Hi, I am travelling to Ferragudo for the first time with my other half and two children........20 days to go......is there much to do around Ferragudo? i.e Restaurants? Pubs? Shops? How far is cvo away.......
Where's the closest shopping mall/centre from Ferragudo would you need to go to Albufeira or something like that?
Also my kids love Animals is the Zoo near Albufeira any good and worth a visit?
Thanks for any info!!!
Gary

I am sure you will enjoy Ferragudo a lovely typical fishing village that has not been over commercialised (as yet).

There are some wonderful beaches, my personal favourite being Caneiros (about 5 mins drive from Ferragudo centre, 20 mins on foot) also having an excellent restaurant. You can also choose from Praia Grande (2 mins on foot), Molho and Pintadinho.

There are some excellent restaurants my personal favourite being the Farragood, great Pizza parlour in centre of town.

For shopping you are just across the river from the best shopping town in the Algarve - Portimão (better than all the shopping malls put together), just a short bus ride, river taxi or half hour walk away. Also the coastal cruises go from Portimao - great day out for the whole family with beach BBQ, caves visit and great photos. Try the Algarve Sol - reasonable prices and free face painting for the kids.

For the water parks, zoomarine, etc transport is available or it is just a short drive away. Carvoeiro is just 10 mins drive away. Also just behind Ferragudo there is a great Play Oasis with one of those play apparatus (not up with the jargon) which keeps the kids amused for hours (I think 12 yrs is max). They also do great BBQs on Weds evening and Sunday lunchtime.

I'm sure you & yr family will enjoy Ferragudo & surrounds - have fun!

Cheers Fi,
Great information, I cannot wait..........my mate's just come back today from Lagos and said the fires hampered him one day but apart from that it was really good, very warm!!!!!!
Thanks for all your info I'm sure the other half will enjoy the shopping in Portimao!!!!
Gary

Hi Gary

Just got back from Carvoeiro with 3 young children. We stayed on the Ferregudo road at Sesmarias.

If you have a car there is a Zoo called Omega Parque which is just before Caldas de Monchique. It has got lots of monkeys and a miniture hippo along with a Cheetah which you can get quite close to. There is a great (clean) coffee shop with loos half way up. It is all outside and the trails are quite steep so if the children are young TAKE A BUGGY. Ours had a great time and you can go on to the spa village afterwards. There is also a Zoo Biologic (or something like that) in Silves and a mad place called Krazyworld which we didn't visit but heard it was a bit crap.

If you want to eat out there is an area called Monte Carvoeiro which has a small square with a fountain. It just outside the main town but has about 5 nice restaurants, we liked Peppers the best, and the children can run round safely arter you eat. You can park there easily too and walk down.

We didn't like Portimao much but there is a big Algarve Shopping Centre at Guia on the EN125 which is good for clothes and stuff. It is only 2 mins further on than Zoo Marine and there is a great Food Court with all the fast food Faves including Pizza Hut McD's and KFC.

Have fun!!

Amanda

we have often sat on the quayside at Ferragudo wondering why there seems to be no river taxi to Portimao. Does anyone know of it and could give details?

. . . and if there isn't . . . what a great business opportunity for someone

Maddi

A new Water Taxi service has started this summer by a guy called Don from Colchester. It zigzags from the marina at P.Rocha to the Sueste restaurant at Ferragudo to Portimao and then to the dockayard. From Ferragudo to P./ Rocha is 3e single 5e return. I'm not sure if its scheduled but there are telephone numbers to call on their leaflet. Sorry I don't have one here in the UK but they do have them in the reception at Vila Castelo in Ferragudo so if someone is passing and could get the numbers to post we could complete the details.

Pinkiebluesky, would be our best bet for picking up info in Ferragudo, and this is right up their street being totally "on topic" as it is.


Maddi


p.s. I am still coming to terms with the revelation a couple of weeks ago that Pinkiebluesky is a bloke, have we had confirmation? Is that correct?

Maddi, how much confirmation do you want Are you offering to check genders officially now and what does that entail - checking under kilts etc.

Must have missed the posting suggesting Pinkie was a man - I always thought Pinkie was - apologies if you are not and commiserations if you are

I am definitely female, have the stretch marks to prove it and the kids. Last time I looked I wasn't a pink blob covered in spots. Finally apologies for going off the subject

The water taxi sounds fantastic - we have ferries in Uk - doesn't water taxi sound more cosmopolitan

Hi Pammie

As I live in Torbay, I am used to the idea of water taxis, we do have several here and of course when you visit Greece they are used extensively.

Now help me out here, Pammie, what made you think that Pinkie was man all along? What were the clues? What did I miss before? Do you think Pinkie is Blobby? Blobby is definately a CVO purist.

Anyway back to water taxi's, obviously they thrive in either river conditions or pretty flat seas and where there are a number of otherwise inaccessible beaches (hence their extensive use around Greece and her islands).

Maddi

Thanks to Malcolm R.C. You can now find the brochure at http://www.carvoeiro.com/Guide/aguataxi.html

I dont follow - if that is price per person, how come there are two lists for single and return trips?? Do women in bikinis and men in leopard g-strings get the trip cheaper or am I just having a blonde moment?

I'm so hurt that you could possibly think I'm Mr Blobby

As for Feragudo, I really can't help you there although there is an execelent restaurant in the square, but I can't for the life of me remember the name I think it's called O Chiminé. If you stand looking at the square its to the left, a large white building with tables outside. They do a wicked Cozido á Portuguesa and a Bacalhau com natas on Sunday or they did when I was last there!! Shopping, hmmm last time I went to Portimão I was shocked at how dirty and scruffy the main shopping street had become. I hope it is something to do with all the building work that is going on around Portimão. They have a good underground carpark now that seems to have resolved parking problems.