The Ria Formosa
The lagoon runs along the coast below the estate — a protected wetland of sandbanks, salt pans and channels, best seen early from a boat out of Cabanas or Santa Luzia.
Flamingos are common through the winter, and the bird life generally is the reason a lot of people come to this stretch of coast at all.
Tavira
Twenty minutes west, and worth a morning on its own. A Roman bridge, a castle, and more churches than a town that size has any need for.
The market is the thing to time a visit around if you are cooking.
The hills inland
North of the estate the roads empty out quickly. Cork oak, small villages, and views back to the sea from the higher ground.
The beaches
The island beaches are reached by ferry and are, for most of the year, close to deserted. Ilha de Tavira and Praia de Cacela Velha are both within easy reach.
Or nothing at all
The terrace, a book and the view down the valley is a legitimate use of a morning, and the one most often chosen.