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Beach:
The beaches at Armona Island are the finest in the Algarve.
The main beach close to the ferry port and the bustling
centre of the island is safe for swimming and plenty
of fun.
The Atlantic beach on the far side of the island stretches
as far as the eye can see with pure white sand.
There are sun loungers and shades to hire (10 Euros
a day for 2 sun loungers).
The
beach
bar is just a short walk back towards the dunes.
The laguna feeds into a lake which provides an ideal
spot for picnicking and sunbathing.
The
main path travels from the ferry port to the Atlantic
side of the island. There are no cars or bikes but in
the height of season it's a bustling thoroughfare of
families shopping trolleys and holiday makers!
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The
laguna is close to the house- just a few moments walk
and there you will be able to have lots of fun- walking,
wading, searching for Clams or using the Kayaks (remember
the life preservers if there are young children) when
the tide is high.
Watching
a sunset over the Algarve is magical:
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Restaurants:
There
are 5 restaurants on Armona Island during high season.
They all offer excellent Portuguese food, often fresh
from the sea and/or simple local fare with no frills.
Enjoy the Algarve like a native!!
Near the ferry port the restaurant is open all year
round. The beach here is very popular, and the views
are fabulous.
There
are 2 other restaurants on this side of the island,
offering a good chance to mix with the locals and enjoy
the relaxed lifestyle.
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The Atlantic beach side also
has a restaurant serving
wonderful Portuguese food from April to September.
This is a popular place at night, located well back
from the beach, and you can dine under the rooftop
canopy or outside under the stars.
If
you prefer a really restful night, you can order one
of their fantastic takeaway roast chickens and bring
it back to Villa Vivenda Marinhos!
ps
- The kebabs are a must!
The Atlantic side beach bar is open from May to September
- again well back from the beach. By day the bar serves
drinks, light meals and ice creams - it's a welcome
break from the sun and the sand! At night the bar
is a perfect place to sip sangria or cocktails under
the magical Algarve sky. The bar stays open usually
to 2am, and is a good place to meet the locals or
enjoy a quiet and romantic moment amidst the dunes.
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Shops:
On the island there are 2 main shops
and a couple of smaller fruit and vegetable stores.
Everything is fresh and locally grown - you simply will
never taste better fruit!
The main shop is close to the ferry port and on the
main path. This sells all the essentials for island
life, and has a good selection of wines.
In the middle of the island is a cafe and shop, and
Villa Vivenda Marinho is just behind it. This shop sells
the freshest produce, so of course is the favourite
for the locals. It's a great spot in the morning for
a coffee and fresh croissants!
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Main
pathway through Armona stretching from Ferry to Atlantic
Beach
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Olhao Shops and Restaurants:
A short ferry ride takes you to Olhao, where there are
a wide variety of shops plus the famous markets.
Click here for a map of Olhao
Fish Market:
Olhao boasts many nice restaurants -
favourites of ours include the many waterside seafood
restaurants, and there are also excellent tapas bars,
plus a choice of Indian and Chinese cuisine.
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Olhao's famed markets are open daily:
They sell fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish,
bring some back for the outside BBQ. The markets are
open from 7am until 2pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday
until 3pm, even out of season.
Fresh Fruit and Veg Market:
Behind
the waterfront markets and restaurants you will find
some great Algarve shopping, from bargain basement
clothing shops to chic boutiques.
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Ferry Details:
The
ferry goes from Olhao every hour in the high season
and is cheap and fun. Out of season the ferries run
less frequently.
Click here to view the timetable.
A single journey cost 1.45 Euros.
There are also water taxis for hire which take 10 minutes
to zip across from Olhao to Armona- costing around 15
Euros.
Here are some Taxi companies telephone numbers:
Taxi Praia: 969114474
Rio Taxi: 917583621
Taxi Mar: 967747483 or 912062305
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The view from the ferry as you arrive at the island
is captivating!
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