Hills, History & Flamingo’s: A Scenic Ride from Café Velo (54km)
This beautiful cycling route in the Algarve starts right at Café Velo and gently pulls you into the quieter, greener side of the Eastern Algarve. Leaving Vila Real de Santo António behind via the iconic cobbled boulevard, you ride towards Castro Marim on a brand new cycling path, where gentle climbs lead you into rolling hills with wide-open views over the Eastern Algarve.
The route winds through peaceful countryside and small rural roads, taking you past Santa Rita, where time seems to slow down and the Algarve shows its most authentic face. From here, you head towards one of the region’s true gems: Cacelha Velha. Perched above the Ria Formosa lagoon, the tiny white church offers breathtaking views over sandbanks, sea and sky — a perfect spot to pause, take photos, and catch your breath.
On the way back, the scenery changes once more as you cycle alongside orange and lemons trees before entering the historic salt pans of Castro Marim. Flamingos, shimmering water and endless reflections make this final stretch unforgettable – but be careful, the road can be very wet on that section and is only easily rideable with ‘normal’ bikes in dry summer months (may-june-july-august). If you want to skip this section, just follow the green bicycle path towards Castro Marim. Or take this route instead. An ideal ride for cyclists who love nature, quiet roads and a touch of Algarve history — all starting and ending with a relaxing coffee break at Café Velo.
Tip: for your convenience, a selection of scenic rides can be followed with a GPS-equipped e-bike or mountainbike, starting directly from Café Velo. This way, you can enjoy the route at your own pace without worrying about getting lost. Book your bike here!
If you want to download this route (gpx-file):
