Connect with Raw Algarve Adventures:Website: https://www.rawalgarve.com/

Meet Chris Holt, a Canadian who runs Raw Algarve Adventures, showing visitors the hidden side of the Algarve that most tourists miss. Chris first visited Lagos in 2014, fell in love with the place, but couldn't see how to afford life here on hostel and bar wages. After teaching English in Madrid and returning every summer, he finally started his adventure tour business in 2018.

Chris shares how he navigated setting up a business in Portugal as a foreigner, dealing with finances for the first time, and switching from a British to Irish passport after Brexit. We talk about why Lagos is the perfect base for exploring the western Algarve triangle, how the season has extended from just summer to nearly year-round, and what visitors miss when they only hit the greatest hits like Benagil.

You'll discover the hidden beaches and interior spots worth exploring, why winter hiking in the Algarve is underrated, and how a group of hostel workers became a network of business owners in Lagos. Chris also shares practical advice on over tourism, the Via Algarviana trail, and why being willing to walk a bit and drive 30 minutes opens up completely different experiences.

Perfect for people considering adventure tourism businesses in Portugal, relocators wanting to understand Lagos beyond the party reputation, hikers looking for less crowded trails, or anyone curious about building a life here starting from scratch.

Chapters00:03 Introduction: Life in Lagos Since 201800:32 From Canada to France to Lagos01:20 The Hostel Friend Group That Became Business Owners01:51 The Four Years Before Starting Raw Algarve03:17 Setting Up a Business in Portugal as a Foreigner04:34 Switching from British to Irish Passport After Brexit05:23 Managing Your Own Business: Marketing and Guiding05:32 How the Season Has Extended Beyond Summer06:30 What Most Visitors Miss in the Algarve07:40 Lagos: Perfect Base for the Western Triangle08:12 Vetting People for Cliff Walks09:17 The Seven Hanging Valleys Hike10:42 Safety on the Cliffs: Darwin Awards and Selfie Deaths12:04 Dogs Wine Beach: The Unique Dog Shelter Partnership14:57 Meet Bento: Chris's Rescue Dog15:40 Wine Under Seven Euros: Portugal's Hidden Gems16:44 Adding History to the Tours18:07 The Moorish Influence on the Algarve19:38 Henry the Navigator and Lagos History20:24 How Salazar Changed Portuguese Architecture22:22 The 1974 Revolution's Impact on Portuguese Culture23:53 Social Responsibility and Leave No Trace25:26 Over Tourism: Are We On That Path?26:26 What the Government Should Focus On28:25 Meet Dolores: The 1999 Toyota Hiace31:22 What Relocators Should Know About Lagos32:25 Managing Mold and Real Life in Portugal33:38 Learning Portuguese: Why It Matters More Than Ever35:49 The Best Way to Learn Portuguese37:09 Making an Effort to Integrate39:39 What's Next for Chris40:46 Exploring the Interior: Hidden Restaurant Gems42:47 Via Algarviana and Winter Hiking44:21 Madeira: The Best Hike Outside the Algarve46:13 Future Collaboration Plans

➣ CONTACT US for relocation assistanceGet on a free discovery call and we can outline how we can work with you.https://www.algarveaddicts.com/contact

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