About a 40-50 minute drive east from Faro, you will arrive at the border between Portugal and Spain. The Guadiana River serves as a natural border divider. On the left-hand side of the river, you will find the Castro Marim Natural Reserve, salt marshes, and salt baths. Our retreat sits on the edge of the reserve and covers nearly 100 acres of stone pines, cork oaks, carob trees, olive trees, apricots, figs, and a vegetable garden.
Faro City
From Faro airport to the retreat, it is about a 40-minute taxi ride, which costs roughly €80 one way. If you have some spare time, Faro is a cool, funky city to visit, where you will find plenty of things to do such as street art, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Faro city is fairly close to the airport; there are many buses running between them, or you can take a taxi which will cost you about £27 one way. There is a lovely vegan restaurant in Faro called Outro Lado that I highly recommend. It's a lovely little hidden gem in Faro, and the food is prepared with passion and love!
From Faro city, you can take a direct train to Castro Marim, which takes about 1 hour and costs only £5. From Castro Marim train station, it is about a 10-minute walk to our retreat. Here are two websites where you can find the train schedules and costs:
Castro Marim
Our retreat is located just by the natural reserve, so if you fancy a little walk into the woods, it's right at our doorstep. Surrounding Castro Marim are saltpans and the Reserva Natural do Sapal, a 5,000-acre marshland. This unique ecological habitat is best known for the flamingos! So, perhaps if you are lucky, you will spot them flying overhead!
Castro Marim
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If you like to explore the neighboring village and beaches, there will be bikes available for hire (please see the reception when you arrive for more information). Cycling down to the local beach, Praia do Cabeço, takes about 10 minutes. There, you will find expansive golden sand, beach umbrellas, bars, and restaurants.
Cacela Velha - Fabrica Beach
Alternatively, you can take a 10-minute taxi ride to Cacela Velha - Fabrica Beach, where you will find one of the best beaches in Algarve. It features pristine golden sands, crystal-clear waters, and captivating scenery shaped by gentle winds and tides. During low tide, you can discover abundant marine life!
Cacela Vhelha - Barica Beach
Tavira City
One day, you can take the train to explore Tavira, which is about 17 km away. Tavira is called the Venice of the Algarve, where you will find classic Portuguese whitewashed buildings with iconic terracotta-tiled rooftops, plenty of cafes, wine bars, museums, and castle ruins. Here are a couple of things you can do in Tavira:
Visit the semi-ruined castle, Castelo de Tavira, where you will find a beautiful and colorful garden.
See the blue and white tiles inside the art museum, Igreja da Misericórdia Tavira (the entry ticket costs £2.52).
Tavira City
I really look forward to our retreat together in September, and explore the beautiful southern coast of Portugal together. Our retreat itself is already its own unique gem waiting for us to discover! See you soon! 💙🇵🇹🌊
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