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Parque Natural of the Vicentina Coast

Sao Luis is situated in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentina which extends from Sines in the north to Sagres at the far-most south-western point of the Algarve. The park protects this beautiful and largely unspoilt landscape; providing opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities.  The tight controls on development in the park ensure that the whole region remains quaint and welcoming; redolent of a bygone era. This long stretch of rugged, wild and windswept coastline is quite reminiscent of Cornwall, and is peppered with tiny fishing ports and quaint seaside villages and towns, nestling in the sand-dunes. 

River estuaries such as the Ceixe – culminating in the pretty village of Odeceixe (pronounced Oddesaysh) and of the Mira – at the spectacular resort of Vila Nova De Milfontes - offer long sandy stretches of beach with pretty vistas as the clean, blue rivers meander through fields green with grain down to the rolling waves and cool, clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The flora and fauna are diverse and abundant, their habitat protected by the natural park status. In particular many visitors are attracted to this area to see birds of prey, many of which are now extinct across the rest of continent, yet proliferating in the natural park.  The cliff-topped coves provide good viewing access to storks, and buzzards; hawks and eagles are also easy to spot. In the evenings white owls often steal by - close overhead. 

Wild-boars are common in the forested areas, but very shy of people and are no threat,  nevertheless they demonstrate the wildness and truly well preserved character of this region.

Beaches

Of course one of the main reasons you come to this area is for the beaches. The South Alentejan coast comprises wild, high, and brooding cliffs, against which the Atlantic crashes in waves of churning surf. Hidden between the cliffs are hundreds of sparsely populated beaches and, even in high season, it is not at all difficult to find a secluded spot. It is wonderful to play in the waves here, just on your own or with a surf or body-board. Or simply lie on the beach, listening to the sounds of the sea and the wild calls of the rare birds wheeling playfully high above you in the clear blue sky.

In springtime, majestic storks nest high on the cliffs and from above you get an eerily close view, voyeur to their intimate domestic arrangements; how well they tend their young in the commodious and intricate nests and a chance to marvel at the grace of their deft movements despite their awe-inspiring size. 

You can take leisurely strolls along the beaches, bike along the picturesque coastal paths, or take advantage of the truly tranquil atmosphere of this area. Even in Portugal the Alentejanans are known for taking life really slowly – this aura of quietness and peace is unequalled in our busy, modern world. It’s very easy to fall in with the local attitude to life and feel completely at ease with the world.

You can choose between the quiet beaches, without any development, where you have to take your own picnic, and share large areas of soft, white sand with only a few locals, or head for the more visited beaches of coastal towns like Zambujeira do Mar and Vila Nova de Milfontes. Here are a wide variety of bars and restaurants to choose from, as well as little craft shops for souvenirs etc. 

Ideal for smaller kids are the river beaches on the mouth of the Mira at Vila Nova de Milfontes, which are sectioned off and are warm, shallow and safe. Or take a short voyage up the river on a viking-style brightly-painted boat, ideal for spotting the local rare birds and other wildlife attracted to this tidal river – reputedly the cleanest in Europe!

Culture

If you are looking for culture the Alentejo Litoral area has, especially in summer season, plenty to offer. Each village has its ‘festa’, mostly a procession of the local saint or version of ‘Our Lady’ along a prettily decorated route on which the local ladies spend vast amounts of time preparing festoons of brightly coloured paper flowers, followed by a ‘bailie’, traditional live Portuguese music event at which everybody dances, often till very late at night or into the next morning.

The town of Sines hosts a world music festival every summer, with bands performing inside the castle or on the beach or down at the quaint sea-side village of Porto Covo.  The nearby town of Odemira organises open air jazz-evenings throughout June in the lovely park of Fonte Ferrea – you cannot beat sipping a glass of wine or dining out under the stars to the sound of some of Portugal’s top jazz performers! The inland offers historical sites such as the spectacular Roman excavations at Mirobriga, on a steep hillside just north of the pretty, unspoilt town of Santiago do Cacem.  With stunning views from the well-preserved forum out across the gentle hills over towards the Monchique Mountains to the south, and the beautiful Atlantic coastline to the West, the peaceful site of Mirobriga is inspiring and rarely busy even at the height of summer. 

The town of Santiago itself is a hidden gem, constructed on two steep hillsides with the old castle walls on one promontory, and Mirobriga across the valley on another. The views of the castle, on the crown of a majestic escarpment, revealed from the road heading in from Sines, are simply breathtaking. The old town features a labyrinth of narrow alleyways winding up to the old castle, and an Igreja Matriz featuring historic exhibitions. The photo opportunities from here are endless. In the newer part of town are wide tree-lined boulevards and pretty street-side cafes serving wonderful cakes and pastries at very affordable prices. There is also a museum displaying the culture and past of the area. 

The Algarve – and beyond

This area is quite central to the Southwest of Portugal affording a situation which makes daytrips to The Algarve or the world-famous historical town of Evora easy. A trip to Sagres, stepping-stone to the new world for the 15th century Portuguese explorers, is absolutely essential. Lagos too is worth a visit and at only just over an hour’s drive provides a great opportunity to see the new marina and promenade at the edge of the old town, dominated by the remains of the old castle and city walls. Shopping here is fun and excellent value as are the wide variety of bars and restaurants where English is widely spoken.

The Algarve also offers busier resorts like Praia Da Rocha and Albufeira or Alvor near Portimao for the sea-side feel without the major crowds of Albufeira – all within an hour and a half’s drive on roads which are never really busy even at the height of the season.

The world famous heritage site at Evora is also a daytrip possibility, offering some of the best preserved Roman city walls and temples in Europe.

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