Casa da Paz - Things to do

"House of Peace"

A secluded villa located near Loulé in the Algarve with a private pool, offering total privacy and superb sea views

Golf	The Algarve is famous for its excellent golf courses. There are 9, 18, and 27 hole greens available. The best in terms of their design and surrounding countryside are in the municipality of Loulé. There are frequent examples of courses running along the coast with spectacular views.
Beaches	The coastal strip of the Municipality of Loulé is about13.5km long, providing visitors with an extraordinary choice of beaches with fine golden sand. The local beaches are listed below. Villamoura Marina beach - Blue flag, life guards, patrol boat, lookout posts, water sports. Quarteira beach - Blue flag, lifeguards, water sports. Almargem beach - Surrounded by a pine wood. Poço Velho beach - Access via a stairway. Cavalo Preto beach - In the midst of a pine wood. Forte Novo beach - Water sports, facilities for boats. Loulé Velho beach - Access through a pine wood, quiet atmosphere. Trafel beach - Surrounded by a pine wood, peaceful. Vale do Lobo beach - Blue flag, life guards, water sports, commercialized. Garrão beach - Blue flag, life guards, water sports. Ancão beach - Blue flag, life guards, part of the Ria Formosa National park. Quinta do Lago beach - Blue flag, life guards, look out posts, patrol boat. Access is via a bridge over the Ria Formosa.
Tennis	Tennis can be played in the Algarve at any time of the year, due to the pleasant climate. There are many tennis courts and clubs in the Algarve. The local courts are: Loulé tennis club - 3 courts with synthetic surfaces and artificial lighting. Contact 289 414 438. Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy - Every year different tennis competitions are held here. Many courts and tuition.
Cycling	Cycling is the number one sport in the area as the local clubs arrange mini "Tour de France" races in the outskirts of Loulé. Bikes can be hired locally.
Fishing	The southern and south western coastline of the Algarve is a mecca for sea fishing. The choice is yours whether you choose to fish from either long sandy beaches, rocky cliffs or join an angling party on a registered inshore or deep sea charter boat. Shore fishing can produce an amazing variety of fish other than the more common varieties of Bass, Bream, Mackerel, Conger, Angler Fish and flat fish of countless types. The inshore boats tend to operate closer to shore and principally fish the bottom for Bass and Bream together with many other varieties - there are always a few surprises when the catch is within sight of the surface. If you want to really experience a big catch then you need to take a day out on one of the many deep sea charter boats that operate all along the Algarvian coast. Dependent on the time of year, the tides and currents, you will have the opportunity to catch many species including Blue or Mako sharks (sharks are usually always returned to the water), Marlin, Swordfish, Blue or Yellowfin Tuna, Shipjack, Albacore or Bonito.
Horse-Riding	The variable terrain found in the Algarve provides for a varied selection of horse riding, including hacking, river and beach. You will find well established riding centres (many are approved by the Association of British Riding Schools) along the entire Algarve from the east near Spain to the "wild" west of Cabo de São Vincente. In the central Algarve region of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, the soft sandy soil amidst the pine forests makes for a very comfortable ride. The inland areas of Loulé across to Silves is dotted with valleys, rivers and tracks that take riders into rural areas of countryside where you will experience the real Algarve. Going further inland towards the northern Algarve, riders can enjoy riding amidst the cool shade provided by the dense eucalyptus, cork oak and medronho trees that dominate the Serra do Caldeirão and Serra de Monchique. To the western Algarve there are large open spaces with rolling hills that seem virtually uninhabited. A ride through the colourful dunes and foothills of this region is an experience you will always remember. The local horse riding centres are: Villamoura horse riding centre - 289 322 675 Pinetrees Riding Centre, Almancil - 289 394 369 Quinta do Azinheiro Riding Centre, Tor - 289 415 991
Nightlife	The night life here is very varied, from traditional Fado singing, to live cabaret shows at casinos in Vilamoura, Praia de Rocha and Monte Gordo. There are also disco's that carry on into the early hours of the morning. Fado singing is the traditional Portuguese singing, which dates back several hundred years. There are many different types of restaurant where you can dine "al fresco". There is something to satisfy everybody's taste.
The "Carnival"	One of the best events held in the Algarve each February is the "Carnival" which is held at the beginning of Lent. The Loulé Carnival is regarded as the premier event and has been held nearly every year since 1906. There is a smaller carnival in Loulé in August.
Walking	Walking is very popular in the Algarve. There are walks up the mountains with spectacular views to the sea, or walk for miles along the long golden beaches. There are also many pretty towns and villages that are best explored on foot. In addition there are several companies who organise walking trips. There is a book entitled The Loulé Walking Guide. It has 20 fully detailed walking routes with alternatives totalling 54.5 hours and 176 kilometres of walking. Total ascents 2,430 metres, total descents 2,350 metres. The 1:25,000 'OS' map sections are licensed from Geográfico Nacional, Lisboa. It is produced in a 'Map & Book' format with a sturdy plastic pocket wallet. Loulé has a wealth of walks through beautiful landscapes. The Guide rating is '2 Walkers' with all routes suitable for 'trainers'. The Algarve-Loulé Walking Guide ISBN number is 1-899554-17-3.
Windsurfing	The Algarve coast provides excellent windsurfing and surfing The winds are reasonably constant and they mostly average between Force 3 to 5.
Bowls	The Algarve has good bowling greens. The hire of woods etc is very reasonable. As with other outdoor sports like tennis and golf, lawn bowling is available all year round due to the favourable weather in the Algarve. Nearly all local bowling competitions are open to visitors. Villamoura Lawn Bowls Club - 289 321 1260
Sailing	There are many coastal cruises available in the Algarve. Cruise boats operate out of the Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao and Lagos marinas. Most offer a full or half days cruise along the spectacular Algarve coastline. Oura cruises, Villamoura - 289 321 561 Algarve Charters, Villamoura - 289 314 867
Artists	Everyone always talks about the light in the southern countries - for artists this becomes immediately obvious because you need a different palette of colours in your landscapes. The light in the Algarve benefits from the clean, unpolluted skies as well as the different angle of incidence; the sky is cerulean blue rather than the cobalt of the Northern countries; this is reflected in the tones of the greenery - which are often more turquoise than green.
Markets	No trip to the Algarve would be complete without a visit to one of the many markets or fairs held weekly. For example Loulé has a year round weekly Saturday market where both local produce and crafts can be seen together, with many items to be had at the Feiras de Velharias (Gypsy Market).
Wine	The leading red wine is Dão; others, such as Borba and Redondo are also extremely good with a smooth taste. All restaurants stock their Vinho da Casa (house wine), either tinto (red) or branco (white). The Vinho da Casa will be the least expensive wine on the wine list and you can trust the restaurant´s choice unless you feel confident to study the Lista de Vinhos.
Food	Portuguese cuisine offers a large variety of dishes. One very traditional dish is Bacalhau, salted cod, which is cooked in a variety of ways and is always worth trying. Grilled Sardines are an ever popular fish dish with locals and visitors alike and there is little to beat freshly caught Sardines grilled as soon as they arrive in the fishing ports. The best time to eat them is early morning when the fishing fleet returns to harbour. Two other fish specialities in the Algarve are grilled Tuna or Shellfish cooked in a copper steamer known as a "cataplana" with herbs and pork. Popular meat dishes include various styles of Porco (Pork), Borrego (Lamb) and Cabrita (Goat) not forgetting the famous Churrasqueira (spit grilled) Frango (chicken). A variety of soups and stews are also available together with roast dishes, especially Pork.