The picturesque village of Ferragudo lies on the banks of the Arade river towards the west of the Algarve. It has preserved its original character, with rows of houses cascading down to the river, crowned by the outline of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao high on the hill. It is an ideal holiday venue all year round and the Vila Castelo resort sits on the south side of the village enjoying a beach front location.

The centre of the village is a short five minute stroll through winding cobbled streets leading to the square and waterfront which hosts many restaurants and cafes. The restaurants and huge beaches of Praia de Rocha and the Marina of Portimao are also accessible by water taxi.

The local beach of "Praia Grande" is just two minutes walk away and this beach has several bars and restaurants and a water sports centre.  There are so many activities within easy reach such as golfing or tennis, walking or jet-ski, deep sea fishing or normal fishing and sailing or sea excursions. Or you can just lounge around with a cool drink and watch the various boats and yachts go by.

Restaurants, cafes, shops, pharmacy, bank and post office are all in this area. The beach is directly in front of Vila Castelo,and leads on to a second much larger beach which has a number of beach bar/restaurants and water sports club. Within a short 10 minute drive you will also find a number of other secluded beaches and other facilities. For a fun day out, the Slide & Splash water slide park is very near and the town of Portimao and the resorts of Praia da Rocha and Carvoeiro provide more lively facilities.

Your apartment is located in the prestigious resort of Vila Castelo. Vila Castelo has built an excellent reputation for providing luxury accommodation within its well managed beach front development. The pool bar provides for poolside drinks as well as light lunches and breakfast.

For golfers that wish to stay near to courses but have a life outside of golf, Vila Castelo provides the answer. It is situated just 5 mins drive from the Pestana Golf at Carvoeiro and just 10 minutes from the famous Penina course. A top class tennis centre is also only ten minutes away.

Other Local activities include cycling, diving, fishing, horse riding, mountain biking, sailing, swimming, walking and water skiing.

Two recommendations for sightseeing are Monchique and Silves. Monchique is in the mountains 900 ft above sea level to the north of Ferragudo and is somewhat untouched by the tourism invasion. One of the interesting tours is the 17th century Franciscan monastery overlooking the town where visitors can experience fantastic panoramic views of the countryside. Silves, occupied by the Moors in the 11th century was later known as the Kingdom of the Algarve. Why not take a look at Silves Castle then relax in one of the many nearby cafes with a glass of wine and a Morgados cake (made with pumpkin), a speciality of the town.

There are two water splash parks in the area, Slide and Splash (10 mins) and Aqualand (25 mins). Zoomarine, where you can witness shows involving dolphins, tropical birds, birds of prey, seals and sea lions, is approx 25 mins away. You can also swim with dolphins here. There is also a zoo at Algoz, some 30 mins drive. There are several boat tours on offer, mainly from the quayside at Portimao, taking you to various locations around the coastline (also the caves) and up the Arade River. There are dolphin watch tours, champagne cruises, deep sea fishing cruises, full day sailing cruises, jeep safaris, something for all. Inexpensive sightseeing flights around the Algarve are available in a light plane with up to 3 passengers, (British piloted).

Note : For any assistance on the various activities mentioned, the reception staff at Vila Castelo are most helpful and you can also contact the owner who lives on the resort.