Casa Caminhos

VILLAGE OF PORCHES

You can find in the village of Porches the following services:

• Supermarket “Minimercado Da Vila” (walking distance is +-1 km, Rua Direita)
• Pharmacy “Porches”, Tv. Do Poço
• Postal Office, Rua da Praça
• Bank with cash machine (Caixa Agricola), Rua Direita
• Church Nossa Senhora da Encarnação – big celebration in honour of “Nossa Senhora da Encarnação - 1º sunday of month of setembro
• Casa GRADE – for your pottery souvenirs
• Restaurants
  • Just next to our house is “Para Aqui” with excellent in serving quick typical lunch meal, or to enjoy a cold drink in the afternoon. It closes at the end of the afternoon.
  • Restaurante “A Rampa”, is very good with a nice price tag (check out the closure days).
  • Restaurante “O Leão de Porches, for special and more expensive experience.
  • Restaurante “Porches Velho” – Some days with FADO night.
  • Restaurante “Casa Algarve” (also along the E.N. 125 to the west of Casa Caminhos)
  • Vila Vita Biergarten, to the east of the house, with easy access via the sandy road, providing a real german experience at accessible prices.

SUPERMARKETS

To do your shopping, you really have many alternatives. Normally we do it on the way back from the beach and often choose between:

• Pingo Doce in Lagoa (behind the winery building)
• Intermarché in Carvoeiro
• Intermarché in Lagoa
• Intermarché in Nossa Senhora da rocha
• LIDL in Ferragudo ( sells also other brands)
• Apolónia in Lagoa, on the way to carvoeiro
• For small things, then the local supermarket in Porches can be an option.

BREAD and PASTRIES OF PORTUGAL

We highly recommend “Pastelaria-padaria Fabrica Velha”, with 2 locations; can be your choice for bread, croissants, “pão com choriço, pastries….)

• Carvoeiro (Rua dos Pescadores 4: at the beginning of the entrance road in Carvoeiro)
• Lagoa is called “Pastelaria Algarve” ( Rua Francisco L.M. Veloso lote 5);

We often take a box with a variety of cakes, for enjoying in the afternoon hours. Do take care to save the box from the ants!!!!

RESTAURANTS

Besides the restaurants in Porches, other restaurants in the area that we recommend are listed below. To make sure you have a table always preferable to make a reservation.

NOTES:

Many beaches have great restaurants. One of my favorites and good price is in Praia do Pintadinho, close to Ferragudo. Other, but requires upfront reservation, is Rei da Praias in the Praia dos Caneiros, with a different experience and price tag.

At ALGAR SECO in Carvoeiro, De Boneca, is a very nice spot for enjoying the views, and maybe have a drink.

Also, a nice evening out are:

- going to the OLD CENTER of Portimão and eat in one of the restaurants under the old bridge, and finalize with an ICE Cream at square.

- going to Praia da Rocha, or Marine of Rocha and finalize the afternoon in one of the nice restaurants along the long beach. In the Marine there is nice ice cream also.

BEACHES

Below we list the easy access beaches by car, from East to West. I highlight my favorites.

• Praia de Armação de Pera
• Praia de Vale Olival
• Praia da Cova Redonda
• Praia da Nossa Senhora da Rocha (with great restaurant) 
• Praia Nova
• Praia de Albandeira (beautiful way to get there; just keep going)
• Praia da Marinha (great to make a visit to the caves)
• Praia de Benagil (great to make a visit to the caves)
• Praia do Carvalho
• Praia de Vale Centeanes
• Praia de Carvoeiro
• Praia dos Caneiros
• Praia do Pintadinho (good for children)
• Praia Grande (good for children and nice restaurants on the beach)

SWIMMING POOLS

Some resorts, or restaurants accept daily guests to make use of their swimming pools. Always check directly with the resort if possible and what the rates are; here a few suggestions:

Armacao de Pera (H2O): https://nl-nl.facebook.com/h20pool/ (price per person/per day)

Senhora da Rocha: http://www.vsrocha.com (price per person/per day) (Swimming Pool + Tennis)

Carvoeiro (Restaurant o Flamingo): https://www.tripadvisor.nl/Restaurant_Review-g189115-d3357626-Reviews-O_Flamingo-Carvoeiro_Faro_District_Algarve.html

Alfanzina (Carvoeiro) The Lighthouse Restaurant: https://www.tripadvisor.nl/Restaurant_Review-g189115-d4406615-Reviews-Lighthouse_Grill_Bar-Carvoeiro_Faro_District_Algarve.html

GOLF

Check directly in Google Maps:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_35XQFOnId9DSv-sOAR26i2y6w-zV9SN&usp=sharing

Alcantarilha / Guia

Amendoeira Golf Resort; http://www.amendoeiraresort.com

Salgados Golf http://www.nauhotels.com/salgados_golf.html

Carvoeiro/Sesmarias/Lagoa:

PESTANA GOLF/GRAMACHO https://www.pestanagolf.com/en/golf/gramacho/

PESTANA GOLF/VALE DA PINTA https://www.pestanagolf.com/en/golf/vale-da-pinta/

Carvoeiro:

Vale de Milho http://valedemilhogolf.com

Silves

PESTANA GOLF / SILVES GOLF

https://www.pestanagolf.com/en/golf/silves-golf/

ATTRACTIONS

Often if you order on line, or buy the tickets in a representative, you get discount on the entrance price.

• Zoomarine - Guia (http://www.zoomarine.pt/en/)
• Slide & Splash – Estombar/Lagoa (http://www.slidesplash.com/pt/)
• Aqualand – Alcantarilha (https://www.aqualand.pt/en/)
• Visit the CAVES (reserve upfront)
  • Praia da Nossa Senhora da Rocha
  • Praia da Marinha
  • Praia de Benagil (+351969617828; http://www.tarugatoursbenagilcaves.pt
• Dolphin Spotting (from Ferragudo); www.wildwatch.pt
• Dolphin Spotting ( Praia da Rocha and Lagos): http://www.seafaris.net
• SUP - BlueXperiences: http://bluexperiences.pt  (visit the Benagil caves by SUP)

SITE SEEING

• Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, in Nossa Senhora da Rocha
• Praia da Marinha
• Algar Seco in Carvoeiro
• Castelo de Silves
• Sitio das Fontes, Estombar
• Visit Porches Pottery (ideal to combine with a lunch activity at Café Bacchus)
• Visit CASA GRADE (ideal for all your souvenirs)

(further away from the area of Porches, of course, visit Cape St. Vincent/Sagres)

ROUTES to WALK or BIKE

• Route of Lagoa - Ecovia do Litoral – Cycling coastal route http://www.cm-lagoa.pt/en/2421/route-of-lagoa.aspx
• The Seven Hanging Valleys Walk - 5.7 km fr4om the Vale Centianes to the Marinha Beach. http://www.cm-lagoa.pt/en/919/the-seven-hanging-valleys-walk.aspx
• The N. Sra. Da Rocha Walk
• Circuito de manutenção e corrida - LAGOA (next to the JUMBO)

SHOPPING

• New in the Algarve – IKEA Loulé
• Guia shopping / Retail Park 
• AQUA shopping in Portimão
• CASA GRADE - Pottery Souvenirs in PORCHES