Quintal Yurts

The South West Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park has a reputation as Europe’s finest stretch of coastline, and you’re slap-bang in the middle of it. Surfers flock to the beaches round here to ride the Atlantic waves; try Almograve, Praja das Furnas or Vila Nova da Milfonte, 15, 20 and 25 minutes away. The latter town is also handy if you fancy horse-trekking or canoeing and cruises down the Mira river (well-supplied with supermarkets, too). Take a break from riding waves and soaking up rays to explore the wildlife: head a quarter of an hour to Cabo Sardoa, whose cliffs are one of the only places you’ll see nesting storks. The region is also home to rare sea-going otters and fishing eagles, so bring your binoculars. It’s not all cliffs and ocean: an insider tip from the owners is to drive half an hour to Pego da Pias, a pristine wilderness of lagoons formed as the Mira tumbles from rocky cliffs above, ideal for dips, picnics and walks around (watch out for wild boar). If you fancy a hit of local (and global) history, Sines (50 minutes) has a fine old medieval fortress with a museum and while the industrial port isn't pretty it's a fitting birthplace for nautical explorer Vasco da Gama. Roman ruins at Santiago do Cacem, an hour away, have the added plus of a safari park and a sandy beach to keep everyone smiling.