Our 5-Days Off-Season campervan trip through the Algarve

Traveling the Algarve, Portugal by campervan had been on our list for a long time, and doing it off-season turned out to be the best decision ever. For five days and four nights, we and our little dog Chilly explored the south and southwest coast of Portugal in a VW California Ocean thanks to Siesta Campers - celebrating New Year’s Eve and Joyce’s birthday along the way.

Less crowds, still great weather, and that slow, flexible campervan rhythm made this Algarve road trip feel relaxed and personal from start to finish. Helping us to recap our eventful last year. 

Day 1 - Faro, Falésia & sleeping under the stars

We started our trip in Faro, where we picked up our van from Siesta Campers.

Our VW California had only 26,000 km on it and was perfectly set up for winter travel: indoor kitchen, fridge, auxiliary heater, and an electric pop-up roof. Compact, comfortable, and easy to drive - ideal for our little road trip plan.

Our first stop was Praia da Falésia. This beach is long, open, and dramatic.

We’d recommend walking both along the beach and up on the cliffs to really see the different layers and colors of the sand. Even in winter, it’s impressive and peaceful.

Later that day, we continued to Arco de Albandeira, where we ended the evening under a sky full of stars. We parked at the nearby lot, cooked dinner in the van, and took some night photos of the rock arch. Sleeping there, with almost no one around, felt special - one of those classic campervan moments.

Day 2 - coastal walks & Algarve highlights

We woke up early for sunrise at Arco de Albandeira, and the soft light made the cliffs and arch even more beautiful. Definitely worth setting an alarm for.

Next, we parked near Algar de Benagil and did the coastal hike toward Praia da Marinha. The walk is about 4 km and follows the cliffs with constant ocean views. Even if you don’t go into the Benagil cave itself, this hike is one of the best ways to experience the coastline.

After that, we stopped at Algar Seco - a small but fun place for photos. If you’re traveling with a drone, this is a great spot thanks to the rock formations and clear water.

We drove through Carvoeiro before heading to Praia dos Três Irmãos, where we parked near the restaurant Namibe (closed at the time). Just after the main parking area, there’s a smaller lot - we ended up having it completely to ourselves, with a direct view of the beach and a beautiful sunset walk.

Day 3 - Lagos coast & Atlantic side

Waking up at Praia dos Três Irmãos with sunrise was a highlight.The tide was high, so we couldn’t access all parts of the beach again, but climbing up the cliffs gave us a new perspective. This beach is especially nice for photography - lots of interesting shapes, reflections, and light depending on the time of day.

Next stop was Lagos.

Since Praia do Pinhão was closed, we made a short photo stop at Ponte do Antigo and then visited Praia da Dona Ana, Praia do Camilo, and Ponta da Piedade. Even though these are some of the most popular Algarve spots, visiting them off-season made everything feel much calmer.

In the afternoon, we drove toward the Atlantic coast and stayed at Praia da Cordoama.

The atmosphere changed immediately - fewer people, stronger waves, and a slower pace. You could really feel that the busy southern Algarve was behind us.

Day 4 - Joyce’s birthday & quiet beaches

We woke up at Praia da Cordoama on Joyce’s birthday, starting the day with a calm beach walk with Chilly. As the morning went on, the parking lot slowly filled with surfers - this is a very popular surf spot, even in winter, and the water temperature is no joke. So a big shout-out to all the surfers we saw this morning. :D

Wanting a quieter day, we explored the surrounding area and checked out Praia dos Mouranitos and Praia da Barriga.

We decided to stay the night at Praia da Barriga - a beach with a black rock that adds a raw, almost volcanic feel to the beach, where we were completely alone. Most people were probably celebrating New Year’s Eve elsewhere, while we enjoyed a relaxed birthday dinner in the van and toasted Joyce one more time.

Day 5 - New Year’s Day & heading back

We woke up to New Year’s Day at Praia da Barriga - having to admit that we had fallen asleep before midnight, but waking up to the ocean definitely made up for it.

After taking a few last photos, we packed up and drove back toward Faro.

We fueled up and cleaned the campervan before returning it, for a very smooth and uncomplicated drop-off with Siesta Campers.

Final thoughts on campervanning the Algarve Off-Season

Doing a campervan trip through the Algarve in winter was exactly what we needed.

The weather was still great, the places were less crowded, and traveling with a campervan gave us full flexibility - especially important when traveling with a dog.

Thanks to Siesta Campers for the collaboration and for giving us the chance to experience the Algarve outside the usual high season. We’d choose off-season campervan travel in Portugal again anytime.