Costa Vicentina

The landscape is still, generally, almost unspoilt by tourism and rich in many different types of flora and fauna. The Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e da Costa Vicentina with 70.000 ha it is one of Portugal's largest nature reserves.The best known place on the west coast is Sagres.  This was of historical importance under Henry the Navigator during the Age of the Portuguese Discoveries. Today Sagres boasts one of the best fish markets in Europe and is home to various surf camps and schools. The sandy beaches on the west coast are surrounded by bays of steep rocks and are exposed to the wind. The climate is harsher than in other parts of the Algarve but the surging swell from the Atlantic is spectacular, attracting surfers and paraglider in particular. Nature lovers will especially appreciate this calm and almost unspoilt paradise. Boavista Golf are situated on the outskirts of Lagos. In October the areas around Sagres and Cape St. Vincent are particularly sought out by migratory birds.   Most of the species that make their way to Africa each winter pass through here, particularly the great glider birds that circle for hours on the thermal air currents. Around Vila do Bispo and Raposeira, Neolithic menhirs have been found, together with human footprints which are almost 5000 years old. In olden times this area was considered to be a sacred site as the end of the known world.