Guia is a small town in the central Algarve but don’t let the size of the town put you of because there are lots of things to do in Guia when you know where to look!
Guia is famous throughout Portugal for being the home of chicken piri-piri, made even more famous around the world by the Nando’s food chain. If you are looking to experience the original, and some say the very best, of chicken piri-piri then you have to stop of in Guia while you are in the Algarve.
Guia is a little inland from the coast, although you can see the sea from here, but this means that you can experience the lush greens of the rural Algarve without having to go off the beaten track. The land around Guia is actually fantastic for grape growing and if you are looking for things to do in Guia then why not stop off at the Adega do Cantor Winery, which is partly owned by Sir Cliff Richard who is known for making impromptu appearances at the winery, especially during August!
Guia is the home of one of the first shopping centres in the Algarve, aptly named Algarve Shopping. Within this recently modernised shopping centre you will find top European brands as well as a food court area, large supermarket and a multiplex cinema that shows films in English with Portuguese subtitles.
Guia is home to one of the most popular attractions in the Algarve – the Zoomarine park, home to the Zoomarine dolphins and a place where you have the chance to swim with dolphins in the Algarve. Also just a little further along the road you have the Fiesa sand sculpture park, another great choice for a family day out.
There are lots of things to do in Guia and thanks to it being located on the EN125 road, it is easy to find from whichever end of the Algarve you may be travelling from.
The Zoomarine shows with the dolphins, sea lions and birds are great for all ages and are entertaining enough to hold the attention of even small children but away from the marine life there are also many other areas of Zoomarine to explore.
The mini theme park with a little pirate ship, rollercoaster and big wheel will appeal to slightly older children while the water park with slides and artificial beach area are suitable for the entire family to have some fun in between the shows.
The importance of conservation is also highlighted at Zoomarine with the park actively working as a rescue centre and to educate children about marine wildlife which can be explored in the park with the help of the multilingual and very friendly team.
A trip to Zoomarine is a must for anyone in the Algarve, if you are travelling by car then it is a good idea to get there for when the park opens to make sure you don’t have to park too far away and it is possible to spend the entire day at the Zoomarine park with different entertainment to enjoy all day.
