A tourist at home
– September 13, 2024 | Text Marie Patterson | Photos Charlotte Cockayne/Open Media Group
As the hustle and bustle of the summer crowds start to disappear but the good weather remains, we decided on this occasion to spend a day at sea.
We got the whole family together to hire a private charter from Portiate at Portimão Marina, and embarked on a stunning sunset cruise, setting off at 2.30pm and returning at 8.30pm, just after sunset.
Portiate has various options up for hire, but we opted for the Fontaine Pajot Lucia 40 – with four double cabins with private bathrooms and a very spacious kitchen and deck area, offering stunning views of the surrounding ocean.
This six-hour journey offered us a great perspective of the Algarve’s coastline; it really was a great experience to view the coast “from the other side”.
The afternoon began with boarding at Portimão Marina, greeted by the warm and friendly crew, Ronaldo and Holly, who made us feel right at home. The boat itself was a beauty; comfortable, and very well-equipped, and also included the option to sail.
We travelled past Ferragudo and Carvoeiro, all the way to Praia da Marinha, one of the most iconic and picturesque beaches in Portugal and considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, by National Geographic.
We then travelled back to Ponta da Piedade in Lagos, a well-known spot for its dramatic cliffs and hidden caves. Here we decided to stop for a refreshing dip before our late lunch.
Personally, we prepared a combination of cheeses and cold meats along with some lobster and prawns to be washed down with a nice bottle of Champagne.
On the way back, we opted to make use of the sails and enjoy the sound of the waves, and to top it off, we were fortunate enough to spot dolphins playfully swimming close to the boat – a truly magical experience, which along with the sunset (with the sky painted in hues of orange, pink and purple) was undoubtedly the highlight of the dayday.
Returning to Portimão Marina, we felt this was one of the best days spent as a family, ever!
On our way back we stopped off at Rei das Praias on Caneiros beach, one of the most iconic beach restaurants in the Algarve.
Specialising in fresh fish and seafood, as per usual, they did not disappoint and proved to be the perfect end to the perfect day.
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