No matter how you choose to spend your time there, you should definitely not miss a few places which are in my opinion real natural masterpieces.These wonderful places are: Praia do Camilo, Praia do Pinhao and Ponta da Piedade.

If you would like to enjoy their beauty entirely, you should make enough time and visit them one by one. In case you don’t have the time to do so, you should know that they are situated close to one another and you can explore them on the same day. You can get to these places by land or by sea but in my opinion the best way to visit them is by land, because this will give you the opportunity to also admire them from the top of the cliffs.

1. Praia do Pinhao is the first on your map if you come from downtown. This is a small and elegant beach where you will discover a natural and beautiful scenery: imposing orange cliffs, fine golden sand and clear greenish blue water. Praia do Pinhao is a real oasis of peace where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the daily world.

2. Praia do Camilo, another wonderful beach, is situated not very far from Praia do Pinhao. This is also a small beach with golden sand and crystal clear water. The high orange cliffs shaped in an asymmetric way which surround the beach, make it really special. This lovely scenery urges you to take a bath and relax in a pleasant atmosphere.

3. Ponta da Piedade is a marvelous place situated at the end of the coastline. This is a group of cliffs and rock formations shaped in a beautiful and natural way. A walk through the rock pillars, the sea arches, the natural tunnels and caves, will definitely recharge your batteries. The scenery is perfectly completed by an old lighthouse, called Farol da Ponta da Piedade.
I am sure you will not regret if you add these masterpieces on your trip list and it will be a lovely experience to visit them.

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Even if this town is well known for its beautiful beaches which are the symbol of the entire town, in my opinion Portimao means more than that. If you decide to visit this place you will discover that this town has much more to offer besides its beaches. Here are in my opinion a few of the things you could try in Portimao.

1. The Port of Portimao is an interesting place. Located very close to the town center, it is the perfect place to take a walk and relax in the evening. You can admire a variety of ships, boats and yachts there or you can just have a lovely dinner on one of the terraces. The restaurants and the cafes urge you to take a sit and relax in a pleasant atmosphere.

2. The Museum of Portimao is situated near the port. Designed in a building which was originally a sardine canning factory, the museum will offer you the chance to find out a lot of things about the fishing industry such as: the original machines and the equipment used in this industry, the production steps of the canning process, an archaeological exhibition that shows the evolution of human occupation in this region and an old waterway where you can watch images of the underwater wildlife on a big screen.

3. You should know that you can choose from a variety of activities in Portimao. There are a lot of travel agencies that organize different tours of the place and activities such as: boat trips, scuba diving, parasailing, water-skiing, glass bottomed boat tours or fishing trips.

It is up to you what you choose to do, but if you want to admire the beauty of this region, I advise you to choose at least one trip where you can see the amazing grottoes and the stunning coastline. A must see is definitely the Benagil Cave, which is the iconic image of the entire region of the Algarve.

4. Another interesting thing about Portimao is the fact that different festivals and events are organized there every year. This summer for example you could have enjoyed the Street Food Festival and the Wine Festival. You can find the schedule of these events in the Algarve Guide and you can request this brochure at your hotel.

5. I really believe that you cannot have a complete experience in Portimao if you don’t taste their delicious local dishes. Food is an important part of any culture and people connect to their cultural or ethnic group through similar food patterns. For me it is important to discover these patterns everywhere I go. If I had to describe Portuguese food in a few words I would say: fried eggs with almost any main dish, chips of all shapes and sizes, a big variety of cakes for breakfast, delicious fish, especially bream, cod and sardines and the amazing francesinha.

6. Shopping can be sometimes a relaxing activity. If you feel the same you should know that there are a lot of places in Portimao where you can find quality things at very good prices, no matter if you choose the shops on the coquettish streets or those in the big mall.
All things considered, you have a lot of reasons to choose this town as a holiday destination, because Portimao is more than just a stretch of beaches.

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Fiesta is an International Sand Sculpture Festival held annually since 2003 in Pera, Portugal. This unique event is the largest sand sculpture exhibition in the world and displays a collection of imposing sculptures. It will be a delight to visit and admire this exhibition because every item is carefully carved.

The exhibition is in my opinion an amazing work of art. It is the work of a group of talented sculptors who come from different parts of the world and who are driven by the same passion for sculpture. The scenery is unique and impressive and every statue implies a lot of talent and hard work. The damp sand is put into big molds and takes the shape of a huge block which later becomes the final product. It seems that the sand comes to life in the sculptors’ hands.

If you take my advice and visit this exhibition, you will have the chance to plunge into an imaginary world. The theme of this art show is different every year and this is what makes the exhibition really interesting. Hollywood, superheroes, famous film and music stars, historical figures and music are just a few of the themes that were presented at the festival.

Music is the theme of the festival this year and I am sure it will be a delight to discover the musical styles of various countries of the world, the origins of music and the statues of one of the world’s famous musicians. While you admire the statues you will be also delighted by different musical styles which complete the whole idea of the festival.

This place can be visited by day or by night when the sculptures are illuminated by a multitude of colorful lights. The exhibition is open to the public every day between March 20 and October 20, giving you enough time to live an unforgettable experience.

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Situated in Lagos, Portugal, Praia do Camilo is a small golden sandy beach with crystal clear waters, surrounded by high orange cliffs. These imposing cliffs, shaped in an asymmetric way, seem to be a reliable guard for this priceless treasure. The color of the water is a harmonious combination between blue and green which together with the orange of the cliffs create a unique scenery.

You should spend an entire day on this fabulous beach because by doing so you will have the chance to experience how the tide slowly changes the landscape. This impressive natural phenomenon makes this place look different throughout the day and you have the feeling that the beach you see in the morning is different from the one you see in the evening. You cannot get bored on this beach because you can choose from a variety of activities such as: swimming, snorkeling, tanning or you can just admire the beauty of this fantastic place.

Camilo Beach is very close to the city and this is the reason why it is quite accessible. You can get to the beach by boat, by car or on foot. If you choose to get there by car or on foot, you should know that you will find yourself on top of the cliffs and you will have to descend about 200 wooden stairs in order to get to the beach.

The image seen from the top of the cliffs is spectacular because you will actually have the opportunity to admire the entire coastline. In my opinion Praia do Camilo is the perfect place to spend unforgettable moments. If you decide to visit this slice of heaven, you will definitely experience a great feeling of delight, inner peace and joy.

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This place is situated near Benagil, a small Portuguese village, in the southern region of Algarve, just around the corner from the wonderful Benagil beach. This sea cave was shaped in a natural way, inside a beautiful cliff by the ocean. The cave gives you the feeling that the Atlantic Ocean and the coastline blend together in a harmonious way.

Benagil Cave, also called the Benagil Cathedral, is one of the many stunning caves that embellish the Algarve Coast, but it is definitely the iconic image of the entire region. The beauty of this place is outlined by an impressive scenery. This uniquely shaped cliff displays two entrances, a wonderful sandy beach which lies inside the cave and a naturally shaped roof.

The fact that the roof is actually an open space which allows the natural light to go in, is what really makes this place unique and breathtaking. This natural light makes the orange of the cliff and the blue of the water look incredibly beautiful. Even if it is said that the only way you can get there is by boat, there are actually several options you can choose from, if you decide to visit this amazing cave.

You can drive to Benagil Beach and then swim to get to the cave, but I advise you not to do it if you are not a very good swimmer, because the ocean can be sometimes very dangerous. You can also choose an organized boat trip because it is a perfect way to see not only the Benagil cave, but also the wonderful landscapes and caves from the entire region.

In my opinion the best way to visit this place is to rent a boat or a kayak because you can organize your time the way you want and you can admire this beautiful region in all its splendor. No matter how you choose to get there, you will definitely be astonished by the beauty of this place. If you take my advice and travel to Benagil Cave, you will live a unique and unforgettable experience.

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