Any parent of teenagers knows to pick their battles and holiday destinations with care. After much research, and consultation with the experts (the teens themselves), we think that Alvor, in Portugal’s beautiful Western Algarve, deserves a place in a ‘Top Ten’ list of European destinations to holiday with children of ‘a certain age’.
There aren’t many young people who don’t enjoy an activity that involves getting wet, and in Alvor there are plenty of ways to do that. The resort has lots to offer in terms of high-energy activities, and there are also opportunities for the whole family to enjoy some relaxing downtime, exploring nature or simply hanging out at the beach.
Adrenaline Rush at Aqualand
While you might want to sit out the water slides in favour of some long overdue tan time, teens will be bouncing off the walls (literally) at Aqualand. Attractions at this wet and wild water park include:
- Hydra: the park’s newest super fast, super fun slide.
- Crazy Leap: a slide with (you guessed it) a leap into a pool at the end. Yes, it’s crazy!
- Kamikaze: the highest slide in Portugal, which takes riders on a 36-metre descent from top to bottom in just four adrenaline-fuelled seconds.
- Crazy Race: a free form body surfing racetrack slide.
- Rapids: a simulated white water rafting experience in an inner tube. Not for the faint hearted.
- Banzai: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s your kids careering across the surface of the water on the fast and furious Banzai. Look away now.
You can get a bus direct from Alvor to Aqualand. The park is open for the summer season from June to September from 10am-6pm (5pm in June). Adult admission is €22.50 and children over 10 pay full price. A two-day pass is €30.50 and family tickets are available, starting at €61.50.
Reel in the Big Ones on a Fishing Trip
You can dial back the spills but keep on track with the thrills by introducing your teens to the art of deep-sea fishing. It doesn’t matter if you’re all complete beginners, because everything is supplied (including a lot of laughs) and the local experts will teach you everything you need to know – and probably a few things you don’t. It’s lots of fun and there’s a superb fresh-caught seafood grill at the end – and yes, you get to eat even if you don’t catch anything.
If fishing gets vetoed, you can just enjoy a leisure cruise taking in the sights and sun on the coastline to Lagos or Portimão for a few hours – and let somebody else take care of hunting and gathering for food!
Tip: the kids will love the incredible ancient rock formations along the Algarve coastline, which make for great selfie opportunities.
Half day fishing trips and leisure boat cruises leave from near the fish markets at the marina. There are a number of different operators from which to choose, and you should expect to pay around €30 for children and €40 for adults, as a rough guide.
The Great Outdoors
The town is located at the juncture of the ocean and the mouth of an estuarine river, which means double the fun for teens with a keen interest in nature. Organise a backpack picnic and head out on a hike into the wetlands for the best hands-on science excursion they’ve ever had. There’s an abundance of bird life and you’ll encounter plenty of other, far ‘cooler’, local animals, too, living in the salt marshes, mud flats and forested areas.
Once you’ve conquered the area on foot, it’s time to see the estuary and tidal lagoon a little more ‘up close and personal’ – on a canoe trip! You’ll paddle along, led by an experienced guide, in the wake of a traditional Portuguese fishing boat as support vessel.
Guided canoe trips run for around three hours and leave from the harbour. They are suitable for beginners and you can choose between paddling around the lagoon and a short way up the coastline, or longer trips up the River Alvor and through the wetlands. Prices start at €25 per person.
The Beautiful Beaches
Good old-fashioned beach time is always a hit with teenagers, and they’ll be spoilt for choice. As well as the main beach (where there’s a range of fun and safe watersports) the surrounding beaches are easy to get to and offer up opportunities to go surfing, or explore rock pools, caves and fascinating rock formations. The beaches in the immediate area all have their own appeal:
- Alvor Beach – great for watersports (sailing, windsurfing, pedalos, jet ski)
- Praia Dona Ana – go exploring and have a drink in a cave bar!
- Praia da Rocha – fabulous views
- Meia Praia – surf the Atlantic rollers
- Praia dos Três Irmãos – check out the rock formations
With a huge variety of teen-focused activities and a wonderful natural landscape to explore, we think Alvor deserves its place on our personal Top Ten Teen listing – and the great news is that it’s just as perfect for parents!
Top tip: If older teens want to do some safe exploring a little further afield, they can catch a local bus to nearby Albufeira, which will only take about half an hour. They’ll experience some of the countryside and get to feel like they’re locals.
How to Get to Alvor
If you’re taking your teens on a holiday to Alvor, getting there couldn’t be easier. Flights to Faro, the capital of the Algarve, take under three hours from the UK, with a number of budget carriers operating regular scheduled services, starting from as little as €39.
When you land at Faro airport, the easiest way to get the rest of the way is by airport shuttle transfer. Shuttle Direct operates Alvor airport transfers on a shared or private basis, and the picturesque journey takes around an hour.
Where to Stay:
AlvorMar Apartamentos Turisticos – Close to the beach and the river, the AlvorMar Apartamentos Turisticos allows families the space they need at a budget friendly price. Older children will enjoy the freedom of these lovely apartments, which are right in the heart of town and include a pool, garden, free Wi-Fi, bike hire, and even a billiards and games room.
Hotel Apartamento Alvor Baia – Ideal for a holiday with older children, the Hotel Apartamento Alvor Baia offers a range of suites and configurations. The kids will be impressed by massive outdoor pool, and mum and dad can soak up the luxury of the onsite spa, sauna and indoor pool. There’s free Wi-Fi in public areas, and the two plasma TVs in every suite will keep everyone happy in the evening!
Luna Alvor Village – Fresh, modern and luxurious, the Luna Alvor Village is the ultimate family accommodation in Alvor. Offering spacious, light filled family apartments, it is located very close to the nature reserve and comfortable walking distance to the beach. With two pools, free Wi-Fi, an onsite bar and restaurant and extensive gardens, every member of the family will get to relax just the way they want.
About Shuttle Direct
With the most economical and extensive range of airport, train station and port transfers in Europe and North Africa, Shuttle Direct offer a fast, friendly and convenient service. Prebook on our easy to use website and you’ll be met by a driver and transferred directly to your accommodation in the quickest possible way. With a range of private or shared transfers, Shuttle Direct can take care of your onward transport no matter what your budget.
