turtle

WE watched from our balcony as the sunset bled into the sky, transforming its blue hues into a vibrant shade of pink.

We weren’t expecting a visitor, but a sudden arrival only made this serene moment more magical.

From the trees above, a fuzzy owl had swooped down, perching on the edge of our balcony just feet away from where we lay. He seemed to be enjoying the views as much as we were.

We weren’t shocked by his arrival — after all, this was just one of many incredible wildlife interactions my partner and I had here on Portugal’s south coast.

As well as spotting dragonflies and lizards roaming between the hotel’s ten swimming pools, we stumbled upon dozens of turtles sheltering in the shady streams while walking down to the beach one day.

The wildlife is certainly a highlight of a visit to the Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, in Portugal’s Algarve.

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But it’s not the main reason holidaymakers head here. The sprawling resort is famous for its 18-hole golf course, one of the most challenging in the country as well as one of the most scenic, sandwiched between a beach and a nature reserve.

We were not here to practise our putting, though. Instead, R&R was at the top of our agenda.

With a state-of-the-art gym, huge spa hub and a health foods cafe which specialises in zero waste food, we couldn’t have picked a more appropriate place for our weekend of wellness.

Better still, at this time of year, flights start at just £42 and the journey only takes two-and-a-half hours.

We’d opted for a garden view room which overlooked the pool and an abundance of tropical greenery.

The suites here, which start at a bargain £116 per night, come decked out with a proper kitchen, including fridge and a washing machine.

There’s also a modern living area and large balcony complete with padded armchairs for soaking up the last of the afternoon rays with a glass of fizz.

With such extensive cooking facilities, you needn’t spend a penny on meals out if you don’t want to. But, with our focus on relaxation, the hotel’s buffet restaurant, In Season, became our go-to.

Ripe goodies

Daily breakfasts here were an exciting affair, with a fresh omelette station stealing the show. The fruit bar piled high with ripe goodies, freshly-pressed juices and a vast bread and pastry selection kept us more than satisfied until lunch.

The dinner options at In Season are limited to a small but excellent spread of buffet foods including a delicious freshly cooked tuna served in a salsa verde sauce and scorched BBQ chicken skewers.

While the options for vegetarians were more limited, the salad bar and cheese plates more than made up for it with every salad topping you could think of plus a variety of dressings.

If you get the chance, make sure to visit the Italian joint in the neighbouring hotel, too — but don’t forget to book in advance.

Elsewhere, within the resort, there’s an Indian restaurant, pizzeria and, my personal favourite, Green Artisan cafe.

Treat yourself to a body scrub, foot bath or facial if you have cash to splash, although the calming atmosphere of the place is enough to soothe away troubles.

This wellness restaurant was our favourite of the bunch, serving made-to-order tropical fruit smoothies, healthy snacks and home-baked cakes, all made with natural and nutritious ingredients.

This isn’t where the wellness ends, though. Complete with hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and ice cold bucket shower, the hotel’s spa is an ideal spot for whiling away the hours in blissful peace.

Entry isn’t automatically included for guests but it is well worth the additional 20 euros, with access from 9am until 7pm.

Treat yourself to a body scrub, foot bath or facial if you have cash to splash, although the calming atmosphere of the place is enough to soothe away troubles.

If you’re travelling with little ones, there’s a small splash pool and outdoor play area, as well as a kids’ club for children aged between four to 12, which costs an extra 45 euros a day.

And for those who are keen to venture further afield, you’ll find plenty to do in the neighbouring town of Albufeira which is just a 15-minute taxi ride away.

While it’s known for its wild party scenes, the old town is a pleasant place to take a stroll with colourful cobbled streets flanked by teeny shops and markets.

We booked a sunset boat cruise via GetYourGuide (£40pp, getyourguide.co.uk) which took us along the coast on a small yacht, watching the sun dip slowly behind the horizon while we bobbed peacefully on the water.

For those with a more adventurous streak, the local tour site has everything from Jeep tours and horse riding to parasailing and day trips to Seville for really decent prices.

We preferred to spend most of our days at the beach by the hotel, though.

During peak season the hotel offers a shuttle service to the sea, but why risk missing out on the wildlife?

The walk only takes about 20 minutes through the hotel’s gardens, following various streams down to the sea.

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The yellow beaches of the Algarve rarely disappoint, but this one was particularly beautiful.

And with the chance to spot baby turtles, it couldn’t get better.