Please sign in to post.

Carvoeiro, Portugal - long stay in Feb/March

Posted by (Victoria BC Canada) on

My husband and I are looking for a long stay (4-5 weeks) in Carvoeiro mid-February to mid-March and rent a car. Has anyone stayed here during this time of year? We realize the weather will not be hot but that is ok - we're good with 15C/60F temps as long as it's not pouring with rain everyday. It's been a long time since we were in the Algarve (1995!) but we like the idea of spending a few weeks in southern Portugal or Spain during Feb/March. We recently came across Carvoeiro as a place to stay that seems to tick many boxes for us including feeling like we will live like a local (vs other southern Portugal/Spain towns like Marbella, Albuferia or Lagos); we want local vibes, not nightclubs/partys. We plan to golf about 3x/week and then come 'home' to a 2bed/2bath apartment (friends will join us for a week or so) that is walking distance to amenities (cafes/shopping). Please let me know if you've been to Carvoeiro, specifically:
-good area/neighbourhood to stay in Carvoeiro?
-what was the weather like in Feb/March (temps? did it rain a lot?)
-recommended golf courses?
-any other small, beach towns you would recommend we should check out instead of Carvoeiro? (we're open to southern Portugal or Spain)

Many thanks fellow RS travellers for your input...I look forward to reading your replies!
-Rebecca

Posted by
1762 posts

I’ve been to Carvoeiro a few times. We always stayed in nearby Ferragudo which I really like. It’s very much still a real town although obviously it has tourism as well. The weather is really mild all year round in the Algarve. We went in January and it was very warm for us Northern Europeans. My daughter was paddling in the sea in her sundress, although the locals were in woolies.

Carvoeiro is nice. It has more tourist related activity than Ferragudo - there are few large resorts there with apartments etc so it has souvenir shops and that kind of thing. However it’s all very low key.

There are plenty of good restaurants and supermarkets nearby including Apollonia which is upmarket and sells delicious, high quality wine and food.

Posted by
419 posts

We visited Carvoeiro for the day only, stayed in Vilamoura ( 50 km east) for 2 months over the winter.

The weather we experienced was mostly sunny, temps averaged about 15C most of the time but some evenings/mornings were chilly, a light jacket required.
It raining occasionally but not for long.
The water was frigid, rarely anyone ventured ocean swimming.

Carvoeiro has some restaurants by the beach.
The beach is relatively small, not suited for long walks, however there is a trail on the cliff top with nice ocean views if you like to walk.
Carvoeiro is also on a hill with some narrow streets making driving quite different from Canada.

Posted by
738 posts

I visited the Algarve once in March. The weather was pleasant, not hot, but not cold, perfect for hiking. There were a few people in the water, more just by the edge getting their feet and lower legs wet, but also people in heavy coats, scarves and hats. That doesn't seem unusual in Portugal though. I guess visitors think it's warm, but locals are cold. There were shops and restaurants open in Carvoeiro, but it wasn't crowded, which at least in my mind, is the perfect combination.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.