There are, in fact, many hidden gems within the Algarve. Inconspicuous and unusual places that are the region’s well kept secrets – where the mountains have held out the advances of time.

Unmissable, a must see, these secret places are the treasures of a region that has much to be discovered, even for the Algarve’s inhabitants.

And is there a better way to live the Algarve way of life than to get to know it beyond the obvious and let it into your heart?

Let yourself be carried away to another world, in a reality where time moves forward, away from clock time, and where the water moves in a free fall, and offers to be the Mistress of your thoughts.

Mission

We, at “Cascatas Transfers” have as our mission, to ensure that your trip until you get to your destination, is peaceful and safe, so that your only worry is to sit back and enjoy the journey.

---

Algarve’s waterfalls

It’s not just golden sand beaches and the warm water to attract you to the Algarve, in fact, hidden far from the most unsuspecting tourists, we find the Algarve’s waterfalls.

The beautiful “Pego do Inferno” is placed in Santo Estêvão’s parisiense, about 7 miles far from Tavira, and is one of the most beautiful landscapes the Algarve has, however it’s a totally different touristic image of the Algarve’s golden coast, being a dense wooded naturally rich area.

“Pego do Inferno” is the Asseca’s riverside waterfall, one of the most important water courses of the Tavira Region.

Recently this wonderful surrounding landscape was redesigned, delineating a pleasant route, that has enriched even more the whole landscape.

In fact, this route’s highlight, is the beautiful “Miradouro do Pego“, where you can admire the great water’s falling beauty that delights anyone who stares at it, and offers refreshing dives in summer time.

The waterfall leads to a round Mediterranean green lagoon, surrounded by a refreshing forest area.

The access to “Pego do Inferno” is made on foot from the car park along a path that leads to a wooden stairway, and thereafter the 400 metre route goes all the way down to where Pego begins.

Pego do Inferno’s legend

It is told that many years ago, a horse cart crashed down in Pego, and all the passengers fell down into the lagoon. The passengers’ bodies and the animals’ bodies, that pulled the cart, were never found, and the divers could not find the lagoon’s bottom, and so this place was called – ”Pego do Inferno”.

This waterfall, one of the most curious in Portugal, not only is it not very high at about 3 meters, it feeds an olive-green colour lagoon. It is warm and an inviting colour, due to its waters depth, land colours, and the surrounding flora.

About this waterfall and its lagoon, many legends and stories are told, that greatly increase the lagoon’s depth, which after measurements, was certified to be approximately 7 meters.

Today, the lagoon and Pego do Inferno’s waterfall, are again open to public, after it suffered a large fire in 2012.

Monchique

At 902 metres high we stand in the Algarve’s highest spot. From this spot we can see the Algarve’s West that spreads towards the sea with its characteristic humidity.

It is in this context that this mountain range of volcanic origin becomes the “Serra D’Agua , not only by its famous spas in Caldas de Monchique, where the medicinal water springs reach high temperatures (nearly 32 degrees), but also, because in winter time the mountain’s face displays its liquid beauty shape.

Barbelote’s waterfall is the first of three Monchique jewels, that we are invited to explore. Amongst the lush winter vegetation of Monchique, along a road that leads from the national road 266-2, the water fall is revealed – where the foam’s whiteness overlaps the rock’s grey background dotted with that unique green Monchique has, that leads people to call this mountain “Algarve’s Sintra”.

Penedo do Buraco’s waterfall, that we can find along the road that connects Monchique Casais and Marmelete, heading off on the right towards Marmelete –Chilrão, before reaching Gralhos’ place.

Enjoy the rare landscape offered by these three unique places, eat the best food that the Region has to offer along a few stops, we’re talking about sausages (enchidos), good mountain cuisine and the invaluable strawberry of Monchique. The trip is much more than a simple suggestion, and it is a “must do” during winter time.