Working on an itinerary for a western Andalucia and Algarve for next summer. Flights already booked to Madrid July 1-14 but will add connection depending on itinerary. We are fairly active, early 40s and have been to Seville, Granada and Malaga before, plus the inland towns will be very hot so looking to avoid. Have also been to Lisbon but never to the Algarve. We are also meeting friends in Algarve (probably Lagos) on July 8 for a friends 40th birthday trip, so we need to arrive no later than this day. We don't like big resorts and packaged tourist towns like Albufaira, so looking for a recommendation around Lagos, Portimao, Sagres or any other town. How does this itinerary sound:

July 1 - Connect in Madrid to Jerez, and arrive in Cadiz, jet-leg day on the beach
July 2 - Explore Cadiz, relax on the beach
July 3 - take train to Jerez, visit sherry bodegas, explore town
July 4 - relaxed day in Cadiz
July 5 - rent a car and visit Arcos de la Frontera, Ronda or Gibraltar - which?
July 6 - drive to Tavira (3hrs), explore Tavira
July 7 - relax in Tavira
July 8 - drive to Lagos, meet friends
July 9 - relax in Lagos
July 10 - visit Portimao or Albufaira
July 11 - TBD, relaxed time in Lagos
July 12 - TBD, relaxed time in Lagos
July 13 - drive back to Cadiz, return car
July 14 - fly home

I had another thought about potentially splitting up the Spain portion with 3 days in Cadiz and 3 in Marbella but not sure we will like Marbella, plus renting a car in Marbella will put us 5hrs on the return from Lagos. We have never been to Cadiz and it looks like a great town. Anything else we should consider?

Did a similar trip a few years back (but flew in and out of Seville). Started in El Puerto de Santa Maria (across the river from Cadiz-short boat ride-less than 30 minutes). Cadiz is fun city with lots to do and great beaches. We had a car so we day tripped to Tarifa, Zahara de Los Atunes, and Gibraltar. after 6 days we headed to the Algarve. 2 nights in Tavira and 5 nights in Praia da Luz (which we loved). We went in September and have returned numerous times to the Cadiz area basing out out Zahara de los Atunes. We leave in 3 weeks for the area flying into Seville and out of Jerez. We travel in September-dont think I would enjoy Southern Spain in July with the extreme heat and completely packed beaches.

Oh believe me, I would much prefer to travel in September too but one of us is an educator and our travel options are either July or August
It looks we are following a very similar itinerary: 5 days in Cadiz, 2 days in Tavira, 6 days in Lagos

For day trips from Cadiz, we definitely would like to visit Jerez and the sherry bodegas but for the 2nd day trip, would you suggest going to Tarifa with maybe a stop in Vejer de la Frontera, or would you go to Ronda (never been) with a stop in Arcos de la Frontera? or Gibraltar (less interested)?

For the Lagos area, are there any day trips you would recommend? There are so many towns.

thanks!

Lagos is a beach location with an historic walled center.

Silves: Another historic fortified town with a imposing castle.
Burgau: A so called authentic fishing village.
Benagil Cave boat tour.
Lisbon is said to be a train day trip away too.

A half hour drive from Tavira is Cacela Velha which is totally worthwhile. It is a tiny whitewashed town set high on the bluffs overlooking the sea. A singular cafe', a fascinating graveyard/mausoleum, and you can hike down to the flats and beach below, but it is just an absolute gem of a rare picture-perfect town, with a spectacular vantage. A bit further afield - - to consider on the drive in to Tavira - - just over the border into Portugal from Spain, is the old fortress of Castro Marim, with a rugged but evocative interior, and commanding views over the plains. The Spanish border town of Ayamonte is really, really pretty too.