56 | Cycling World
Tourists soaking up the sun and party atmosphere
in the beach resorts of the central Algarve have
often provided both a source of amusement
and relief to the people at Algarve Bike Holidays. Just a short ride along the beautiful coastline,
is the charming village of Cacelha Velha. With
a church an old fortress and panoramic views
across the Ria Formosa nature reserve below,
On one side they are intrigued as to why so
many people miss out on the area’s rich and
unique cultural heritage. On the other they are
relieved their relative absence from the inland
region leaves quiet, usually empty roads for road
cycling and endless dirt tracks for cross country
mountain bikers . A few kilometres inland from
the coast there is a vast area of almost empty
countryside providing a haven for cyclists. The
Algarve has ideal conditions for road bikers,
mountain bikers and touring bikers. Increasingly
people are taking advantage of the relatively
undiscovered and unspoilt region by E-bike. this is a spectacular place to visit. You will
stop at a few cafes and traditional houses for
refreshments before continuing.
The inland region is what one of their customer
calls the “real Portuguese experience.”
One of Algarve Bike holidays most popular
tours ( for hybrid touring bikes ) is the Best of
the Algarve Tour. It starts by the Spanish border
alongside the Guadiana river in the traditional
coastal town of Vila Real de San Antonio .
Next is the coastal town of Tavira, probably
the prettiest and most charming town on the
entire Algarve coastline. With its traditional local
architectural style and abundance of churches,
Tavira is worthy of a longer visit.
From here you cycle close to the coast and pass
through the village of Sana Luzia, famous for its
Octopus fishing, and Fuseta, towards the fishing
town of Olhao. The square shaped houses that
frame the villages bustling fruit markets and
squares are inspired by Moorish architecture.
Next stop is Loule, a traditional market town,
but with plenty of cultural interest. The town
is famous for its concerts and festivals and the
oldest and largest carnival in the Algarve. A
splendid old market building, narrow cobbles