Hills & History: A Scenic Ride from Café Velo (45km)
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. 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. You can stretch this route through the historic salt pans of Castro Marim and look for flamingo’s. But be careful, this section can be a bit rough with a normal or ebike. You can find that route here.
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):
