There’s something rather special about going for a run on holiday 😍👟
Forget the treadmill. When you’re staying in one of our Simply Salema luxury Algarve villas, you can put on your running shoes, step outside the front door and head off for a morning jog with beautiful coastal scenery and a quiet Algarve beach waiting for you along the way.
One of our favourite routes is a run from Salema to Praia da Boca do Rio.
The run out to Boca do Rio is approximately 2 km, and you can either return via the coastal path or retrace your steps and tackle a hill that we’ve affectionately nicknamed “Heart Attack Hill”!
And if you’re still feeling energetic when you get back, there’s an optional extra loop through Salema village.
Starting from your Simply Salema villa
This route works particularly well if you’re staying at Villas Praia Dourada, Sol e Mar or Vista Paraíso.
Leave your villa and head uphill to the top of Rua dos Pescadores.
It’s a nice way to get the legs warmed up before the route takes a rather more dramatic turn…
Down Heart Attack Hill!
From the top of Rua dos Pescadores, you head down the long, steep hill.
The good news is that you’re running down it at this point.
At the bottom, turn right and continue straight on towards your destination, Praia da Boca do Rio.
As Salema disappears behind you, it begins to feel less like a morning workout and more like a mini Algarve adventure.
Arriving at Praia da Boca do Rio
After approximately 2 km, you’ll arrive at the gorgeous, peaceful Praia da Boca do Rio.
And this is where we’d recommend forgetting about your running time for a while.
Stop, enjoy the morning sunshine and take in the surroundings. If you’ve come prepared, you could even stop for a quick dip in the sea before setting off again.
Running somewhere as beautiful as this isn’t really about chasing a personal best.
It’s about being on holiday in the Algarve, getting some exercise and discovering somewhere beautiful at the same time.
Running back to Salema along the coastal path
For the return journey, rather than simply retracing the same route, you can turn the run into more of a circular adventure.
From Boca do Rio, head west up the hill and pick up the coastal path back towards Salema.
Then it’s simply a case of following the path.
This is probably our favourite way to return because you get the benefit of those wonderful Algarve coastal views as you make your way back towards your villa.
And finding your way home couldn’t be much easier.
Just keep following the path until you can see your villa!
That’s one of the joys of staying in this part of Salema.
Feeling brave? Take on Heart Attack Hill
There is, of course, another option.
Instead of returning along the coastal path, you can head back the way you came.
There’s just one small issue.
Remember that enormous hill you happily ran down earlier?
Now you have to run back up it.
If you’re looking for a little more of a challenge during your Algarve running holiday, that’s certainly one way to get the heart pumping. You might even fancy a few hill repeats, right?
We’ll leave that decision to you…
Still have some energy? Add a Salema village loop
If reaching the villa doesn’t feel like quite enough, you can add another approximately 3 km circular run through Salema.
From the villa, this time head down the cobbled Rua dos Pescadores into Salema village.
It’s a lovely addition to the run as you descend towards the village.
From Salema, make your way back towards your villa via Rua da Praia, completing the additional circular route and enjoying some gorgeous views across Salema
Optional Salema loop: approximately 3 km
Combine the two and you’ve turned your morning jog into a considerably more substantial run, while seeing both the coastline around Boca do Rio and the village of Salema itself.
Running in the Algarve: a few tips
If you’re planning this route while staying with us, we’d recommend:
- Running early in the morning, before the heat of the day builds
- Taking water, particularly in warmer weather
- Wearing running shoes with good grip for the coastal sections
- Taking care on the steeper hills and uneven surfaces
- Taking your phone because you’re probably going to want some photographs
- Packing swimwear if you fancy a dip at Boca do Rio
- Forgetting about your normal pace and simply enjoying the run
Remember that this isn’t a flat road-running route. There are hills and changes in terrain, so treat it as a scenic holiday run rather than a PB attempt.
An active Algarve holiday straight from your villa
This is exactly the kind of experience we love about staying in Salema.
An Algarve villa holiday can obviously involve lazy mornings, long lunches, beaches and afternoons beside the pool.
And we thoroughly recommend all of those!
But if you enjoy keeping active on holiday, Salema also gives you the opportunity to walk, run, swim and explore the Western Algarve without necessarily needing to get into the car.
With this particular run, you can leave your Simply Salema villa in the morning, run to a beautiful beach, possibly take a dip in the Atlantic, follow the coastal path home and still be back in time for breakfast.
That’s a pretty good start to the day.
Things to do in Salema: discover it on foot
If you’re researching things to do in Salema ahead of your Algarve holiday, bring some trainers.
Our Boca do Rio route makes a great morning run, while walkers can slow things down and enjoy the scenery at a rather more leisurely pace.
And this is just one way to explore.
You can combine your morning run with our Salema to Figueira countryside and coastal walk, spend time exploring Salema village itself or simply wander down to the beach.
Staying in one of our luxury Algarve villas means so much of it is right on your doorstep. As for tackling heart-attack hill… we’ll leave that up to you!
