Heading along the Guadiana from its estuary towards the little town of Mértola (which is in the Alentjo), the Algarve reveals a more traditional and tranquil side. This is best seen in spring or autumn, when the surrounding heights are green and blooming and the heat is less intense than in summer. It is also possible to take a boat from Vila Real de Santo António à Alcoutim, between peaks covered in cistus and oak trees, dotted here and there by solitary white houses.