If you are in Portugal, Algarve is one of the regions that you definitely should visit. And this will not be a problem, because various Erasmus organizations are organising weekend trips there. After a weekend of partying, there is time for a return home. And on the way home, there is one last thing that you will visit, which can easily be called the highlight of the trip. Those are the cliffs of Sagres(named like a portuguese brand of beer, but as an Erasmus in Portugal you probably know that), situated at the cape of St. Vincent.
Why is this place so special? If you are in Lisbon, you have probably already visited the most western part of Portugal – Cabo da Roca. If you will go to the cliffs of Sagres, you will visit the most southwesternpoint of Portugal. If you look on the map of Portugal, cliffs of Sagres are impossible to miss – the peak on the southwest of Portugal.
When you are driving there, you will start seeing cliffs a few kilometers before the actual most southwestern part, and they all look amazing. We went there by bus, and the bus driver was so kind that he was driving really slow so we were able to admire the awesome landscape. When driving there, you will think that the first cliffs you will see, are so great, and you will just want to stop, get out of the vehicle and start taking pictures. But believe me, those cliffs are nothing, compared to the ones at the edge.
The first thing that we noticed when we exited the bus, was, how windy it is there. Even if it was September and we were of course wearing summer clothes, the wind was so strong, that if you dressed the pullover, the temperature was just right. And the wind was so strong and loud from time to time, that we had to scream to communicate between each other. The next thing that we noticed is, that there was not many people, even if it was Sunday. There was only our two buses and a couple of other cars. People were mostly walking around and taking the Titanic – style pictures just a few steps away from the edge of the cliff.
Next to the parking space, there is a fortress with a lighthouse. The first thing that you will notice when you will go there, is a giant chair, great for taking group pictures. If you sit on it, it looks like that you shrinked.
If you continue walking, you will come to a wall, and behind it, there is a fantastic viewof the rough sea, crashing into the cliffs. This is a great spot for taking pictures. If you have a good camera, take this opportunity, because you are guaranteed to get some cool shots there. On the right side of this wall, there is a door, which allows you to access the very top of the cliff. The view is just getting better and better.
At this point, I would warn you that you need to have good shoes to go there. Definitely do not go there in flip flops, because the terrain is full of rocks that are slipping below your shoes when you walk.
When you will be admiring the view, you will also notice a lot of seagulls, floating above the rough sea and looking for food. They are very noisy, louder than the waves are.
If you would like to go to the Sagres cliffs by yourself, renting a car is the only options, because there are no means of public transport that drive close to this point. If you need to plan your time in advance, I have to say that one hour is more than enough to see the cliffs and take lots of pictures. In fact, when we were there, we also ha dan hour of free time, and after we took pictures of everything possible, we had more than enough time to have a snack. Yes, this is a great place to have a quick meal before the return home, but if you want it, you have to bring your food with you, because this place is a bit out of civilisation, and therefore there are no shops there. There is not even a souvenir shop, but on the other hand, the great photos you will take there, are better than any other souvenir.
