Van trip in Algarve & Costa Vicentina

Day 1: Lisbon - Albufeira

[260 km - 2.50 h]🚐

Our road trip begins in Lisbon where, just outside the city, we pick up the van that will be our home on wheels for the next five days. It's already afternoon and we decide to head straight to the deep south of Portugal, near Albufeira.

[the toll booth charge for this stretch of highway is €44.50💰]

Favorite destination for young people, especially Brits, looking for fun, we decide to avoid the hustle and bustle of the town for our first encounter with Algarve and so we head to Praia de São Rafael (Albufeira).

Praia de São Rafael

@sofiamiotti

Here you will immediately discover the main features of Portugal's southern coast: the high orange cliffs, the fine sand and the icy water (in the summer months, covered with seaweed). You can't help but fall in love with this landscape, especially if you go at sunset time.

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After watching the sunset while sitting on the cliffs, we head out in search of a place to park our van for the night and to take a shower. It's the week of mid-August and we encounter more vans than cars in Algarve, but after being turned away by two sold-out campgrounds, we finally find a place where to park in Armação de Pêra (which allows us to get closer to tomorrow's destination). 

Camping Praia de Armação de Pêra

@sofiamiotti

cost per night (van, 2 pax, electricity): €22.5 very big camping, no marked pitches (and therefore a bit messy), access to the sea by foot, clean toilets, all in all ok for one night but if you can look for a caravan park.

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Day 2: Albufeira - Lagoa - Portimão

Benagil Cave (Lagoa) 

[30 km - 35 min]🚐

On the morning of the second day we drive to Praia de Benagil. From here, through a short kayak ride, we will reach the Benagil Cave, symbol of Algarve and therefore an unmissable stop of this road trip. 

💡Some practical advice: we parked at "Benagil Parking" [Estr. de Benagil 1a, 8400-401 Lagoa] for €5 all day (they give you a discount coupon for kayak rental at the beach). The kayak costs €25, 2 pax, availability 1.30 h (it takes about 10 minutes to reach the Cave). A waterproof bag to carry your belongings is essential; if you forgot to bring it (like us), you can buy it for €10 where they rent the kayak. 

Benagil Cave

@sofiamiotti

After admiring the Cave and filling your camera roll with photos of the skyward cavity, you can kayak out to Praia de Corredoura (it takes almost 5 minutes), which you will probably find deserted and, for this reason, stunning.

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Finished the kayak tour, we decide to enjoy the view from above and walk the trail (very easy but sneakers are recommended) that from above the Benagil Cave takes us to the Miradouro dos Arcos Naturais da Praia da Marinha with a gentle up and down between the crags. [round walk trip duration about 1h🚶‍♂️]

Praia da Rocha (Portimão)

[20 km - 30 min]🚐

We get back behind the wheel of our van toward Portimão and, yet again, we decide to avoid the city to focus on natural beauty. Finding parking is not easy but eventually we manage to put our toes in the sand of... 

Praia da Rocha

@sofiamiotti

Immense, vibrant, alive, with buildings on one side reaching the shore, you will feel as if you are in Copacabana. Don't miss the secret passage in the rocks, at the end of the beach, that takes you to Praia dos Três Castelos

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The day has been long and tiring and also for tonight we decide to stay at a RV park a little further inland but that gets us closer to Lagos, tomorrow morning's destination.

CampingCar Figueira

@sofiamiotti

cost per night (van, 2 pax, electricity): €15 Few pitches close to each other but well marked, there is an intimate, homely atmosphere. Very nice. Only downside: narrow roads to get there.

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Day 3: Portimão - Lagos - Sagres

Lagos

[20 km - 30 min]🚐

Today will take us on the discovery of Lagos and its main attractions. We decide to start the day by relaxing on the shores of...

Meia Praia

@sofiamiotti

Another giant expanse of sand, there is room for everyone and you can enjoy the sun (for the brave ones, the water as well) in total peace and quiet. It is not a must-see beach but if you have the chance it is a good addition to the list of things to see.

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We get back in our van and head to one of the iconic places in the Algarve, where the landscape again becomes that of the typical cliffs, namely Ponta da Piedade. 

Since we are in Lagos, the busiest town on the coast, it may seem difficult to find parking. I recommend heading straight to the Lighthouse and taking advantage of it for a lunch in your ocean view van. Aren't these the perks of van life?

Ponta da Piedade

@sofiamiotti

If you've done a little bit of research before leaving for Algarve, you've surely already seen these images. That won't stop you from being pleasantly impressed by the view and from filling your camera roll with these cliffs sculpted by wind and water over the millennia.

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From here, you should continue on the cliffside path that allows you to walk along the coast and that offers, through the wooden Miradouros, incredible views of the beaches below, such as Praia da Balança and Praia dos Pinheiros. 

The area can also be explored by boat or kayak; we decide to do it by foot and to reach by walking the two (very crowded) beaches of Praia do Camilo and Praia Dona Ana. 

Praia do Camilo

@sofiamiotti

This small cove can be reached after a very steep stairway. Very nice, it would have been even nicer if there were fewer people and less algae on the shore (but these are two constants in Algarve during August). There is even a small bar that sells drinks and ice cream.

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Praia Dona Ana

@sofiamiotti

Lots of people here as well, perhaps because it is more easily accessible. Honestly it's a nice beach but it's nothing special, if I could go back I wouldn't waste my time there.

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Sagres

[30 km - 35 min]🚐

After spending a couple of hours in downtown Lagos, a lively and pretty town for a stroll but not particularly distinctive, we make our way to Sagres. One of the regrets of the vacation for me is that I did not spend more time visiting the small town of Sagres, a destination for young people and surfers. I am sure I will have a chance to visit it again; you, however, do not make the same mistake I did!

Sagres still gave us one of the most beautiful moments of our holiday in Algarve: an aperitif sitting in our van with a sunset view over the ocean. To be precise we were above Praia do Beliche and there are no words to describe it.

We weren't the only ones to think so, since shortly after we were joined by many other vans, almost like a drive-in cinema. 

Although camping in public spaces is forbidden in Portugal, many parked there for the night. If I could go back, I would do the same, but that evening we had already paid for our pitch at a caravan park, and besides...we really needed a shower! 

Figueira Caravan Park (Salema)

@sofiamiotti

This is a small caravan park just outside Sagres, with pitches clearly marked by hedges and very basic toilets and showers. We paid 14€ for a pitch without electricity

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Day 4: Sagres - Arràbida Natural Park 

We begin our day by going back to Praia do Beliche because it has captured our hearts and even from below it turns out to be the most beautiful beach seen during the holiday. 

Praia do Beliche

@sofiamiotti

After a long flight of steps, you arrive at this huge expanse of sand. Crystal clear water and sky-high cliffs behind it. I'll let the photos do the talking.

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Cabo de São Vicente

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We do a quick stop in Cabo de São Vicente, just to take some pictures from the westernmost point of the Algarve. Of course it was veeery windy.

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Arrifana

[50 km - 55 min]🚐

We start the discovery (although brief) of the Costa Vicentina, the wild coast of Portugal. After about an hour's drive we arrive in Arrifana, which is absolutely worth visiting even if you were to focus only on the Algarve region. The town is small but full of sea-view bars and restaurants, and there is a relaxed and serene spirit about it. 

Praia da Arrifana

@sofiamiotti

Surfboards can be rented at this beach because it has the perfect waves. If you don't feel like jumping into the water but still want to feel like a surfer for a day, you should definitely stop by 📍Ti Raul (@tiraul_arrifana) to have a refreshening drink or to have a bite while admiring the stunning view over the beach.

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Comporta

[150 km - 2.20 h]🚐

The next two hours of driving surrounded by the landscape make us realize that the Costa Vicentina deserves a journey of its own to be discovered at ease. 

Yet we arrive before sunset at Praia da Comporta, a beach surrounded by a green pine forest and dunes covered with lush vegetation. 

Praia da Comporta

@sofiamiotti

It may be the wide white sand, or the chic vibe resulting from the music of the stylish clubs, or the fact that it is populated mainly by Lisbon residents... this beach is compared to the Hamptons in New York.

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Arràbida Natural Park

[90 km - 1 h]🚐

We decide to reach Arràbida Natural Park to spend the night, both to get closer to Lisbon (we will have to leave our van by the morning) and because we would have liked to visit a bit this vast natural park as well, but in the end we preferred to stay longer at the beach and by the time we arrive at the caravan park it is already late in the evening. 

Camping Picheleiros

@sofiamiotti

When we arrived it was practically full and we did not like the spot we were assigned at all (for which we paid 13€). It may have been the high season and also the fact that there are not many campsites inside the natural park, however it was very crowded and noisy, I don't recommend it.

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Day 5: Arràbida Natural Park - Lisbon

[50 km - 1 h]🚐

[the toll booth charge for this stretch of highway is €6.90💰]

Our trip to southern Portugal ends by returning our van, that has been our home for the past 5 days, to the rental agency in Lisbon. We rented it from Roadsurfer [Estr. Arruda 39a, 2615-046 Alverca do Ribatejo] and we had a great experience. I would recommend to everyone to do such an adventure at least once in life because it offers a sense of absolute freedom and communion with the landscape.

If you are not ready to go home and say goodbye to Portugal, you could continue your journey exploring the north of Portugal all the way to Porto! 🇵🇹

Here you can find my guide: