In April 2024, we traveled by train from Lisboa to the town of Carvoeiro in the Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. We wanted to see the famous cliffs and we wanted to go before it was high summer, when the Algarve is crowded and hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We took the inter-city train to Tunes. It was a scenic ride, crossing the Alentejo plains and then passing through some mountains. The train was almost 30 minutes late and we thought we would miss our connection. But no! They held the local train until our train arrived. There were lots of people transferring to the local, which ran parallel to the coast, a few kilometers inland. After arriving at the Estombar-Lagoa station, we got a rideshare to our hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We stayed at Pestana Palm Gardens, which is very near the clifftop walking trail. It is close to the beach at Vale de Centeanes. We had a lovely two-floor ground-level apartment with two bedrooms, kitchen, dining-living room, and a patio. We enjoyed the associated pool-side restaurant, Sal & Tal, for breakfast and a couple dinners. There was a clifftop sunset view a 5-minute walk from the hotel. We’ll have to go back there with friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read on for our trip diary with a lot of photos below, plus check out another post with a video<\/a> of our hike on the Seven Hanging Valleys trail, with original music!<\/p>\n\n\n\nAround the hotel<\/h4>\n\n\n