Each of the two apartments, North and South, has two bedrooms (one double, one twin bedded), bathroom, kitchenette and lounge/dining area. Glazed doors lead on to a large, wide patio, with table & chairs for 'eating out' and loungers for soaking up the sunshine, and the patio overlooks the beautiful swimming pool and has a fine view of the ocean, 800 metres away (west facing for a glorious view of the sunset). The apartments were new in April 2012, and have been built with extraordinary care and attention to detail. With underfloor heating and cooling, wardrobe lights and electric blinds, and with very tasteful and stylish decor and excellent quality linen and kitchen utensils, there is a degree of luxury here that is rare in tourist accommodation. Together with the pool and the beach, a fine holiday is guaranteed. The apartments are ideal for a family of 4, but the soundproofed, insulated dividing wall can be unlocked and opened up to provide spacious accommodation for up to 8 people.
Beaches: Afife has three beaches of its own, and is part of the 100km stretch of safe, clean beaches of the Costa Verde - surf beaches, sandy, rocky, wide, discreet, family, romantic beaches - you can go to a different one each day to suit your mood. There are also warm, sheltered river beaches on the Rivers Lima and Minho, both within 15km. You can explore a different beach according to your whim each morning. Even on the most popular beaches, there’s still room for everyone, even in the height of the Summer; and there are many sandy, sheltered beaches that are relatively quiet. The summer temperatures (up to 35ºC) may be scorching, but there’s usually a bit of a breeze too, to take the edge off the heat – but this also means the sea is never as warm as you’d find in the Algarve or the Mediterranean, just less crowded.
Golf: Axis at Ponte de Lima (50km), with its scenery of mountains and vineyards, is a course typical of the Minho region. Par 71, 6005m, including Portugal's longest hole at 622m (par 5). Estela (50km), built on a 3km stretch of sand dunes on the beautiful Costa Verde, this is one of the Portuguese golf links that secured a high reputation for itself when it hosted two events in the European Professionals' Circuit. Par 72, 6129m. Quinta da Barca golf resort (40km), an excellent 9-hole course with stunning views over the Cavado River. Par 31, 2012m.
The Minho Region: Minho is Portugal’s second most popular holiday region. Unlike the Algarve, there are no Fish ’n’ Chip shops, no amusement arcades or theme parks. It’s all rather more discreet, more natural. The area is bounded by the Costa Verde in the west (100km stretch of wide, sandy, clean and safe beaches), the wilderness of the Peneda-Gerês National Park in the east, the Spanish border to the north and the Douro Valley, home to the World Heritage Port Wine growing area to the south. Some come here to tour around, seeing the historic sites, the small market towns, the rugged landscapes and the quiet empty beaches, and Afife is in a great location for that. Others come to relax in a quiet rural setting, or lose themselves in a terrain that is still largely unaffected by modern European development, amongst people who still live a simple life. Afife is a lively spot, and visitors are really welcomed and made to feel a part of the village. There’s a thriving regional folklore tradition, and fantastic cuisine (with loads of restaurants to go with it). Then there's the wine....
