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Claiming an 80 percent success rate, this semi-inflatable powers out of the marina on its quest. When the dolphins are sighted, the boat reduces speed and waits for a display of marine antics.

Overlooking a pristine beach, trim gardens and an outdoor seawater pool, Dom Joao II provides ideal conditions for the perfect family holiday. There’s also a “Kids’ Club” for both play and learning.

Try theborrego estufado (stewed lamb) orrobala (sea perch).

This esteemed red is produced here by Jorge d’Avillez and is smooth, soft and rounded. Perfect with roasted pork.

Chunky pentagonal bastions, thick walls and gaping moats surround this busy frontier town near the Spanish border. The 17th-century fortifications resemble a multifaceted star and are very well preserved – they are best viewed from the castle. Within the walls are the excellent Museu Municipal and Biblioteca and the tiny 16th-century church of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos. The mighty Aqueduto da Amoreira stretches between Elvas and a spring some 5 miles (8 km) away at Amoreira.

The pitiful cries of a Moorish woman supposedly echo in the streets near Loulé Castle.

The Algarve plays a pivotal role in Portugal’s maritime expansion in the 15th century. Henry the Navigator is made governor of the Algarve in 1418 and initiates the voyages of discovery from his bases in Sagres and Lagos. By the time of his death in 1460, Madeira, the Azores and Cape Verde islands have been discovered and much of the west coast of Africa has been mapped. In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope, and ten years later Vasco da Gama opens the trade route to India.

Distilled from themoscatel grape, this unique brandy has a strong kick and mildly sweet aftertaste.