The Canadian retiree Greg McCaughey visited Tavira and the Sotavento algarvio during the winter of 2017, at a time when he was spending a season in Marbella, Spain. McCaughey is the author of the blog "Yikes! I'm Retired Now What", dedicated to life after retirement, and decided to explore this area of the Algarve after reading about it. The visit came after he and a friend became interested in the region.
McCaughey described Tavira as a typical and charming Portuguese town that deserves to be visited. One of the first differences he identified in relation to the western Algarve was the flatter landscape, a characteristic that repeated itself throughout the surrounding area. The Canadian retiree was staying in the outskirts of the city and, although he admits he did not take many photos, he keeps positive memories of his time in the city.
However, it was the beaches of the region that most impressed the visitor. McCaughey described the extensive sandy stretches as long, wide and flat, emphasizing that "they stretch out for what seems like an eternity". This particularity is related to the configuration of the Ria Formosa, where the sandy barrier systems develop parallel to the mainland. Turismo de Portugal considers Praia da Ilha de Tavira one of the best in southern Europe, highlighting its extensive sandy beach, calm sea and water temperatures between 20 and 23 degrees in summer.
The access to the beaches also surprised the Canadian. To reach Praia da Ilha de Tavira, it is necessary to cross by boat through the lagoon, as the beach is located on a barrier island. After Tavira, McCaughey headed to Olhão, which he described as a charming fishing town, and admitted he would consider the area for a future winter stay in the Algarve. The interest in the region arose after reading in the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail that the Sotavento was relatively unused by Canadian snowbirds and presented a different atmosphere from the western area.
