Located at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, Salema is considered as Land’s End of Europe. The setting seems so, with vertical cliffs rising hundreds of feet from the ocean to a dry flatland. The town was considered as such before the Age of Discovery, led by Christopher Columbus’ historic voyage to the Far East. Followed by Prince Henry the Navigator, a school for maritime voyage was set up in the village of Sagres to prepare sailors for their voyages far into the unknown.

Salema is the town center of Land’s End. The town seems to have been able to keep time at a standstill. The landscape is a plethora of rolling hills, steep cliffs, wooded valleys, secluded beaches and quaint fishing villages make up this historic town rich in maritime history. Located to the east of Salema are the ports of Portimao and Lagos and located to the north are the thick cork forests of the Monchique mountain range. The Atlantic Ocean is located to the south while to the west is the Cape of St Vincent.

Salema is a simple fishing village located within the Natural Park of Costa Vincentina. It is nearly a hundred kilometers from Faro and is located between Lagos and Sagres. Salema has a small sandy beach where fishermen still tend their nets and prepare their octopus pots framed by ochre cliffs. The water erosion over the millennia has shown many fossils of dinosaurs in the far cliffs. On the main beach is a ramp that leads to the beach where fishermen drag up their boats to show the day’s catch of sardines, mackerel, sea bass, bream and octopus. The narrow streets of the village are steep with narrow lanes framed by white cottages. At the town’s main square is available fresh bread and the market always has fresh fruit and vegetables, together with the fresh catch of the day.

The town exudes peace and tranquility as the days pass slowly and the ready smiles of the local townsfolk. The climate is warm and breezy allowing for one to be invigorated as one spends the days reclined under the sun in Salema. There are no large hotels in Salema and the best accommodations are right in the homes of friendly locals. There are villas and apartments you can let in Salema but the true experience is renting one of the “Quartos” available about the town. Food places are also laid back in Salema, as the good restaurants feature the best of the local cuisine. These include Algarvean dishes like the Cataplana, Grilled Sardines and the popular Chicken Piri Piri. The nightlife in Salema is also much quieter compared to the raucous nightlife of its more popular neighboring locales.

What Salema offers though is a whole host of activities to fill your holiday with fun and excitement. The village itself is picture postcard perfect. The village has also retained its fishing traditions where you can enjoy the boats launch every break of dawn into the Atlantic Ocean to catch the day’s bounty from the sea. While waiting for the return of the boats, you can lounge around the gentle sloping beach that is far from the tourist path. Its cuisine is also a feast for the palate served on terraces that is a feast for the senses. If you want five star services, then you can check into the Parque de Floresta with its spa and pools, tennis courts and 18-hole golf course. 

If you want to escape the tranquility and have a high adrenaline adventure, then you can take a twenty-minute drive from Salema to the best surf beaches found in the Algarve. The wind comes from off shore and many large rollers lap unto the beach from the Atlantic Ocean. You can also go kite surfing or windsurfing as the thermal sea breezes make the beaches of Salema perfect for this activity. If you want a water adventure that is a little off the beach, you can canoe up the River Alvor until you reach the Baragem Lake and go down the Rio Arade. You can also explore the ocean deep in and around Salema, as there are famed dive spots and snorkeling areas where one can enjoy underwater fauna such as octopus, moray eels, crayfish and congers. There are also many reefs, canyons, caves and wrecks with a sunken French Man of War as the best dive spot for both novice and experienced divers.

You can choose a different adventure altogether by renting a boat to explore the Western Algarve from the sea. At certain days of the year, you can enjoy dolphin watching as these magnificent mammals have formed a special bond with the local people. There are many stories from the townsfolk of these brave sea animals assisting fisher folk during their times of distress. Or you can just spend the day in the open sea sailing in and around the ocean. You can also pick up a fishing rod and tackle and opt for fishing in the high seas.

If you don’t have sea legs, then there are many other activities you can enjoy in and around Salema. There are many golf courses within easy reach of the town, namely Boavista, Palmares, Alto and Penina. You can just enjoy Salema in its natural beauty with the many trails and paths in and around the Natural Park that nestles the Monchique range. You can walk to Sagres or to Lagos and on the way you can enjoy many ancient shrines and secluded beaches. If you want to get around on wheels and muscle power, then mountain biking is the activity for you. This works best to enjoy the Costa Vincentina Natural Park with its many easy level bike paths to more challenging cliff climbs for enthusiasts of all ages. If you want a more rugged experience, then you can go to the many riding centers in and around the area for horseback tours of the natural park. There are also jeep safaris for hinterland trips to lost valleys and remote forests, places that can only be reached by the four-wheel drive kind of vehicle.

All in all, Salema is Land’s End for Europe but is the starting point to a holiday of rest and recreation. It has all that a tourist can enjoy so when you plan your vacation, make sure Salema is the starting point of your holiday.