This was one of my favorite activity vacations. The Algarve region of Portugal lives up to its reputation--gorgeous, unspoiled, uncrowded, and wonderful seafood. I sing the praises of our guides Francisco and Rafael who made the trip so special. They were knowledgable, passionate about the region, always good-natured, and extremely patient. The daily walks were easily managed, just challenging enough for those who are very casual hikers. The daily visits to various local craftspeople who introduced to local traditions were all interesting, and the food uniformly excellent. One of the three hotels we stayed at was a bit rundown, but the other two were quite lovely. We had a great, international group, small enough to get to know everyone, and they certainly were a big part of why the trip was so enjoyable. A special shout-out to Jess, an Exodus employee who also came on the trip. She was so much fun, and her energy was infectious. Plus she agreed to take a surf lesson with me on our day off from hiking--try it, you'll like it!
The itinerary offers a wide experience of Portuguese history and culture as well as an education on the biodiversity and the landscapes of the Algarve. The hikes provided beautiful scenery and views that just kept getting better and better. Our guides Francisco and Rafael were beyond helpful and happy to share their passion and knowledge everywhere we went. I would certainly recommend this trip to anyone who loves walking and being out in nature as well as eating delicious seafood and drinking local wines.
One of the best trips I have been on. We were blessed with good weather and the walking conditions were great. April is definitely the best time of year and the flowers were in full bloom. Fransisco was an excellent guide, friendly, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to be with. His local knowledge was invaluable and it was a pleasure to see the local crafts and artisanal trades. An extra bonus, not on the agenda was to his home town, Silves, on day 1. We walked to the old fort via the local market where we bought figs and almonds from his farm with Grandma doing the marketing. He gave good advice on local restaurants with possibly the best sea-food place in the region. I would strongly recommend this trip with Fransisco
