holiday property vilamoura

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Located in the southwest part of Europe, approximately 100 miles from northern Africa, the Algarve has the privilege of having the best beaches in Europe. Because of this location, the Algarve has warm temperatures and nice weather almost all year.

The Algarve has an impressive 54 beaches flying the Blue Flag, the international standard. This is a Europe-wide scheme which indicates that a beach or Marina has attained the highest standards of safety, cleanliness and water quality among many other requisites.

The Algarve has a southern and a western coast facing the Atlantic Ocean. On the west coast the ocean is rougher and the landscape is still very natural, with few buildings. This coast is part of the "Costa Vicentina" Natural Park and its beaches possess a rugged romanticism, of which Arrifana beach is a fine example, being opposite a large cliff with a fantastic view over the ocean. It is also popular with surfers and international competitions are held each year bring ing the cream of the world's surfers to the region.

In the southwestern area of the Algarve is Lagos with its small pretty beaches and rock stacks towering up from the sea just off the beaches.

The beaches of the south coast have calmer and warmer water than those to the west, and are therefore more popular tourist destinations. The area of Albufeira is the most crowded place of Algarve as it has beautiful, easily-accessible beaches; some are small while others are very long, such as the famous Falesia beach.

The Algarve even has beaches that allow you to soak up the sun while being surrounded by nature. Half-way between Vilamoura and Faro, in the central south coast of Algarve, you have long white-sand beaches, which are part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Here, in the middle of untouched nature, you have quiet, uncrowded beaches, some of which are accessible only on foot. These beaches are not crowded and for some you have to walk a few steps to get there, but it is well worth the small effort.

Particularly in the summer, the beaches of the Algarve become a hub of entertainment with events such as international beach volleyball championships, surfing competitions, beach libraries and workshops teaching us about how we can help to preserve the beauty of our beaches for generations to come. If you thought that beaches were just for getting a tan, then think again!