Gorgeous beaches, warm water and glorious sunshine year-round: the formula for a dream holiday. Algarve is the Portuguese equivalent to the French Riviera, Spanish Costa del Sol, American Florida or southern California. The sun and sea dominate the atmosphere of the Algarve, no wonder this paradise is called the "Garden of Portugal". The area has over one hundred miles of the finest beaches in Europe, with miles of sandy shore, lined with interesting coves - some only accessible by boat - and many unusual rock formations jutting out into the sea. Naturally, visitors flock to these beaches and some parts of the coastline are heavily built up. However, as most of the tourists tend to gather around the main beaches, by going a little further a field it is still possible to find relatively secluded coves.

The interior from the coast greatly varies in its picturesque appeal due to its variety of fauna, soil and contours. In January and February the coast is painted white with almond blossom shading the many varieties of wild orchids. In March, the heady perfume of orange blossom mixes with the bloom of acacias. During the month of April the bountiful wild flowers give cause to the delightful music of the many colourful birds. May and June is the time to see the raw beauty of the striking bare barks of stripped cork trees in contrast to the palette purple of the jacaranda. July is the time of cherries, strawberries and melons. August and September provide the picking of grapes, figs and almonds. November is for the gathering of chestnuts for the national festival of São Martinho. Whilst, in December it is time to start picking the famous sweet juicy Algarve oranges that continue through to March.

Away from the immediate coastal plain are the foothills leading up to the highest point Foia (902 meters.) above the un-spoilt village of Monchique. This mountain area is well known for the layers of Roman terraces with granite stonewalls providing a healthy variety of vegetables that can be found on sale in the local markets. Also, from this region comes the locally brewed firewater "Medronho" that is best drunk in one of the many local taverns.

The Arab dominance (from the 8th to the 13th centuries) has resulted in numerous monuments at Silves, Tavira, Faro etc. Throughout Algarve you see the Arab influence in sparkling whitewashed fronts of the houses, the terraces used for drying fruit, and the delicately worked chimneys. The houses are often decorated in blue, with white or yellow tiles. The landscape is dotted with olive groves, orange, lemon, and fig trees. With a bit of luck, you can still se mules pulling carts with loads of products to the local markets, where you'll find a wide range of hand-made crafts.