After a month of holiday excess and indulgence of the not-so-healthy variety, January always comes fast and furious and we’re left wondering what hit us. Detox and diet plans are officially under way, fitness and yoga studios are overrun with resolution-makers and running paths and parks are packed with January joggers.  When the hustle and bustle of life continues around us, it’s not always easy to get motivated at home. So, this year take the resolutions on the road by hopping on one of Monarch’s Faro flights and from there, head to Monchique for some post-holidays R&R.
Recover: The Spa at Caldas de Monchique
Located in the Serra de Monchique in the Faro District of southern Portugal, Monchique is famous for its two-thousand-year-old picturesque spa town of Caldas de Monchique. The only thermal spa in the Algarve, the area is popular for its sulphur hot spring waters that contain sodium and fluorine and promote healing. According to the locals, the waters extend life expectancy and remedy health problems such as joint and muscle stiffness, arthritis and respiratory issues. Caldas de Monchique grew from four spring sources, three that are fed directly to a bottling plant and a fourth spring that feeds the hotel and spa, the Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique which boasts a variety of well-being, thermal and spa programs to get you on your detox way.
Restore: Be One With Nature
The area in and around Monchique is bursting with take-your-breath-away mountain views, lush pine forests and plenty of spectacular hiking and biking trails. From Foia, the highest point in the Algarve, indulge (guilt-free) in the panoramas of Southern Portugal. Whether you’re into bird watching, horseback riding, all-terrain biking or simply exploring the area through its flora and fauna, be one with nature as you restore physically, and mentally. For restoration of the on-course variety, the nearby Morgado do Reguengo, located between the Monchique Mountains and the seaside town of Portimão is home to the championship CS Morgado Golf Course. (Sailing options are also available from Portimão.)
Recharge: Sights For the Soul
In addition to the area’s natural wonders, there are also a number of historic sites in the city worth checking out. Explore Monchique’s public art in and around the central square, visit one of the famous markets where you’ll come across artisan creations or, calm and quiet the soul with a visit to one of city’s remarkable churches or religious sites. The 16th-century parish church Igreja Matriz is located in the village centre and its charming design is worth seeing, as is the Santa Teresa chapel located at the edge of town near a wooded park winding its way up the hillside. From there, make the trek above town to see the ruins of a 17th-century Franciscan monastery, the Nossa Senhora de Desterro (Our Lady of Exile) where you can immerse yourself in serenity and instead of a bang, start the new year with a powerful peacefulness.