Monchique
A land of wooded hills, fragrant orchards and natural springs, the area around the town of Monchique invites you to put all thoughts of sand and beaches temporarily aside and appreciate the beauty and tranquility of rural Algarve.
Situated in the Serra de Monchique mountain range that separates the Algarve from the neighboring northern region of the Alentejo, this lush landscape of rolling hills, leafy woods and flowing streams is aptly referred to as the ‘garden of the Algarve’.
Overlooked for many years as attention focused on the glitz and glamour of the Algarve’s coastal resorts, Monchique’s breathtaking scenery and peaceful ways are proving to be irresistible charms to the many visitors who now venture inland to explore it.
The area invites nature treks, with trails leading you past cork oak, chestnut and pine trees, through picturesque hamlets and up to the granite rocks and shrubs of the higher peaks. A walk up to Fóia, the highest peak in the Algarve at 902 meters (2,959 ft), will afford you dazzling panoramic views of the surrounding hills and the southern coastline stretching as far as Sagres.
Cover photo by muffinn | Photo by Tiago J. G. Fernandes