The sun drenched Atlantic coastline is famous for its wild beauty, featuring miles upon miles of sundrenched beaches, it is for many a great spring and summer destination. In fact most of the Algarve visitors will simply prefer to laze on the soft sands of sheltered coves, soaking up the sun and enjoying a swim or two, in the crystal clear waters of the coast.

However that is not what the region has to offer, not by far, those looking for a more active holiday, or those on a more adventurous streak can pursue a wide range of activities such as fishing, diving, horse-riding, windsurfing, sailing and many-many more. Nature lovers will also be thrilled to visit the region because there are several nature reserves to explore, such as Ria de Albor and Ria Formosa – both of them are paradises for bird-watchers, while those who are interested in wildlife in general can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the forested hills.

You happen to be a golfing enthusiast? Well then you’ll be visiting one of the best places for the sport on the entire surface of the European continent. There are somewhere around thirty top-notch golf courses in the Algarve, which cover the entire range of skill level, so rest assured that whether you’re looking for a challenge or you’re just a beginner, this region will have something ready for you.

Those interested in diving into the local traditions and culture will find exactly what they’re looking for, in the many small Algarve towns and villages that dot the landscape. It should be noted that the main resorts are rather touristy, so for such an experience you’ll want to venture a bit off the very beaten tracks.

All of these attractions, and more are available to you with the help of our Algarve car rental services.

What started as a quiet and very elegant resort back in the 1930s only started to develop at a major rate once cheaper flights started to be offered in the 1970s, which in turn spurred on a boom in apartments being built, and steadily and surely Praia da Rocha became the region’s second-largest resort town.

There are basically two types of travelers in the world: those who haven’t been to the Algarve yet, and those who return there year after year, but what exactly makes the latter do this?

It may have to do with the fact that the Algarve sees only about seventeen days of rainfall each year, or more specifically to Praia da Rocha, maybe it’s the two kilometer beach that is home to both wonderfully soft sands as well as rock formations, after all Praia da Rocha means “rock beach”.

Portimao guide - Praia da Rocha

Almost as the beach is vast, the main town avenue runs along the top of it and is chock full of restaurants, cafes and shops and you can bet that during the night it simply comes to life thanks to the plethora of bars and clubs that one can choose from.

At the avenue’s end you will find the Fortress of Santa Catarina de Ribamar, this fortress was part of neighboring Portimao’s defences meant to protect the city from corsair and pirate raids during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In terms of accommodations, Praia da Rocha offers mostly hotels and many-many apartment-blocks – because of the earlier mentioned building boom of the ’70s – however you won’t feel crammed in because the buildings are well spaced and they are well positioned in regards to access to the local amenities.

Praia da Rocha is the ideal destination for those who want a quintessential Algarve experience, not a traditional one. It’s a great place if you’re interested in sunbathing, great restaurants and many places to party during the night. The only place that it doesn’t shine as strong is in the shopping category, but you can always rent a car and head into Portimao to visit the main shopping centre there.