We often receive great questions from guests in advance of their villa holiday in the Algarve. The nice thing is, surprisingly no two questions are ever quite the same.
One we’ve had recently was from a group of professionals who booked one of our brand-new luxury Algarve ocean villas for their special girlie short break holiday away from their partners and children to celebrate a 40th birthday.
With 5 group members excitedly firing suggestions of things to do in the Algarve into their WhatsApp group, we thought we’d try to help out by writing up our suggested list of best things to do on a villa holiday in Salema, Algarve for a group of adults. This blog is based upon our local knowledge and expertise as perhaps the leading villa holiday rental specialists in the Algarve, Portugal.
This group won’t land into Faro until the early evening, with an ETA in Salema of around 22:30. They’ll arrive quite late, the supermarkets will be closed and it’s a bit touch and go as to whether they’d get a table in a restaurant at that time.
With this, and their special occasion in mind, we offered to provide a welcome grocery and drinks pack for their reimbursement, allowing them to settle into their villa with a bite to eat and glass of champagne or three!
Luxury Algarve Villa Holiday: Day 1
Arise to stunning views over the ocean and Salema village after a peaceful night’s sleep on fresh, crisp, linen in your luxury king-size double bed.
Make yourself a fresh cup of coffee using the facilities in your fully-equipped modern kitchen before deciding whether to sit poolside or on the roof terrace to watch the sun come up.
After a light breakfast together, pack your swimwear and sun cream and take a gentle stroll along the charming Rua dos Pescadores before reaching Salema village centre and its wide, blue-flag sandy beach and crystal clear waters. This is a stunning beach believed by many to be amongst the “best in the world”.
Why not hire a sunbed and make yourself comfortable as you soak up the rays, read a book, listen to a podcast or enjoy a dip in the sea. Facilities such as toilets and drinks/ice creams are readily available.
No villa holiday in Salema is complete without discovering the fossilised dinosaur footprints on the rock formation dating back over 150 million years. Have a wander and see them for yourself.
At lunchtime, take your pick from a small selection of delightful beachfront restaurants, including Salema favourites, Boia Bar and Atlantico as well as the more recent addition to the Salema restaurant scene – Olhos n’Agua. Dining al fresco on fresh fish caught locally overnight, washed down with a glass of vino verde is an authentic Portuguese experience not to be missed.
Just be mindful that in Salema ‘time stands still’ and the pace of life seems to slow right down. It’s easy for the day to pass by as you escape the stresses and strains of everyday life as you relax in our beautiful Algarve village. Perhaps our best advice is to soak up the unique atmosphere of Salema without planning too much – just let the laid back vibe dictate your holiday in Sunny Portugal.
If you are ready to pull yourself away from paradise by the beach, why not head back home to enjoy the stunning facilities of your villa, including heated swimming pool, poolside hot tub and the perfect open-plan layout for a special holiday with friends.
If you’ve not had too much sun and anyone has any energy left at golden hour, why not freshen up in your luxury en-suite bathrooms, slip on your glad-rags and head back into the village for a tipple (or few) at one of Salema’s two trendy cocktail bars.
If you wish to eat out we suggest booking in advance. For a special occasion such as a holiday like this, our number one recommendation would be Em Lume Brando, but you can’t go wrong in any of Salema’s top-notch restaurants.
Luxury Algarve Villa Holiday: Day 2
A prerequisite of this group is that they requested a private yoga instructor comes to their villa for a relaxing morning being taught in front of the stunning panoramic view from the villa’s roof terrace. We are happy to provide recommendations for yoga instructors and for any other holiday activities you may be interested in.
After a slow easy-paced morning of R&R, enjoy a light lunch in your villa. Everything you need can be easily purchased from the nearby Intermarche supermarket which is less than a five-minute drive from your villa, or there are a couple of small supermarkets in Salema if you don’t have a car.
In the afternoon we recommend the ever-popular dolphin watching tour from Salema beach. This takes around an hour and a half, searching for bottle-nose and common dolphins in their natural habitat as well as whales, sharks, turtles and more. We recommend pre-booking this with our friend Paulo Lourenco at Salema Tours.
When your speedboat returns to Salema beach you’re definitely going to be ready for an ice cream or a cold drink as you get used to being back on dry land – the speedboat is fast!
Tonight, why not sample another of Salema’s excellent restaurants? This time perhaps Agua na Boca or Lourenco’s fish house, you guessed it, run by the same family as the dolphin tour. Another perfect end to another perfect day in Portugal!
Luxury Algarve Villa Holiday: Day 3
Head east to the stunning, historic city of Lagos – a must-visit during any villa holiday in Salema. There’s loads to do in Lagos. We suggest a morning kayak tour (approx. 2.5 hours) admiring cliffs, grottos and hidden beaches below the stunning Ponta da Piedade, perhaps the most captivating natural wonder of the Algarve. It’s also well worth worth walking around the boardwalks from the top of the cliffs for a different perspective looking down to the sea from this this Instagram-friendly landmark. Ideally you would do both if time allows.
At lunchtime, head to Lagos’s main beach, Meia Praia, for a laid-back beachside restaurant experience. We particularly like Linda the Beach Bar or Bahia Beach Bar next door.
Then walk off lunch with a stroll through the modern marina, admiring both yachts and traditional fishing boats before heading over the bridge and into the hustle and bustle of Lagos old town, surrounded by its ancient castle walls. While away as many hours as you can spare exploring high-end boutiques or more traditional Algarvian craft shops selling local wares. We guarantee you’ll be taking more luggage home than you brought out!
Because it’s somebody’s 40th birthday, let’s not forget that Lagos is renowned for its late night / all night party scene! The Lagos crowd tends to be progressive, chilled, surfer types – think broad-minded not Brexit. We recommend starting your Lagos night out at Beer & Co and simply seeing where the night takes you. Don’t forget your dancing shoes! Taxis and Ubers are freely available between Lagos and Salema for a safe journey home.
Luxury Algarve Villa Holiday: Day 4
Assuming everybody is up and about(!) why not take the car and explore some (not all – this is impossible on a short break!) of the western Algarve.
As time is short, we recommend trying to cram a few places to visit in. First up, head east making a quick stop at Boca do Rio beach followed by the ruined Fort of Almádena which remarkably dates back the 1600s, it was built to protect the area from pirates!
Carry on until you arrive at the picturesque fishing villa of Burgau, where it’s worth a wander through its cobbled streets and white-washed houses down to the beach for coffee.
Next stop could be Praia da Luz, a larger seaside town but still unspoilt and traditionally Algarvian. Take a walk along the promenade and choose from one of several upmarket beachfront cafes for a light lunch. Or if you want a break from the sea, why not head to Kinoah restaurant where there is a good size pool and sun loungers to relax on.
If time hasn’t run away with you, why not head back west past Salema and pop into the remote, quiet coves of Praia do Zavial and / or Praida da Ingrina where you’ll find a single charming beach bar at each for a cold tipple watching the waves.
For the icing on the cake at the end of what we hope is another perfect day in the Algarve, the pièce de resistance of any holiday in Salema is to head to Sagres and on to Cape St Vincent to watch the sunset. This area was once thought to be the “end of the world” because of its dramatic location at the most south-westerly tip of mainland Europe. Grab a drink, perch on the cliff and prepare to take in one of the true wonders of nature and a truly beautiful experience.
Best things to do in Salema for a group of adults
We hope this is enough inspiration to make the most of your villa holiday in Salema if you want to do more than lounging on the beach or poolside.
if you’re still short of things to do, here are a few more ideas:
- Fancy a workout? There are two excellent pay per visit gyms at Santo Antonio golf course and in Budens, just a few kilometres from Salema. At both of these facilities there are also large outdoor swimming pools.
- Feeling competitive? The above facilities also offer tennis and padel courts. Plus competitions.
- Enjoy golf? The Algarve and Salema area is renowned for some of the finest golf courses on the planet.
- A great half or even full day activity idea is hiring either a road or mountain bike and exploring the local area.
- Our personal favourite thing to do is walking or hiking along the coastline. Follow the famous ‘fisherman’s trail’ west towards Sagres or east towards Lagos as far as you’d like to go (and back).
- If you’re felling a little less active, the villas are all equipped with a custom-made charcoal barbecue, perfect for making use of the villa’s open-plan layout which glides seamlessly from lounge to poolside.
- For a break from the sun or in the evenings head downstairs to enjoy the brilliant villa games room complete with pool table, darts board or table tennis in the villa’s rear courtyard.
- A trip to one of the nearby waterparks is great way to spend a day for all ages. Slide and Splash is our current favourite.
See you in Salema!
A trip to Salema in the Algarve can be anything you want it to be at any time of year, whether you spend it relaxing and unwinding or cramming in as much as possible. However you choose to holiday, you won’t be disappointed with the variety of activities on offer and the delicious fresh food and warm Algarvian welcome that awaits you.
If you’d like to discuss your luxury villa holiday in Salema with your friends, get in touch with us today.
