You could be spoiled for choice.
Water Sports:
One
of the main sporting attractions in the area is surfing.
Blessed
with a bountiful supply of beaches that face each and every direction to catch north, east, west and south swells, Sagres
and its surroundings are a magnet for surfers from all over the world. World circuit contests are regularly held up on the
west coast breaks and Portugal has a reputation for providing top conditions for all standards of surfers. Whether you are
a beginner or a pro, there are few locations able to provide such variety and quality as the south west coast of the Algarve.
Locally it is easy and convenient to hire wetsuits and
boards and also to arrange lessons and surf safari trips with local guides. Experienced surfers might prefer to bring their
own boards.
Free tide timetables are available locally
in the town.
Windsurfing is popular
here due to the regular winds. It is possible to hire equipiment at Martinhal beach.
Scuba-diving trips can be arranged from Sagres harbour. All standards are catered
for.
Scenic boat trips can also be booked
from Sagres harbour. Some of the operators include lunch onboard.
Marine wildlife watching trips can be booked with Marilimitado (00351) 916832625. This is a very highly recommended
outing. Run by marine biologists who have a passion for and unsurpassable knowledge of marine life they offer dolphin watching,
cliff and seabird watching, or a breath-taking trip around the coast and headland of Cabo Sao Vicente.
Back on land:
Being in the National Park one of the best ways to see the area is to walk. The Turismo (tourist office) in Sagres
sells for €5 a great little walking guide for the area.
There
are many kilometres of tracks to explore where you may not see another person for several hours. A good reason to take a mobile
phone with you and plenty of water.
You will however
see abundant wildlife, plants and flowers.
The park has
at least 48 plant species that are found only in Portugal.
Otters
live in the river valleys and foxes roam in areas near the shore. There are lynx here, though rarely seen.
The horse riding stables in Sagres are just off the road to the lighthouse
on the right hand side towards the campsite. The rides out are great fun and go into spectacular scenery. A two hour ride
will take you through pine forest and over sandy tracks to the very cliff edge with views of the Atlantic from horseback.
An amazing experience. Guides will accompany you. All standards are welcome.
Bird watching is very popular here. Visit www.algarvebirdman.com to see the attractions.
Go via the link at the foot of this page.
You are
most likely to see more birdlife than other, with 200 species in the park area including Portugal's last remaining Ospreys.
A slightly faster mode of travel would be cycling. It is possible to hire bicycles
in Sagres. The surroundings are relatively flat and of course wonderfully scenic.
For something more active, off the main road on the approach to Sagres there is
a Blo-kart centre which is akin to sailing a small wheeled board round a track on dry land as fast as you can. Just turn up
and have a go.
In comparison other more peaceful activities would be visiting the countless cafes,
bars and restaurants that Sagres has to offer. Local seafood delicacies such as Perceves (small rock shellfish), Octopus rice
and Sardines, are a must to try. For dessert there are mouth watering choices such as Alfarroba (carob) tart, Almond pastries
and Honey Pudding. There is a abundant choice of local wines and a wicked locally brewed firewater called Medronio which is
not recommended if you have anything planned for the following day.
Sagres does have a few nightclubs which are great for dancing off all that food and wine.
The area is fantastic for photographers. The light here is clear and golden. The
last sunset of mainland Europe is an irresistible subject, as are the incredible beaches and the deep blue and green hues
of the sea crested by white foam, the red and ochre coloured cliffs, the amazing plants such as the towering Agaves framed
against impossibly blue skies, local architecture or simply a herd of goats wandering past in the morning sunshine.
visit bird watching website
visit marilimitado marine life trips
