Pêra is a beautiful village with old-world charm. With its narrow cobblestone streets, built for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles, and cute architecture from times gone by, it truly makes for a gorgeous, quaint retreat under the Algarvian sun. The proximity to the beaches and dunes of Praia Grande and birdwatching in the Salgados Lagoon doesn’t hurt either.
Visit Pêra Main Church
Built in the 18th Century, the highlight has to be the Baroque altarpiece in the chancel with its pyramid-shaped throne. Another notable feature is the Baroque style figurative tiles depicting the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Get your camera ready! This is definitely an attraction worth visiting.
Enjoy Praia Grande Beach
Praia Grande is a very popular beach located about a five minute drive away from Pera town centre. This is an expansive beach with a calm sea that’s great for families with small children or just those wanting a bit of a swim. You can also enjoy the nature trail that runs along the beach, giving you the best of both the natural greenery and the gorgeous sea views.
Birdwatching in Salgados lagoon
The Salgados lagoon is a bird-watcher’s paradise. It serves as a refuge for many varieties of bird, including mallards, waders and funky pink flamingos. The best time to visit is in the evening when the sun is just beginning to set, which really sets up for some beautiful photography. The bird population varies depending on the water levels in the lagoon, but you can usually observe the common-coot and the little grebe, while patches of reeds provide a home to moorhens all year round.
Play Golf
With such a great selection of golf courses around Pera, golfers are spoilt for choice. However, the Oceânico Faldo course, famously designed by Sir Nick Faldo, has to be the top pick. Designed and built with strategic play in mind, this 6598m PAR 72 championship course also offers incredible views over a beautiful rolling landscape.
VIsit Real Picadeiro
Real Picadeiro is a great horse riding school that not only offers top quality lessons but also a top notch eatery (Restaurant Clube Lusitano) that offers specialties like ‘Cataplanas’ and fresh fish, chicken Piri Piri and other classic Portuguese dishes, all accompanied by Fado and other kinds of live music. Real Picadeiro really has all the bases covered and will keep you entertained from sun-up to sun-down.
Admire Professional Sand Sculptures
Every summer the International Sand Sculpture Festival (FIESA) comes to Pera. It’s the largest sand sculpture event in the world and attracts some of the biggest talents in the movement. At night, the sculptures are lit-up, which can really make some of the designs look quite magical. There’s also live music to entertain.
For the Kids
If you’re travelling with children, the Zoomarine Water Park, just a five minute drive from Pera, is a great place to learn about marine life while having lots of fun. Not only are there educational shows, but also waterslides, wave machines and fun pools that are fun for the whole family.
