The Martinhal Beach Resort in the Western Algarve has a huge range of family-orientated facilities located within the the local vicinity.
The Martinhal Resort guests have the luxury of relaxing spa treatments to pamper parents alongside a vast accompaniment of sports and childcare facilities. With a gourmet food market for supplies and even ‘take away’ freshly prepared meals to enjoy in your Martinhal Beach Resort villa or house, the Resort aims to provide families with the very best facilities for a fun packed yet hassle free holiday to ensure all the family can be entertained in the Western Algarve sunshine.
The following guest post from our contributors at Design Holidays suggest a fantastic low down on all nearby places of interest, attractions and activities easily organised for guaranteed, fuss free, family fun.
Sagres
Once a key town of great historical importance and interest, particularly through the golden age of the Portuguese Renaissance in the 15th Century, the town was once very important in sustaining and manifesting further power in the Portuguese Colonial progress. This era was one in which Portugal established itself as a European Colonial power, heralding many voyages of the ‘first exploration’, including trips to Cape Verde, Madeira and Brazil, amongst many other expeditions. The ends of the Earth were not, as were once previously assumed, at the Albufeira cliffs.
Now a more chilled out town, the Sagres streets are full of keen surfers and coffee-drinking people-watchers. A trip into Sagres itself is all about kicking back and taking in all of the possible sights. Sagres continues to have a little port to hire places on boats to take you on coastal cruises – or even dolphin-spotting out at sea.
A short drive from the Martinhal beach resort and hotel takes you to Cape Saint Vincent, providing the perfect spot for a family expedition while endless water sporting activities are available to try out both on and off site and even pre-arranged by your hotel.
Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent is about 6km from Sagres and open to the public for tours. With a reasonably priced hire car, Martinhal’s Resort is but a short, nippy drive to this mysterious landmark point. The route to Saint Vincent consists of a drive along the narrow road to the lighthouse. Again, the drama of taking the hole family out of the easy peasy Martinal Beach resort needs to be well worth the trouble – a fantastic photo opportunity – so please don’t forget your smart phone! The stunning photo opportunities of this point, complete with cliffs and dramatic crashes of the awe-inspiring Atlantic waves below with wake up the senses and rejuvenate the family.
This lonely spot was also once rumoured to feel like the end of the Earth’s land mass as we know it, and seeing this is almost believing.
Costa Vicentina – Cycling Trips
Costa Vicentina has many standard, official cycling routes into its natural park, suitable for all the family. Bicycle hire is available for all the family both in the nearby villages and towns and from the Martinhal resort itself. The closest two towns are an excellent cycling introduction to this beautiful part of the country.
Lagos, a settlement approximately 25 minutes away is more tourist-driven, with thousands visiting the historical town, stemming from its Moorish roots of the 6th century, the culture inherited is fascinatingly rich. The town has many tourist-friendly attractions including accessible beaches and rock faces, including the famous ‘Ponta da Piedade’, a stunning, scattered rock formation instantly identifiable.
Family Boat Trips
The Western Algarve would not be a complete family holiday without a chartered, organised boat trip to discover the views looking back inland at the rocky red coastline of the Algarve.
Boats from Sagres’ small port do just that, but also aim to find evidence of minke whale and various types of dolphin, porpoise, sun fish and blue shark.
Boat trips can be taken on a leisurely cruiser for the younger or older in your family party, whilst those opting for an exhilharating ride with Mum or Dad can experience life on sea via a white knuckled RIB speed boat ride.
Independent trip organisers can be contacted directly for this fantastic experience, while many excursions can similarly be arranged from your Martinhal Resort. Contact the Cape Cruiser (+351 919 751 175) for more details for a truly unforgettable experience on the open waters seeing the local marine life up close-hand.
Beaches – Surfs’s Up
The closest alternatives to Martinhal Resort’s beach include ‘Praia do Zavial’, ‘Praia do Beliche’ and ‘Praia do Castelejo’. These family beaches are swiftly followed by west-coast surfing areas, naturally chosen for a little more crash and wave – including popular ‘Amado’, ‘Arrifana’ and ‘Odeceixe’ surf spots.
Design Holidays offers all readers to check out their new offers and summary at Martinhal Resort’s new website, available to view here: http://www.algarvevillas.designholidays.co.uk
Please contact the phenomenal team at Design Holidays on 01444 87 22 00 for up to date offers, planning and advice on the nearby area of the Western Algarve, a fantastic family-orientated location in one of Portugal’s best luxury resorts.
