Armação de Pêra

I search of a place to escape Dutch autumn, I found out about the village of Armação de Pêra on the Portuguese south coast (Algarve).  For a week I left the fallen leaves and rain behind to enjoy some sunshine on the beach.

Armação de Pêra is located in a broad bay about 10 kilometres west from the well-known tourist centre of Albufeira. Although there are just a few hotels, a lot of Portuguese have a holiday apartment in the village. So in August the place and the beach are supposed to be packed with beach-worshippers. But during my stay in October the place is quiet and shows off like a small fisherman’s village with plenty of space on the long sandy beach. My apartment was right on the promenade in the old town.

Since this week was intended to reload my batteries and get my dose of vitamin sea, my days were all alike. I started the mornings with a breakfast on the promenade overlooking the Atlantic sea. Then I took my beach gear and walked along the whitewashed remains of a 17th century fort (still containing a little chapel) to the Fisherman’s beach (Praia dos Pescadores). Among the fishermen’s huts and fishing boats I entered the beach. Then I walked a little to find a spot for the day on Praia Grande, the long sandy stretch that runs all the way to Albufeira. After sunset I went back to the village to spend the evening having diner in one of the many restaurants.

Armação de Pêra is not a place for boosting nightlife, but it was a great base to have some beautiful days on the beach.