CARVOEIRO AND FERRAGUDO

CARVOEIRO

Carvoeiro, a traditional fisherman’s village transformed into a popular upmarket tourist resort, is and has been one of the Algarve’s most upmarket regions, while preserving much of its original charm. 5 km from the capital of the municipality, Lagoa, an area well stocked with beaches, grocery shopping stores, restaurants and a variety of sporting and cultural options. Faro airport is 65 km away, and Lisbon 275 km.
The Lagoa coastline has some of the most beautiful beaches of the country, with Marinha, one of the most photographed in the world, chosen as the promotional image of “Guia de Portugal”. The coastline is ideal for wonderful walks, with impressive vistas over hidden coves and the azure ocean. In Carvoeiro a boat excursion to the caves and secluded beaches, is an unmissable afternoon out.

The charming bay of Carvoeiro, although small, is much appreciated and known for the small houses that “tumble” down the hillside towards the sea. Nearby is “Algar Seco” with unusual rock formations carved by the wind and the sea, with its fanciful shapes and the romantic Valentine’s Balcony.
The region of Lagoa is considered the main and most important wine-growing area of the Algarve. Good wines are produced due to a specific ecosystem and to the sand soils. The white and red wines are light, aromatic and soft. A visit to the various wineries should be in your agenda: either for tasting, know the processes of production and, most probably, to bring some bottles with you.

FERRAGUDO

Ferragudo belongs also to the municipality of Lagoa, located in front of Portimão, on the other side of the River Arade. It really is a very picturesque scene when you arrive in Ferragudo to see the whitewashed houses ‘tumbling’ down the hillside towards the river front and people sitting outside the cafes around the village square, passing the time of day. The picturesque cobbled streets of white houses with their Moorish styled chimneys are close to the main square and most appreciated. With about 2,000 inhabitants, it is 280km from Lisbon, 69km from Faro airport and 254km from Seville.
It has been a fishing village since immemorial time, but tourism is now the largest revenue. However, tourists who fish for sport, get very good results. Angrinha and Praia Grande are the two most sought after beaches, with equipment for windsurfing and canoeing.

Ferragudo has a rustic style and due to its calm, is sought after by anyone who wants to escape the crowds during the high season. However you can find everything: bars, excellent restaurants, bars and shops. In the central square that is characteristic of so many other small towns, it is where most of the activity of the village happens, where people gather to enjoy the good weather and good food.
Ferragudo is the ideal place for those who want to get to know the traditional Algarve and the locals in the bars and restaurants. Ideal for families looking for tranquility but also offering activities nearby such as boat trips to visit the caves or watch the dolphins, golf, tennis or going up the river to visit the town of Silves.
Do not miss an excursion to Silves, 14km away, the old Moorish capital of the Algarve, located on the river Arade. The historical centre, the Castle of Silves and its large cistern, the archaeological museum and the town’s market, are all worth a visit.

REAL ESTATE LANDSCAPE

Carvoeiro remains among one of the most popular resorts in the Algarve for foreign property buyers. The real estate landscape is easy to understand: the town centre is comprised mainly of apartments, giving way to townhouses on the periphery of the town itself, and then further to manly 3 and 4 bedroom villas. Golf course real estate is made up of a combination of all three product types, as well as fractional ownership product. The largest limitation of the area is that there is extremely limited new build or modern real estate, with contemporary inventory with traces of traditional Portuguese architecture, built just before the crisis, often being the trade-off. For those who want a more modern property, buying older and refurbishing is often the best route.

The real estate offer in Ferragudo is not as varied as that in Carvoeiro, and the generally older properties are reflected in lower prices. In the centre, many of the houses are traditional fishermen’s houses, some of which have been refurbished and restored to their original state.

CARVOEIRO AND FERRAGUDO AS RETIREMENT DESTINATIONS

Carvoeiro has historically been one of the most popular retirement destinations for German and Dutch nationals, who have invested in the region for decades. With its outstanding golf offers, the region has attracted a largely sophisticated set of retirees who have time and money. Most see the low-density construction and the variety of single family detached villas on manageable plot sizes as a way of combining a lifestyle with low management effort. More recently, the region has also attracted Scandinavians and the area has also been quite popular with British retirees. These have sought to remain closer to the town’s very concentrated centre, to avoid the steeper roads and streets leading into the town.
Due to the older style of property, there is still a shortage of suitable real estate, in particular with appropriate winter heating. The popularity of the area means that summer rentals take a lot of private accommodation inventory off the market for longer stays.
Ferragudo’s attraction as a retirement option has steadily increased as it is handily located for access to Portimão while being located near the wonderful Lagoa coastline. A close-knit community, with its centre of activity centred around the quaint town square, has chosen a village which retains much of its traditional charm.
Talk to us about your requirements and we can show you a range of accommodation or purchase options including those with river views.