Local Area Information
Carvoeiro is a beautiful charming village approx half way along the Algarve coast and 35-40 mins from faro airport. The resort has numerous bars, restaurants, a selection of boutiques, banks and pharmacy.
Carvoeiro has retained the character and traditions of Portuguese life. The local shops and mini-mercados stock everything that you will need and the local market sells fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and locally caught fish. There are also beautiful bakeries in the village. on the outskirts of town there are a number of large supermarkets the nearest Intermarche is approx 2km from the town and there are another 3 large supermarkets in Lagoa all within 5 km.
The much larger town of Portimao is only 15 minutes drive away and has a large shopping centre Aqua shopping visit www.aquaportimao.pt for to see the numerous high street and designer shops.
The nearest restaurant is less than a 5 min walk and within 10 min walk there are numerous restaurants to choose from
Beaches
The nearest beaches are Carvoeiro town beach and Centiannes beach both are easy to walk to. They are both sandy beaches.
Water Sports
The waters around Carvoeiro's rock formations are ideal for snorkelling. The School of Windsurfing at Praia Grande, Ferragudo just 10 minutes drive away, has good facilities including jet and water skiing and catamaran sailing.
The nearest water park is Slide & Splash in Lagoa www.slidesplash.com there are buses from the town or alternatively it is just a taxi ride away.
Places of Interest
ZOO MARINE and its "Dolphin Experience"; KRAZY WORLD with its Quad bikes, crocodile park and petting farm; SHETLAND PONY RIDING SCHOOL; SILVES Castle; BOAT TRIPS from Carvoeiro beach or deep sea fishing from Portimao and the MONCHIQUE MOUNTAINS with their beautiful views.
You can pick up information from the Tourist Board just by the Beach at Carvoeiro along with free magazines, and special offers.
Golf
There are three courses in Carvoeiro - Vale do Milho a 9 hole - par 3 Course - but with water hazards it can be quite tricky! Pinta and Gramacho - two testing championship courses - part of the Pestana Golfing Resort.
Other championship courses include Palmares and Penina about 20 minutes drive, San Lorenzo, Vilamoura, Vila Sol and Vale do Lobo about 25 to 35 minutes drive.
Tennis
The Carvoeiro Clube de Tennis and the Rocha Brava Tennis Clube, open to non residents, both with excellent facilities, hire out all necessary equipment.
Restaurants - Bars - Nightlife
The many bars and restaurants offer all types of cuisine from Italian, Indian and Chinese to French and of course Portuguese, where you can enjoy an excellent meal of freshly caught fish and sample the famous inexpensive Portuguese wines.
The village is lively in the evenings with live music outdoors during July & August.
Holiday in Carvoeiro and you may find yourself hooked! Once a fishing village, it's lost none of its charm, and many people just keep on coming back year after year. Tucked into a spectacular coastline, this little town centres on an open-sided village square, where you can eat al fresco with views past the colourful fishing boats to the sea. A few steps and you're on sand, kicking off your sandals to enjoy Carvoeiro's small sandy beach which is sheltered by cliffs rising up from the bay.
Venture the other way, and whitewashed lanes riddled with endearing souvenir shops and easygoing bars beckon you to explore. Development here is thoughtfully low rise. there's a busy local produce market, as well as plenty of very good restaurants serving mouth watering local specialities.
When it comes to exploring, it's the contorted coastline that really sticks in the memory. You must go to Algar Seco. Catch a lift with a fisherman to see the crazy rock formations from the sea, then discover Carvalho Cove and twist through the tunnels to the sea.
