Ameixial
Local tips
In autumn, the fruit of the strawberry tree ripens and the local aguardente (firewater) is produced — look for artisanal producers. The EN2 is an experience in itself. Combine with a walk on the Via Algarviana to explore the surrounding mountains.
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Alte
One of the most picturesque and calm villages in the Algarve interior, Alte preserves the essence of rural life with its whitewashed houses, ornate chimneys, and cobbled streets. The springs and fountains surrounding the village create centuries-old points of freshness and conviviality. Described by many as the most typical village in the Algarve, it is a place that seems frozen in time.
Loule
Barranco do Velho
A small mountain village in the Serra do Caldeirão, near the border with Alentejo. Known for its century-old tradition of cork industry, with a landscape dominated by cork oaks, holm oaks, and strawberry trees. A rustic church built in 1944 on top of the hill offers panoramic views. The village is famous for its high-quality aguardente made from strawberry trees. Popular among cyclists — the climb from Barranco do Velho (3.1 km, category 4) is part of the Algarve Tour. The PR17 LLE trail (5.5 km, about 2 hours) traverses cork oak forests. It is the endpoint of Sector 5 and the beginning of Sector 6 of the Via Algarviana.
Loule
Besteiros
A small settlement in the parish of Ameixial, part of the network of routes in the interior of the Serra do Caldeirão. Surrounded by cork oaks, it is one of several traditional villages (along with Vermelhos, Revezes, Corte João Marques, and Corte de Ouro) that dot this sparsely populated mountainous landscape. Residents maintain goat and sheep herding, cork production, and the making of aguardente from strawberry trees. A database of micro-gems from the interior.
Loule
Catraia
A small locality in the Salir area, associated with 'Fonte da Catraia', a waypoint on the Via Algarviana. It is located in the transition zone between the barrocal and the mountains, in a landscape of limestone and schist with cork oaks and holm oaks. It is not a 'tourist attraction' in the classic sense — it is a hidden and curable fragment of the Algarve that has withstood the test of time. Rural villages that have changed little over decades, surrounded by dryland agriculture and Mediterranean scrub.
Loule