Algarve's Coast & Hills

An excellent week's holiday, lovely warm weather for beginning of November. Easy access to varied walking areas. Highlights were meals taken at the Quinta and the chance to chat to and get to know other guests. Jill and Julio were amazing hosts, very welcoming and helpful! Would hope to return again!

A wonderful holiday with a good and varied selection of walks. We particularly enjoyed walking along part of the well signed Fishermen’s Way, looking down onto the coves with their pristine white sandy beaches, and eating at the beachfront restaurants. The Cabanas Velhas on Almadena beach was our favourite! The Quinta is in an ideal location giving easy access to both the coast and the hills, and is just a short distance from Odiáxere where there is a good supply of restaurants and a few shops. Jill and Julio are the most welcoming of hosts and could not do enough for us.

The village of Bordeira is attractive and well cared for presumably to attract visitors – there was no more than a handful.  The bar does simple snacks and overlooks an attractive area.  There were dog poo bags and no visible dog mess unlike most other villages.  The old wash house is still in limited use and there are signs to the various significant features. There is a picnic table at the viewpoint which made a good spot for our lunch.  You can park opposite the turn to the village and follow waymarked routes if you have time.

Visiting Lagos - This has picturesque old streets mainly filled with restaurants it seemed.  In order to avoid the congestion within Lagos we were advised to park in the large parking area adjacent to Estrada do Sao Roque.  This worked well.  It should be easy to find using SatNav or Apple Maps.  Google maps is different and appears to be out of date.  From the parking area you can walk past the disused station towards the marina and cross on the lifting bridge.  The main area of interest is within a couple of streets of the river frontage, the slave market is some 700m from the bridge and set back from the river.

The three amazing coastal walks, bodeira and amoreira, Burgas to Salema and the more popular Bengali cliff walk which was spectacular but very busy, we know we went early in your winter season. The walks took us to some more remote and stunning parts of the coast, the cliffs are truly imposing and the power of the sea here very apparent. We were exhilarated by the beauty and the power of nature!
We also enjoyed birdwatching at the a rocha area you refer to near Alvor. We saw some amazing birds storks, flamingos, egrets herons, plovvers, three osprey and lots of small wading birds In delightful surroundings and with no crowds. But a note of caution, two of the dykes seem to have been breached which may affect the richness of the area in the future. We left this information with Jill.

We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday on the Western Algarve. The Quinta is beautiful with luxuriant trees and flowers plus a warm salt water pool. Gill and Julio are so pleasant and helpful and provide delicious fresh breakfasts and two excellent dinners. Accomodation is great. We loved the walks particularly on the Costa Vicentina where the coastal flowers were still fabulous. We would definitely recommend this holiday.

The accommodation at Quinta das Achadas was very good, and the welcome and service from Julio and Jill second to none. We thoroughly enjoyed the ability to pick and choose what we were doing without maybe the stress of having to set out to the next location which would have been uncomfortable given the weather at the end of the holiday. Thoroughly recommend this particular holiday.

We just felt very lucky to time our visit so perfectly for the wildflowers! They were spectacular- truly. The variety offered across the walks was super. I would recommend this holiday to others. You can choose whether or not to go near the tourist spots. There was so much to see of the hidden countryside and coast - it didn't feel like you were in a tourist area at all - much of it truly wild and wonderful.

The Amoreira Circuit was our highlight. The restaurant recommendations were very good.

A very relaxing and enjoyable holiday. Jill and Julio were very welcoming and gave us lots of useful information about the area. The meals they cooked were excellent and it was a great way to meet and get to know the other guests. The breakfasts were very good as well.

The walks on Algarve's Coast and Hills holiday were beautiful and varied. The coastal walks showed amazing rock formations and colours. The inland forest and mountain valley walks Showed the beauty of the Portuguese countryside with its old farms and oak trees.

Staying at the Quinta das Achadas was delightful and relaxing. Jill and Julio were very welcoming and their local knowledge invaluable. They were excellent hosts and our communal evening meals will be remembered for years to come.

The Qjunta is a delight - Jill is an excellent host. The area is great for walking - the West Coast is a highlight. Inntravel’s arrangements were top class.

Excellent location in "the real Portugal" with plenty of variety of walking and sight-seeing within easy reach. We enjoyed our outing to Silves where we had a splendid lunch at the fish restaurant Marisqueira Rui.

Our eighth trip with Inntravel in 12 years and it won't be our last. Over our many years of seeing the world, have never experienced such impeccable hospitality. Jill and Julio have a way of instantly making you not just feel AT home, but that it IS your home for the week. Thoroughly enjoyed our time at the quinta in all respects. If you like 65F (18C) weather, no crowds, empty beaches, and seafood, Algarve in February is where it's at.

A very pleasant relaxing way to spend a week off season.

HIGHLIGHTS: The coastal scenery is absolutely stunning, particularly on the Benagil to Albandeira walk. Lunch at the Sitio al Forno on the Rota Vicentina circuit. The fantastic communal ambience and atmosphere at the Quinta Da Achadas. Watching the Atlantic waves crash in on Bordeira beach. Eating burgers, not as we know them(!), as the Micro Bar in Carrapateira.

Jill, Julio and Issabella couldn’t have been more welcoming or the quinta more relaxing. It felt like staying with friends and their knowledge of the area was very helpful. Jill’s communal dinners were a highlight, her warm, bubbly personality and delicious cooking made for a special experience. Highly recommended.

Evening meals at the Quinta were a real highlight, and I enjoyed feeding any leftovers to the lovely pigs!

The highlight in terms of the views was the walk from Benagil. The timings given were a little inaccurate for us as we stopped to take so many photographs; every corner turned produces another stupendous view. We perhaps would have been better doing it on a week day rather than the weekend but the weather did dictate where we went. However our favourite walk was from Luz to Burgau and with advice from Jill, we had a sardine lunch on the lovely beach terrace at Burgau then walked back. We loved it for the profusion of flowers. The other highlight was having dinner 'en famille' at the Quinta. Jill is an excellent cook and the welcome she and Julio give makes for a lovely evening and a great opportunity to chat to all the other visitors.

In late May, the wildflowers (especially on Walk 6, Amoreira) were magnificent. We had a truly excellent, traditional meal at Jardim das Oliveiras, just outside Monchique - a good choice either before or after the short Monchique Valley walk. And, nearby the Quinta, O Caseiro is as good as everyone says: simple, good-value food, and very friendly service.

The highlights for us were the excellent accommodation and the many wildflowers on the walks. There was a good variety of walks, coastal and inland and we will need to return to complete those that we missed.

Timing in May gave a huge bonus of extensive and varied wildflowers.  

April in the Algarve is very beautiful and Jill and Julio at the Quinta are among the most welcoming and friendly of all the hosts we have stayed with in our 24 Inntravel journeys! Nothing is too much trouble for them. The walks are good and the beaches and 'seascapes' incredible. Wildflowers and birds are abundant. For those who love birds everything from flamingos and bee-eaters to a whinchat shrike and a dartford warbler. Best 'slow moment' - watching a pair of dung-beetles at work rolling away a ball of goat droppings! What could be better ...

Coastal walks were amazing. Spring is great for the wild flowers.  really enjoyed a swim and jacuzzi at the end of each day 

I would suggest that your future customers acquire their own walking guides for this region

This holiday was made particularly memorable by the accommodation and hosts, Julio and Jill, who made us feel like friends and also provided excellent meals, advice and also rescue when the small ford that needed to be crossed to get there turned into a torrential flood due to some exceptional rainfall!

This is a particulary beautiful and spectacular coastline and made for some excellent walks.

Our hosts Jill & Julio were excellent and couldn't have been more helpful, particularly when the ford on their approach road flooded and we couldn't get out.

Meeting and talking to Jill and Julio and the other guests at Quinta das Achadas was as much fun as the walks and visits around the Algarve. It was our first experience of mainland Portugal and we enjoyed seeing the wild flowers, including mimosa, and the wild seas, smelling the gum cistus and discovering the area.

We had an excellent holiday and were very impressed by Inntravel organisation and the high quality of the accommodation. The walking in spring sunshine was just right for us and the directions were brilliant.

We can recommend the Quinta das Achadas and the hosts Jill and Julio to anyone who likes to be both independent and to mix with a small number of others for breakfasts and a couple of dinners. There is a relaxed atmosphere and Jill and Julio could not be more helpful in suggesting places to visit and good restaurants. 

A lovely place to stay with friendly, helpful hosts. Everything quite relaxed and slow. We had three evening meals each of which was very sociable and lasted for hours. Likewise breakfasts were very friendly and relaxed. After a couple of days, the Quinta was full and remained so (five couples staying) and it was a good way to share thoughts about walks, local eating places, places worth a visit, etc. The village fiesta, on Shrove Tuesday, was fun - we spent a couple of hours watching a variety of floats, costumes, dancing, etc.

Enjoyed each day (and news of snow/ice back at home made us smug). Highlights were the Picota peak walk (best walk) and the Benagil-Albandeira walk (best views); also the Odiaxere carnival, an unexpected bonus. Should have read your information more carefully as we didn't manage the first couple of days well (e.g. paid 3hrs parking in Lagos, then found the castle and museum were closed for several hours when we got there). It was a half-hour walk to Odiaxere, and [we were] reluctant to drive, so didn't make the best use of the restaurants: takeaways were disappointing. Meals in the Quinta were excellent - quite a party atmosphere in the evening.

Quintas das Achadas was a really good location: there were opportunities for very varied walks without travelling far. There was plenty of choice for eating places very nearby. We really liked Odiaxere, very unspoilt. We have an interest in birds and were delighted to see a wide variety some of which were unique to the area. We found an excellent book on 'Birds in the Algarve' in the Tourist Information shop in Lagos. We were lucky to have good weather and we enjoyed walking along spectacular beaches, almost deserted.

Great range of walks all very different and showcasing the variety in the Algarve. Beach bar at Burgau a highlight for food and drink and a great place to while away some time by the sea. 

We had a very pleasant and restful holiday in temperatures that were just right for walking and when a little rain only fell in the evening or early morning - what could be better! Quinta das Achadas with its facilities for children and access to beaches and water sports would be a great place to bring the grandchildren - we may just have to work on that cunning plan.

The accommodation and facilities were excellent; the valley walk in particular in high temperatures was very challenging for walkers of any ability.

We really enjoyed the holiday, the Quinta das Achadas is charming, as are the hosts and its informality suited us. It was pleasant to review the day's walking with fellow guests who were in the main like-minded folk who enjoyed the fresh air and looking at the countryside. We were delighted with the array of wildflowers still around in May.

The holiday could not be bettered.  The Quinta was amazing and our hosts were superb - friendly, welcoming, informative and good fun.  The meals at the Quinta were fantastic.  One of our best holidays.

Our personal highlights - The wonderful wild flowers on the rugged cliff tops and generally on all the walks in the countryside. The nature reserve (A Rocha) was very interesting especially on the Thursday with some knowledgeable speakers explaining their work and research projects. The car park at Burgau is not currently usable.

The walks were very varied and the wild flowers were magnificent at this time of the year. The hosts at the Quinta could not have been more helpful and friendly. It really was like staying in somebody's house. 

There were several restaurants close by and our favourite was Caseiros. 

We would wholeheartedly recommend this holiday.  The roads were comparatively empty (end of March), the temperature was around 20 degrees. Odiaxere has a surprisingly good selection of places to eat.  There was a good market on Monday (weekly? monthly?) We took our old TomTom satnav, which was a great help. At the end of the week we took the train from Faro to Lisbon, cheap and bookable before you leave and had 4 days there, flying back from Lisbon.  

Before going we made an appointment to visit Inntravel and spoke to [an Inntravel representative] who was extremely helpful with advice about the holiday and flights and timing. Thank you.

This was our first visit to the Algarve and we thoroughly enjoyed the varied walks and scenery.Jill and Julio made us very welcome in their beautiful Quinta and we were persuaded to stay in one of their apartments for a couple of days too! One of our favourite walks was the Monchique Valley Circuit though there was a chorus of barking dogs on one section. We also enjoyed the dramatic cliff tops on the coastal walks from Benagil and can recommend the restaurant, Bar O Litoral.

Terrific place to stay.  Good variety of walks.  Pleasantly warm and sunny in February.

West Atlantic coast and beaches were a highlight.

Excellent, friendly and helpful hosts and delightful accommodation.

Interesting birdlife and flowers.

Silves was a fascinating town.

A Rocha was very interesting and well worth the visit.

Fado singing at a restaurant in Lagos was an excellent evening's entertainment. We went to Sao Goncalo restaurant on Tua 25 de Abril.

The local restaurant of O Caseiro was excellent - foodwise and service and very affordable!

A great holiday exploring a new country for us, with enjoyable walks, wonderful scenery and lovely weather. 
GIll and Julio are excellent hosts and we were grateful for their welcome, local knowledge and warm hospitality.