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Some 35 years ago Carvoeiro was little more than a small ‘one-street’ fishing village where everyone knew each other and in many cases were also related to each other! Today, with the influx of tourists and foreign residents it has grown into a more sophisticated and very cosmopolitan location with a wide selection of restaurants and bars and some interesting shops and boutiques . In summer, Carvoeiro becomes the focal point for shopping, wining and dining for visitors of many nationalities, most of whom will be staying in holiday villas and apartments. Unlike many of the other seaside villages and resorts across the Algarve, Carvoeiro has managed to retain much of it’s original charm and character. The original village architecture is still visible in many of the smaller, cobbled side streets close to the beachfront, such as Travessa da Naus where Casa Rustica is located . Things to do You have every opportunity to relax here and do very little, apart from sitting by the beach, sunbathing and drinking & dining in the evenings. The local council put on live music and entertainment shows every week during the summer months on the central beach area in Carvoeiro. However, for those of you who wish to explore, it is an easy drive to Lagoa (5 km) and then only a further 8km or so to the historic market town of Silves. You can go on further into the hills and visit Monchique and Caldas de Monchique. Walk or drive up the hill on the eastern side of Carvoeiro beach, past the church to discover Algar Seco ( or there in ten minutes directly from Casa Rustica). This is a really interestingly eroded rock formation. There is no sand here, however you can swim at Algar Seco and it is great for snorkeling. There is a delightful bar and restaurant here too, that is open during the day for drinks and serves meals at lunch times and in the evenings. You will find steps leading down to it from the car park. A short drive westwards from Carvoeiro will take you into the picturesque fishing village of Ferragudo. If you enjoy windsurfing you will be in paradise on Praia Grande in Ferragudo, which is part of the Arade estuary. Driving further west will take you into the fishing town of Portimao, abundant with fish restaurants where you can enjoy fresh fish and shellfish, don’t forget to sample the sardines here at one of the many restaurants along the river front! You can think about taking a sightseeing excursion on a boat or book yourself onto a fishing trip. This is also a good place to go shopping for gifts, and the 'Mercado Municipal´ (big market for fresh fish, meat and vegetables) here is excellent and very good value for money. There is a huge water slide park called ‘Slide and Splash’ located in Estombar, which you will find by driving towards Lagoa and turning left when you reach the N125, after driving a short distance along the N125 you will see the signs to turn left for the waterpark. For golfing and tennis enthusiasts, please refer to the relevant pages on this web site.