The village of Odeceixe
The Village
Inserted in the Natural Park of the Southwest of Alentejo and Costa Vicentina, Odeceixe is the first village to be found when entering the Algarve. When separating the Alentejo from the Algarve we have the Ribeira Seixe, which, with the junction of the prefix Ode of Arab origin that means river, gave rise to its name: Odeceixe.
Odeceixe is a small village where natural beauty is its main characteristic. From the summit of its mountains it is possible to dazzle the wonderful landscape that surrounds it. The sky, the mountains, the river and the sea make of Odeceixe a unique place with an incomparable magic, great for those who seek peace and tranquillity. It is the perfect place for those who want to rest and offers you the possibility of experiencing the most beautiful and genuine experiences.
Here you will also find one of the most famous routes of European hikers, which allows you to make wonderful walks that you will not want to miss: the Vincentina Route. This route also gives you the possibility to choose what type of landscape you prefer because it is composed of two tracks: "The Historic Path" that covers more inland areas of forest and, "The Fisherman's Trail" composed of paths that always follow the sea.
The Beach
Located just 3km from the centre of the village, Odeceixe beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region and in 2012 was classified as one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal Beaches. Surrounded by Ribeira Seixe, the beach of Odeceixe brings a unique beauty. Its extensive sand, the river with its crystal clear water, the climate and all its surroundings give it the perfect conditions to enjoy the best of an unforgettable holiday. Its excellence in environmental quality gives it the blue flag and gold flag awards. It is guarded by rescuing swimmers throughout the bathing season, has a ramp for access to the beach and stairs, public toilet and also a medical post during the periods of greater tourist influx.
If you also like a bit more adrenaline, the waves are perfect for all levels of surfing and bodyboarding and for those who have never tried or want to improve their skills, it will be a perfect opportunity to dare on an adventure with Surf Seixe Academy.
The Gastronomy
The hotels and restaurants are the main economic activities carried out here, but it is certain that many still live in activities of the primary sector, such as agriculture and fishing every day bring to the table the best delicacies. Fresh fish, Seafood and Octopus make the delights of all those who like to enjoy the best that the sea of our coast offers.
The famous wild boar, the black pork, or the homemade beef and rooster make the dishes of meat true delights of heaven accompanied by a beautiful Alentejo red wine. .
The sweet potato from Aljezur is the tuber of excellence of the region. This usually accompanies the most diverse dishes and the most usual and that you can find in the most varied restaurants is the Sweet Potato with Octopus. This is one of the specialties you should not miss.
As an aperitif, you will find it easy to find the most varied snacks such as roasted sausage (chorizo) for example, or to stay for the good of the fresh beer accompanied by peanuts, here better known as “Alcagoitas”.
Finally, you can choose a dessert of sweet potatoes, carob or fig, to accompany with a digestive of enormous quality and also typical of this region, the Medronho.