Villas & Apartments Eastern Algarve, Portugal

If your soul longs for relaxing beaches and warm waters, you may want to travel to the Eastern Algarve of Portugal. The sand is golden and the water is clear, and it boasts the warmest water in the country. Between Manta Rota and Faro, the beaches actually lay on a five-island chain, and on the peninsula of Manta Rota. The beaches are just one part in the Ria Formosa nature reserve, and you can reach them by ferry. Even during the busiest vacation seasons, there is plenty of beach space for everyone.

Along Portugal’s south-east side, the Eastern Algarve is bordered on the south by the Atlantic ocean. It is a relatively small area, that covers only about 45km, and you can visit almost anyplace in the area within one day's time. Since it is on the leeward coast of the country, it has a milder climate than you will find in either Western or Central Algarve and if looking to find villas in Tavira is on the menu then you are in for a treat as many of the holiday rental accommodation is traditional Portuguese and makes for a really special place to stay for couples and the whole family.

The Eastern Algarve is made up of four geophysical zones, each one of which is distinct. The Guardiana river system forms its most eastern flank, along with Spain's border. The sand beaches on the coastal strip, as well as the barrier islands and the wetlands of Ria Formosa form another zone. The third zone is comprised of a coastal plain of land that is very suitable for agriculture, and it now holds citrus orchards and vineyards you may wish to visit. The fourth zone contains the Serra or the hills. This area is not very populated, and it does account for a good deal of the land area in Eastern Algarve. Holiday homes to rent and holiday villas in Olhao can be found on the Villa Holiday site and as they are booked directly with the owner, its easy to find out further details about the area. The valleys of local rivers drain into the Guardiana River or the Rio Formosa.

When you're ready to relax and eat, you'll find that most Algarve restaurants will give you a set menu for lunch. You may wish to try their cabbage soup, seafood rice and crème caramel, along with a glass of the local wine. You may also want to try the traditional specialty of the area, corn mash and clams.