Location
Eastern Algarve and Ria Formosa
Sotavento
Casa Utspan is located on a little hill with other houses nearby, just outside of Moncarapacho in the Eastern Algarve, or Sotavento Algarvio, a region known for its charming towns and beautiful beaches on the islands of Ria Formosa.
Moncarapacho itself is a quiet village with some stores and a few restaurants, offering a glimpse of everyday Algarve life.
All within a short drive, you can visit Tavira, known for its historic architecture, Olhão with its vibrant market and fishing heritage, and Fuzeta, a small fishing village with easy access to the islands of Ria Formosa.
Faro airport is only a 20-minute drive away.
Beaches
Ria Formosa
Unlike the Western Algarve, with its dramatic cliffs and rock formations, the Eastern Algarve offers longer sand beaches, accessible by boat or a walk across the lagoon. The Ria Formosa is a protected coastal lagoon that stretches for 60 kilometers, creating a network of barrier islands, marshes, and tidal flats. These islands offer beautiful beaches, with ferries and aqua taxis providing access from nearby towns like Olhão and Fuzeta.
The calm waters of Ria Formosa are ideal for swimming, kayaking, or simply enjoying the natural beauty on a walk or a boat tour, where you can observe the diverse marine life that thrives in the lagoon.
We've known this area for over 30 years, and while it's no longer the unspoiled place it once was, it has become much more popular in the past decade, it still offers peaceful spots and plenty of natural beauty.
