Monthly notes

Day trip in Algarve

Fonte da Benémola (PR16 trail)

Easy 4.2 km circular walk along a stream in the hills north of Loulé, about an hour, starting from a dirt car park on the EM 524 near Querença (Visit Loulé; research).

Address
EM 524 between Tôr and Querença, Loulé
Open in Google Mapsvisit-loule.pt

OK with kids

Graded 'easy', about 1 h, 4.2 km circular (municipal tourism site). No facilities documented at the start. Research, not first-hand.

The notes

Fonte da Benémola is a short walk in the hills north of Loulé, along a stream valley. The municipal tourism site grades the PR16 circuit as easy: 4.2 km and about an hour [1]. You can combine it with the hill village of Querença nearby.

What we found (research)

  • Circular route, 4.2 km, easy, about 1 hour [1].
  • The start is a dirt car park on the EM 524 road between Tôr and Querença [1].

Good to know / Check before you go

  • We have not verified a public-transport journey to the trailhead against a current timetable. Check local connections before relying on them.
  • An older leaflet gives 4.5 km. We use the municipality’s current 4.2 km [1].
Where the places are

From Fonte da Benémola (PR16 trail): Seven Hanging Valleys trail (Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos) (42 km), Caldas de Monchique (50 km). Straight-line distances from the centre point, not driving times.

Day trip

Caminho dos Promontórios (Ferragudo to Carvoeiro)

6 km linear coastal path from Praia do Molhe at the Arade river mouth (Ferragudo) to Praia do Paraíso near Carvoeiro, past headlands and small coves, with interpretive panels (Lagoa municipality).

    Researched

    last checked

    Day trip

    Caldas de Monchique

    Thermal-spring hamlet in a wooded valley 6 km below Monchique, used since Roman times; now a spa resort whose heated indoor pool is open to non-guests for a fee. On the Portimão bus line.

    • OK with kids
    Researched

    last checked

    Day trip

    Parque da Mina

    Heritage park on the Portimão–Monchique road: 18th-century manor museum, old mine gallery, farm animals, mirror maze, play areas. Daily 10:00–17:00 (Oct–Mar), 10:00–19:00 (Apr–Sep).

    • Great with kids
    Researched

    last checked