacuzzi, sipping on your favorite cocktail.