Villa Salimao I is located just 500m from the fantastic Praia do Martinhal beach and 600m from the wonderful restaurants and bars of Sagres. Sagres has many cafes, bars and restaurants as well as surfboard rentals, bicycle rentals, a colourful market, supermarket, bakery and other shops. There is a busy nightlife and fantastic cuisine, particularly fresh fish, at the restaurants.
Aside from Praia do Martinhal, some of the other glorious beaches are Praia da Mareta, with its long stretch of golden sand and fabulous bars and restaurants, Praia da Baleeira, which is much smaller and more sheltered, and Praia do Tonel which faces west, right into the prevailing wind so is extremely popular with brave surfers. The relentless, powerful Atlantic waves draw surfers to Sagres. Slightly north-west is Praia do Beliche, another popular surfing spot. There are many surf schools in Sagres for lessons and equipment hire.
The most western point of mainland Europe is Cabo Sao Vicente, around 4 miles from Sagres. The lighthouse sits atop the 250-foot cliffs, the beam from which can be seen 35 miles out to sea. The area is very barren with the constant winds - no wonder it was once believed to be the end of the world. It is the starting point for two long-distance hikes, the Via Algarviana GR13 route east and the Rota Vicentina which heads north for 280 miles. For a challenging one day hike, there is a circular route from Praia do Beliche to Cabo de Sa Vicente, past Telheiro Beach and through the hamlet of Santo Antonio and back to Beliche. It is approximately 6km.
The Sagres Fort sits on the top of the headland to the south of Praia da Mareta. It dates back to the 15th century and was built to deter pirate attacks from North Africa. There is a pleasant cliffside walk inside the fort as well as a lighthouse, grotto and a large wind compass.
Sagres is definitely a region for the adventurous. The dramatic landscapes are dominated by the power of nature with raging powerful seas carving into the immense cliffs. Surfers challenge the turbulent seas, hikers follow the cliffside trails with stunning views and cyclists enjoy the deserted roads. You can also enjoy deep sea fishing trips from the harbour. Others will just bask in the strong Portuguese sun after finding a sheltered, pristine beach.