Caribe Libre, by Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve

Bravura Reservoir Viewpoint

A blue green reservoir folded into the hills north of Lagos, with dam-top views, quiet trails and not a beach bar in sight. Twenty minutes from the coast, the Bravura dam holds a lake that winds between eucalyptus and cork slopes, and almost nobody makes the detour. Cross the dam wall for the classic view down the valley, then pick up the dirt tracks along the shore for an hour of walking with only goat bells for company. Water levels swing with the rains, so the shoreline can look dramatic in dry years. There is no café and no lifeguard, which is precisely why it stays calm. Drive up via Odiáxere, take a picnic, and save the viewpoint by the dam gates for golden hour.