Just 3 km from Vila Real de Santo António, this former fishing village, nestled between a vast pine forest and the sea was a pioneer in the Algarve's tourist exploration, with the construction of one of the region's first hotels in the 60's (Hotel Vasco da Gama) and therefore was for several decades a destination of choice for the Portuguese aristocracy and famous (eg Ingrid Bergman). After the Carnation Revolution of 1974 it became a favorite summer destination for the Portuguese middle class.

With an extensive and beautiful beach, a mild climate and several pedestrian zones, in Portuguese sidewalk, Monte Gordo is one of the main tourist destinations of the Algarve. The fact that it is located in a bay makes the sea relatively calm and one of the safest beaches for children in the Algarve. The average air temperature ranges from a low of 11 ° C in January to a high of 26 ° C in August, while the average sea temperature ranges from a low of 16 ° C in February to a high of 22 ° C between July and September, making this the maritime beach with the warmest sea in mainland Portugal.

Monte Gordo also offers other leisure activities, such as the casino, and a large number of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the Algarve's gastronomic cuisine, rich in fish and local seafood.

Of note is the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows on the second Sunday of September, accompanied by meticulously adorned fishermen's boats all along the bay. Just like the extravagant fireworks in the New Year and the Carnival parade.