Cork Secrets: Loulé Market & São Brás
Highlights
- ✓Loulé market (bread, pastries, honey, liqueurs, fish)
- ✓São Brás de Alportel, the Algarve cork capital
- ✓Story of cork extraction and processing
- ✓Costume Museum (Casa-Museu do Traje)
- ✓Free pick-up in Albufeira
About this activity
From the bustling Loulé market to the cork capital, São Brás de Alportel — scents, flavours and the story of the cork that gave work to many families and wealth to the region.
From the meeting point we head to the bustling Loulé market. We smell the scents and discover the local products — bread, cakes, jams, honey, nuts, liqueurs, fish and much more. Next, we visit the Algarve's cork capital: São Brás de Alportel.
This is where it all began — the extraction and processing of cork, which gave work to many families and whose export generated wealth for the region. Enough of it that the Costume Museum is the house a cork industrialist had built in the 19th century, and that the banker whose banking house went on to become the Banco do Algarve came from here. Then there is time for lunch (not included) before we visit a cork factory.
Itinerary
- 1Pick-up at your accommodation (Albufeira area)
- 2Loulé market — scents, flavours and local products
- 3São Brás de Alportel, the cork capital
- 4Costume Museum and the story of cork
- 5Visit to a cork factory and return
What's included
- ✓Transport to and from Albufeira in an air-conditioned minivan, up to 8 people
- ✓An experienced driver/guide, in Portuguese and English
- ✓Free pick-up and drop-off in Albufeira
- ✓Age-appropriate child seats, free of charge
- ✓Insurance for everyone on the tour
- ✓Loulé market, with time to smell, taste and buy
- ✓Entry to the Costume Museum in São Brás de Alportel
- ✓Entry to the cork factory
Important information
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
This deadline is the operator’s and applies to bookings made online. If you book with us on request, our own booking conditions apply. Booking conditions for direct requests.
More information
The tour runs in an air-conditioned minivan, up to 8 people, with a driver-guide who speaks Portuguese and English; another language can be requested when booking, subject to availability. A minimum of 4 participants is needed: if it is not reached, Zebra may reschedule or offer another experience available that day. Children need an identification document so their age can be confirmed — we bring the age-appropriate child seat, free of charge.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What languages is the activity in?
The crew or guide speak Portuguese and English.
Are lunch and the entrance fees included?
The entrance fees are: the Costume Museum and the cork factory are part of the tour. Lunch is not — there is free time in São Brás de Alportel to eat wherever you like, and the cake and coffee tasting is also on you.
Where do you pick us up?
Pick-up and drop-off are at agreed points in the Albufeira, Armação de Pêra, Porches, Vilamoura and Quarteira areas. In Albufeira there is no charge; outside Albufeira there is a €5 supplement per pick-up. The exact spot and time are confirmed with your booking — if you need somewhere else, tell us before booking and we will see what can be done.
Do children need to bring ID?
They do. Their age has to be confirmed at the start, because Portuguese law requires a car seat suited to the age and size of the child — and the car seat, like the highchair, is provided free of charge. A national ID card or a passport is enough.
Will we be sharing the van with other people?
You will. The tour runs in an air-conditioned minivan for up to eight people, with a driver-guide who speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish — a small group, not a coach, and every passenger is insured. If you would rather have the van just for your own group, there is a private version: tell us and we will arrange it.
Is there a minimum number of people?
There is, which is why the departure is confirmed with you. If the minimum is not reached on a given day, we reschedule it or offer another experience available that day — what you paid is not lost.
Will we be walking a lot?
There is always a part on foot — a market, an old town, a winery, a viewpoint — at a strolling pace, with time to stop and take photos. Expect uneven cobbles, some uphill and steps at several stops. If anyone in your group finds walking difficult, tell us before booking: some stops can be shortened and others cannot.
From €81