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With its almond and cork oak trees, the area around Bensafrim, northwest of Lagos, is idyllic riding territory.

Ponta de Sagres is one of the best dive sites on the Iberian peninsula, with its network of tunnels and caverns and, 2 km(1 mile) offshore, the rusty shell of a WW1 freighter.

The Cabo de São Vicente headland offers a superb vantage from which to observe birds in spring and autumn, when the skies are dotted with eagles, storks, sparrowhawks, griffon and Egyptian vultures.

The Atlantic rollers pummelling Praia do Armado lure many surfers. Competitions take place throughout summer.

Serra da Monchique provides the most demanding walking. Wooded foothills give way to a treeless summit speckled with rhododendron blooms. The views fully justify the long hike.

A favourite is the footpath from Luz to Burgau. It starts in open countryside, follows the coastline along the lip of a cliff, then slopes to the sea.

Warm coastal waters (Jun–Sep) attract marlin and sharks. Sports fishermen usually return triumphant from the “fighting chair”.

Barragem de Bravura is a huge, tree-fringed reservoir, and a kayak safari is the best way to observe its diverse wildlife.

Dating back at least 5,000 years,menhirs stud the area around the village of Vila do Bispo. See Western Region.

Specialist guides can help you appreciate fully places such as the Parque Natural do Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, a beautiful and rugged landscape of cliffs, isolated beaches and undulating hills.