vila do bispo

algarve beach guide // Beach guide

 Keep cool.Keep Enjoy yourself elp us to preserve it. Help usto preserve This isour suited to your tastes andrequirements. this guide, you canchoosethebeachthatisbest for some year by comingto tourists theregion every after refreshing waters, and are bathedby awarded theE oftheAlgarve’sMost beacheshave been all year round. expanses ofsand caves, beachesandvast rocky coastlineoffers visitors Algarve Stretching over roughly 200kilometres,the welcoming andsafest beachesintheworld. by someofthemostbeautiful,surprised most Visiting theAlgarve reinvigorating holidays. greatest naturalheritage. uropean Union’s BlueFlag calm, clearand whileyou’re here, and, with , whichcanbeenjoyed being widelysought means being coves, cliffs,

 // Beach guide  // Beach guide 172 171 glossary 170 alcoutim 166 c 160 152 144 136 128 116 albufeira 92 86 68 56 42 20 aljezur 06 contents List ofSpecies Map Vila deSanto Real António Tavira Olhão Faro Loulé Silves Lagoa Portimão Lagos Vila doBispo astro Marim

 // Beach guide vila do bispo rrifana rrifana A Aljezur // Beach guide // Beach guide

  Aljezur. beings. inthis municipality,The coastalstrip specialisedliving rock formations andvery the sea,resulting inawiderange of curious and vulnerableto thewaves andwindsfrom sea over countlessgeological eras, isexposed by theconstantadvancesandretreats ofthe the sand. This vastcoastalplateau, shaped huesof contrasting withthepearl-coloured schist andgreywacke, theirthickgrey colour The cliffs outof standtalland proud, carved opening uppossibilitiesofdifferent life forms. changesinthelandscape and making Here, thefreshwater mixes withthesaltwater, the mouthsofmainriversandstreams. interrupted by longstretches ofsandaround one,The coastlineisessentiallyarocky Vale dosHomens Amado coast invite you to discover theirsecrets… the Sea”. The mistandcloudsoftheA by menwhowere as once known of “Warriors out carried of gooseneckbarnacles, anactivity methods,industrial mostnotablythepicking are caughthere usingthetraditional, non- appreciate goodfishandseafood, which also highlypopularamongstthosewho fishing.and sports The C to diving, butalsoincludingparagliding surfing by ranging thiscoastline, from withactivities A untouched ofhumankind. by the actions heritage, whichinsomecaseshasremained Natural Park thatincludessomeuniquenatural astheC known dventure sports are particularly favoured are dventure particularly sports Odeceixe osta ofa Vicentina, forms part osta Vicentina is tlantic and P P viewing point. viewing das Praia containing cove small a find will you boundaries, its out mark that rocks oddly-shaped enormous, the by passing after Odeceixe, de Praia of south the To reminiscent ofstructuresmadeLego.quartz, of pearl-coloured seams with fissured, and stratified highly cliffs, schist black are beach the of side either kingfisher.coloured On brightly otter,the the greyor as heronthe such animals to children.of delight the the sea and the river between emerging at sand the end,northern of forming severaltongue shallow wide lagoons which are a is beach The homes. holiday mainly are cliff the in nestling seen houses white The abound. plants aromatic sweet-smelling where scrubland coastal to slopes of the valley, you can see cork-oak groves that, as you draw nearer to the beach, give way of the Ribeira de side the bygreen valley lush a along forwaythreekilometres its winds beach the roadtoThe naturist beach. naturist raia deOdeceixe

tide. The currents can be very strong close to the bar across the mouth of the river. The footpath The river. the of mouth leading to Praia steep. deOdeceixe isfairly the across bar the to close strong very be can currents The tide. You can bathe all along the banks of the Ribeira de toilets and the beach is supervised during thebathingseason. during toilets andthebeachissupervised The beachfaceswest. das Praia at space parking more much is there and Odeceixe, de Praia at area parking organised but limited a is There There is a tarmac road from Odeceixe (EN raia dasA A C t high tide, it can be reached by a footpath running down the cliff from the from cliff the down running footpath a by reached be can it tide, high t eixe, through planted fields that are gradually replaced by marshland. On the A degas, although this is not organised. Support facilities include a restaurant and restaurant a include facilities Support organised. not is this although degas, C anoes can also be rented and you can paddle up the river,the up home paddle the can yourented and be also can anoes degas

120) to the beach, which is three kilometres from the town. C eixe, which recommendedis particularly at high A degas, an official an degas, AL JEZUR

Odeceixe and Adegas Odeceixe  // Beach guide 10 // Beach guide water calm enoughfor bathingatlow tide. the makes sea the in rocks the of position stream. The crystal-clear small, a by rock the of out carved valley the up distance short a for walk can you and beach the surrounding roses rock of aroma intensesteps. wooden an of is Thereset enormous an down climbing by reached is it that so cliffs, schist proud-looking and tall by bordered is beach gullies. greenThe lush and Vicentina, an extensive area of farmland and pinewoods interrupted from time to time by deep This is a fairly large and peaceful beach situated in the heart of the plateau that forms the P AL raia do

JEZUR upr fclte, lhuh h bah s uevsd uig h btig esn h bah faces beach The season. bathing the north-west. during supervised is beach the although no facilities, are there support and area parking disorganised but ample an is There away. kilometres three roughly There is a tarmac road through Rogil (EN Rogil through road tarmac a is There V ale dosHomens 20), leading to the beach (Vale dos (Vale beach the to leading 120), omens – South) South) – Homens C osta The path leading to the beach takes you through pinewoods and an extensive area of sand of area extensive an and pinewoods through you takes beach the to leading path The P anglers. schist. by beingfavoured peacefulandalmostalways deserted, The inparticular beachisvery the of out carved amphitheatre natural curious a see can you tide, low at beach, the of end cliff. the to close strip the from away keep to advised generally are bathers vegetationfrom apart the enormous aloes that are scattered all around the landscape, so that no practically has which cliff, the from falling material other and rocks of signs are there and narrow, is beach The mobility. reduced with people or children for advisable not are which cliff, the down leading paths of network a by reached is beach regions.The coastal in typical plant a flowers, thrift prickly of abundance the to due pink of splashes with dotted dunes raia daCarreagem

disorganised, andthebeachisunsupervised. The beachfacesnorth-west. safe.and notvery walk as far as Praia da There is a dirt track leading from Rogil (EN Rogil from leading track dirt a is There on. walk to difficult and steep are beach the to down leading paths The away. I t is not signposted, but you must keep turning towards the sea. The areaparking is limited and Amoreira, fivekilometres to the south. 20) to the beach ( beach the to 120) However, the strip of sand here is narrow C arreagem) roughly four kilometres kilometres four roughly arreagem) A t low tide, it is possible to possible is it tide, low t A t the northern northern the t AL JEZUR

11 // Beach guide 12 // Beach guide appealing andsafe for children. plants. unique some to home now is fossilisedand become since has that dune sand old an outcrops,of remains the rocky shaped impressively some are valley the of slopes verdant the on south, the on to sea; the lying giant recumbent a of reminiscent is that shape a form cliffs black the north, the to here: landscapes impressive highly two are There kingfisher. colourful the or heron grey the into marshland,systems, of typical these estuary where you can find animals such as the otter, natural beauty. de Ribeira the of mouth the at lies beach This P AL raia daA I JEZUR season. The beachfacesnorth-west. well as basic facilities support (restaurant and toilets), and the beach is during supervised the bathing There is a tarmac road starting at the northern entrance to townthe of northern at the Thereroad tarmac a is starting towards Praia da The strong. currents closeto thebaracross themouthofrivercanbevery t is possible to bathe along the banks of the river, which is particularly recommended at high tide. high at recommended particularly is river,which the of banks the along bathe to possible is t I nland from the beach is an extensive area of sand dunes, which gradually turns Amoreira, seven kilometres away. There is ample and organised space for parking, as moreira A t low tide, extensive lagoons are formed in the sand, which are very very are which sand, the in formed are lagoons extensive tide, low t ljezur, which forms a lagoon system of great of system lagoon a forms which Aljezur, Aljezur (EN 20) and heading and 120) and west, the two ends are both sheltered. both are ends two the west, and platform rocky interesting an and north the to sand of expanse vast a of consists beach The panoramic view topanoramic view beenjoyed asyou walkdown to thebeach. summer residences by the beach, as well as a pinewood with of a picnic area. group There is small a fabulous a is There stream. occasional an by formed valley beautiful the of side either out. goes tide the as revealedare and rocks the amongst form that pools natural various the in swim Youalso can bream. young of shoals to the rocks amongst the recesses in octopus and fromcrabs,starfish ranging tide, low at species marine of kinds all observe can you where end, southern the at P raia doMonte Clérigo I or shingle. The cliffs are very strangely shaped, but stones can occasionally fall from them, so that so special careattheirfoot. isrecommended whenwalking them, from fall occasionally can stones but shaped, strangely very are cliffs The shingle. or heading towards Praia do Monte Monte do Praia towards heading beach. The beachfacesnorth-west. accessible an as classified is pathwaysand wooden of network a season. has bathing beach the The during supervised is beach the and toilets), and (restaurants facilities other various and area parking of town the to entrance southern the to close from starting road tarmac a is There t is only possible topossible toonly beaches is otherlowt theat visit south the tide. Thesealternatelyconsist sand of lthough the beach is fairly exposed to winds blowing from the north north the from blowing winds to exposed fairly is beach the Although éio ruhy ee klmte aa.Tee s n organised an is There away. kilometres seven roughly Clérigo, I nland are some impressive sand dunes, lying on lying dunes, sand impressive some are nland ljezur (EN Aljezur AL JEZUR 120),

13 // Beach guide 14 // Beach guide convent-fortress ofgreat archaeological value. A the also is this and beach, one of the most the popular beaches among and surfers bodyboarders. of The panoramic view from end northern the at diving for conditions excellent are There da the Pedra notably most cliffs, A black high by bordered being narrow, and long is the beach and boats fishing of group small a is There direction. same the from coming waves the and wind north cold the from sheltered cove, shell-shaped beautiful a in nestles beach This P AL gulha, a tall rock shaped like a needle, which has become an icon of the south-west coast. south-west the of icon an become has which needle, a like shaped rock tall a gulha, talaia, which is famous for its gooseneck barnacles, there are the remains of a Muslim a Ribat, raia daA

rrifana fortress, now in ruins, is breathtaking. Further north, at the headland of Ponta da Ponta of headland the at north, Further breathtaking. is ruins, in now fortress, Arrifana JEZUR season. The beachfacessouth-west. bathing the during supervised is beach the and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support basic some beach, and it is only possible to drop off passengers here and then park at the top of the cliff. There are There is a tarmac road starting close to the southern entrance of the town of town the of entrance southern the to close starting road tarmac a is There There steep footpath isafairly leadingdown to thebeach. heading towardsPraiaheading da rrifana rrifana, roughly nine kilometres away. Parking is not possible close to the to close possible away.not is kilometres Parking nine roughly Arrifana, ljezur (EN Aljezur 20) and 120) special view over the Pedra da Pedra the over view special do Praia P amongst surfers andanglers, thisisapeacefulbeach. amongst surfers sound. hollow a produces and shingle the up stirs it rough, is sea is coloured with warm-coloured lichens, which contrast with the black background. When the strongwinds.tide the by reachedthe by shaped not is carpet, that a shingle The like land the its while exposed, very and acrossspreads spray) salt to resistantare that plants large and bushes juniper (endemic vegetation is beach the valley, the and sea either the on vegetation between Lying dense with side. stream, a with occasionally filled valley a of mouth the at raia doCanal A A There are no support facilities and the beach is not supervised. There facilitiesandthebeachisnotsupervised. areThe nosupport beachfaceswest . kilometres, and because dropsof its deep ruts and sharp is recommended only for off-road vehicles. six of distance a over stones loose with track dirt a is and signposted not is road Bordeira). The and ccess to the beach is fromis beach the to ccess t low tide, anarrow ofsandappearsto thesouth,leadingto strip Praia de Vale Figueira. C anal begins immediately to the south of Praia da Praia of south the to immediately begins anal lfambras (a scattered group of houses on the on scatteredhouses group(a of Alfambras A gulha. The beach consists mainly of shingle and has formed has and shingle of mainly consists beach gulha. The rrifana, enjoying a particularly particularly a enjoying Arrifana, lthough highly popular highly Although EN 20, between between 120, AL JEZUR Aljezur

15 // Beach guide 16 // Beach guide incredible strength oftheseathat has poundedagainsttherocks over theyears. the to witness bearing deformed, and overhanging cliffs, the of layers stratified the observe smell. characteristic impregnatetheir and with sun air the the in glitter oils aromatic whose roses, rock with covered are cliffs schist ends.The southern and northern its at both width its maintaining sand of expanse peaceful and vast a The is season. beach rainy the in beach the as far as reaches which valley, the along running stream quite tallshrubs consistingofheather, trees. rock roses and arbutus-berry There isanincipient The road to the beach takes you along a narrow valley, whose slopes are covered with thick and P AL raia de

JEZUR Aljezur and Bordeira). The road is not signposted and is a track dirt over a distance of three kilometres. during thebathingseason. during The beachfaceswest. supervised is it although facilities, support no are there and organised not is beach the by Parking The road to the beach begins at begins beach the to road The V ale Figueira lfambras (a scattered group of houses on the on houses of group scattered (a Alfambras ll along the beach, it is possible topossible is it beach, the along All EN 20, between between 120, I P fishing grounds and are highly sought after by various species of marine birds, which find which birds, marine shelter there. of species various by after sought highly are and grounds fishing inaccessible almost their for famous are Bordeira da Praia of cliffs beach. The the of to north the rock reddish-coloured enormous an Matez, de Pedra the to deserted almost continuing expanse of sand, more than three kilometres long, but exposed to the winds from the sea and vast a is beach crowns. The their of diameter great are the of which because stores agricultural of as used some pines, stone old very and enormous with filled dunes the in woods the otters. of glimpse a catch to possible is it where and river the of mouth the to close water warm of lagoon formsa occasionally Bordeira,which da Ribeira the of village the to inland way their make dunes sand extensive the beach, vegetation. the From the in greaterdiversification to leading colours, warm bright n Bordeira, the black schist is suddenly interrupted and gives way to a limestone cliff, with cliff, limestone a to way gives and interrupted suddenly is schist black the Bordeira, n raia daB

The beach faces north-west /north. The beachfacesnorth-west organised and there are facilities,no support but the beach during the is bathing supervised season. bathe alongthebanksofriver, butthisisbestdonewhenitjoinedto theseaathightide. foot.can You on river shallow very the cross to have then you although park, car the from leading two two and a half kilometres away. to entrance northern the at starting road a is There path wooden a is there where end, southern the at cliff the from is beach the to access best The ordeira I t starts t out starts as a tarmac road, but it ends in Parking a track. is dirt not C arrapateira and leading to the beach, roughly beach, the to leading and arrapateira C arrapateira, on either side of side either on arrapateira, lso to be noted here are here noted be to Also AL JEZUR

17 // Beach guide 18 // Beach guide possible to findapeacefulspot–alldistancealongthebeach. you have to doiswalkashort here. held frequently also are competitions international and National schools. bodyboarding and surfing of here presence constant the the frequent winds. Praia do by carpet low-lyingschist. a intothe grey of the byturned dominated is again vegetationThe are once is theboats landscape the south, the cliffs. where To the of Zimbreirinha, from hanging platforms wooden to harbour anchored fishing curious the by past furrowed as deeply well are as that erosion), (rocks karrenfeld limestone the through Pontal, of landscape breathtaking the through pass must you direction this from beach the reach to and cliffs, the which Bordeira, da Praia as exposed of orange and and red the are colours predominant the extensive valleys. Tothreenorth, over stretchesthe as not although beach, large a is This P AL raia doA

JEZUR season. The beachfaceswest . bathing the during supervised being toilets), and (restaurant facilities support basic has beach the and disorganised, but large fairly is area parking Pontal.The as known spot beautiful extremely the Bordeira, by heading southwards over the cliff tops (along a dirt track track roughly Bordeira,southwardsbyheading dirt a over (along cliff tops the do Praia forof village the to entrance southern the at beginning road tarmac a is There ao ruhy w klmte aa.Te ec cn lo e ece fo Paa da Praia from reached be also can beach The away. kilometres two roughly Amado, mado Amado is famous for versatile and waves,its varied very justifying lthough this is a very popular beach, it is always is it beach, popular very a is this Although 00 metrespast 500 long), C arrapateira, heading arrapateira,

Amoreira 19 // Beach guide vila do bispo

Mareta Vila do Bispo // Beach guide // Beach guide

1 20 2 22 // Beach guide the naturalworld. pointhereThe isSagres, key contemplation andto get(back)in touch with encouraging visitors to engageinaesthetic fauna. marine The landscape ismostimpressive, flint inthe region andthe great wealth ofits to theexistencepossibly linked of seams of occupation thatdates backto prehistoric times, testimonies to theregion’s past,withahuman Algarve’s Barrocal region). There are frequent (namelythe rocks coastalstrip ofthesouthern western coastandthemore recent carbonate thegreatbetween ancient schistmassifofthe simultaneously representing themeetingpoint region, Mediterranean andthehotdry Ocean buffer thecold zone between wet A A landofcontrasts,isa thismunicipality Vila doBispo. C astelejo Salema tlantic coves sheltered from thewindandwaves. the form ofsmall shapes andthebeaches take sculpted into someimpressively aesthetic the cliffs are lessimposing, buthave been cliffs; coast, sheer rocky whilst,onthesouthern waves oftheA beaches ofthewestern coast,battered by the beaches to choosefrom: the windswept sandy vulture. diversified rangeof There isavery such birds asthegriffon vulture ortheE birds ofprey, to thiscoastline which brings autumnofthegreatmigration hovering every here isthe local vegetation. Alsoremarkable of theexceptional inview nature ofthe Reserve features. ofaBiogenetic The area forms part with itsuniquebiophysical andecological PontaRuiva tlantic Ocean, nestleamongst tlantic Ocean, gyptian Known as the as Known “Jewelthe of are rockslandslides. shapesandcolours, ofearlier withcurious thedebris waterfall. a of form the in beach the onto cascades which A seen, furrowed and with lighter colours, as well as sheep grazing on the edge of the precipice. be can rocks carbonate tops, cliff distant the On seams. orange and rednumerous with schist cliffsrise higher and exert an imposing presence over the landscape, being composed of black marking out the boundaries of a small stream that flows into the sandy beach. and bushes To juniper the endemic south, in covered low, the quite are cliffs the north, Tosea. the the of blue to the high tide line, resulting in a pleasant combination of the green of the landscape and the I P t is one of those rare beaches where the vegetation of the sand dunes stretches right down right stretches dunes sand the of vegetation the where beaches rare those of one is t t the southern end of the beach, the wall of schist has been dug away by a small clear stream, raia daMurração A supervision. supervision. The beachfacesnorth-west. or facilities support no has beach the and disorganised, and small very is area parking vehicles.The stones. loose with track dirt a of consisting signposted, not is kilometres, six of distance a covers which road, The There is a road to the beach from the the vegetation ofthedunes, theseasmuchpossible. helpingto preserve on step to them. not carefulto be Youclose also should walking when taken be should care that so t hightide, thebeachbecomesnarrower andthereofstones fallingfrom isthepossibility thecliffs, I t has some sharp drops and deep gullies, so that it is only recommended for off-road for recommended only is it that so gullies, deep and drops sharp some has t C osta Vicentina”,beach. unspoilt and beautiful extremely an is this EN 120, starting to the north of Vila do Bispo, near the Wind Park. ll along the vast expanse of sand of expanse vast the along All vila do bispo do vila

23 // Beach guide vila do bispo vila do bispo

Praia da Barriga Praia da Cordoama Praia da Barriga comes into sight as you round a sharp bend in the road at the end of a wide This is a vast sandy beach, disappearing from sight both to the north and south. The highly green valley. First, you can see natural grassland both at the mouth of the small stream and shaped and progressively more hazy-looking cliffs provide a breathtaking view. Because of its on the low sand dunes around this; after this comes a wide sandy beach protected by huge enormous length, it is always possible to find some peace and quiet on the beach, despite its black cliffs. The vegetation on the cliffs is low-lying and resistant to salt spray and strong winds, frequent use by surfing and bodyboarding schools. The cliffs have an imposing and haughty replacing the young pine trees on either side of the beautiful road leading to the beach. This is appearance, reaching heights of up to a hundred metres. There is a small hillock on this beach, a peaceful beach with interesting nooks and crannies amongst the jagged cliffs. To the south, providing a natural viewing point and frequently used as a jumping-off point by paragliders. the Praia do Castelejo can be reached at low tide, passing by the Praia da Cordoama. You On the rocky faces of the north-facing cliffs, gleaming strata can be seen bleached white, should note the rocky walls here with their intensely deformed layers, bearing witness to the although this is nothing more than extensive patches of lichens. A small stream runs down incredible forces to which these rocks have been subjected. a gully to the beach. The smell of rock roses is intense here and, amidst the small dunes that have formed on the beach, it is possible to see plants such as European beachgrass, sea holly At high tide, the beach becomes narrower and stones and rocks may fall from the cliffs, so that it is recommended that you only walk between the beaches at low tide. or the eye-catching sea daffodil. There is a tarmac road to the beaches from Vila do Bispo (Municipal Market). After the turning to Praia At high tide, the beach becomes narrower and stones and rocks may occasionally fall from the cliffs, do Castelejo, the road turns into a dirt track and is not signposted, so that you should keep heading so that it is recommended that you only walk between the beaches at low tide. northwards for roughly eight kilometres. The parking area is small and disorganised, and the beach There is a tarmac road to the beaches from Vila do Bispo (Municipal Market), over a distance of has no support facilities or supervision. The beach faces north-west. four kilometres. After the turning to Praia do Castelejo, the road turns into a dirt track for roughly two kilometres. The parking area is large but disorganised, and the beach has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces north-west. // Beach guide // Beach guide

4 5 2 2 vila do bispo vila do bispo

Praia do Castelejo Praia da Ponta Ruiva The road leading to the beach is a winding one, running along the narrow valley of an occasional The beach owes its name (Ponta Ruiva = Red Headland) to an enormous ochre rock formation stream, which forms a small patch of damp grass on the sand. The slopes of the valley are at the southern end of the beach, near which there forms a particular wave that is famous green, being dotted here and there with stone pines. Here the cliffs are tall and dark, with the amongst surfers. The reddish tones of these rocks establish a sharp contrast with the black of Torre de Aspa (an old watchtower) standing atop the southern cliff and reaching a height of the high schist cliffs all around. The footpath to the beach takes you down a relatively difficult more than 140 metres. To the north, the Pedra da Laje is a rocky complex that juts out into the trail at one of the more gently sloping points of the cliff. It is a very peaceful and unspoilt sea and is a popular spot for fishing, whilst closer to the beach it provides an opportunity for beach with an intense smell of rock roses, and you can also see endemic juniper bushes, bent observing marine life between tides and offers children the chance to bathe in calm water. The to form a carpet by the strong prevailing winds, while closer to the beach itself are plants that schist cliffs to the north are covered with lighter-coloured rocks – arenites (ancient fossilised can withstand the salt spray. A small stream cuts its way through the cliffs and flows onto the sand-dunes) and small ridges of dunes with rock roses. It is a much more crowded beach than beach in the rainy season. Along the road to the beach, you can see stonechats (small birds Praia da Barriga or Praia da Cordoama, being very popular amongst surfers and bodyboarders perching on the high branches) and birds of prey, especially kestrels. and used in particular for the teaching of these sports. It is occasionally covered only with At high tide, the beach becomes narrower and stones and rocks may fall from the cliffs, so that it is shingle, which produces a hollow sound when it is whipped up by the waves. recommended that you take care when walking near the cliffs. At high tide, the beach becomes narrower and stones and rocks may occasionally fall from the cliffs, There are various roads leading to the beach from Sagres and Vila do Bispo. These are not signposted so that it is recommended that you only walk between the beaches at low tide. and are all dirt tracks over a distance of six kilometres. The track leading down to the beach is There is a tarmac road to the beaches from Vila do Bispo (Municipal Market), over a distance of four particularly difficult and is only recommended for off-road vehicles. There is a small and disorganised kilometres. The parking area is large and partly organised, and the beach has basic support facilities parking area, and the beach has no support facilities or supervision. The beach faces north-west. (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces north- west. // Beach guide // Beach guide

26 27 vila do bispo vila do bispo

Praia do Telheiro Praia do Beliche Despite being relatively sheltered from the cold north wind, this is a quiet beach due to its This beach is sheltered from the northerly and westerly winds, nestling in the wide cove difficult access by road and the long footpath that has to be walked along to get there, over formed by the headlands of Ponta de Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent). The the limestone tiers of the cliff. In the surrounding area, there is a predominance of farmland beach seems to have been dug out of the high, warm-coloured cliffs, and can only be reached and pastureland, and birds of prey hovering in search of food are a common sight, especially by climbing down a long set of stone steps. As you walk down these steps, you can appreciate kestrels. This is the last beach on the western coast before the headland of Cabo São Vicente the numerous endemic plants that have spread across the limestone karrenfeld (rocks that are (Cape St. Vincent), and it is remarkable for the beauty and diversity of its rock formations, not deeply furrowed by erosion) and the reddish terra rossa earth, as well as the steep limestone unconnected with the fact that this is the point where the black schist massif that crops out slopes, highly stratified and shaped, with their spectacular caves and landslides. On the beach, along the western coast (an ancient furrowed and deformed mountain chain) meets the you will find a wide diversity of jagged and sculpted rocks, forming some most curious shapes. southern sedimentary coastal strip, composed of orange-coloured arenites, the red-coloured The beach is very popular amongst surfers and bodyboarders. sandstone of Silves and lighter-coloured limestones, all of which have been sculpted into As we are now in the heart of the Biogenetic Reserve, the picking of flowers and plants is strictly strangely capricious shapes. Various aromatic plants have colonised the limestone karrenfeld forbidden, as these are vital for the preservation of this area. Traffic must keep well away from the (rocks that are deeply furrowed by erosion) of the cliff, whilst the banks of the stream that winds edge, as this may destabilise the cliff and lead to landslides. its way down to the beach are covered with exuberant vegetation, composed of tamarisks and common reeds. There is a tarmac road to the beach from Sagres, heading for three kilometres in the direction of Cabo de São Vicente along the EN 268. The parking area is fairly large but disorganised, and the beach has The footpath to the beach is a fairly difficult one. There is the possibility of stones and rocks falling basic support facilities nearby (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing onto the beach, so that you should take care when walking close to the cliffs. season. The beach faces south and south-west. There is an unsignposted tarmac road to the beach from Sagres, heading towards Cabo de São Vicente (EN 268) and then Torre de Aspa. After you have driven five kilometres on a tarmac road, there is another two kilometres to be driven towards the sea over difficult terrain and along a dirt track, which is recommended only for off-road vehicles. Parking is disorganised and there are no basic support facilities or supervision at the beach, which faces west and south-west. // Beach guide // Beach guide

28 29 vila do bispo vila do bispo

Praia do Tonel Praia da Mareta Although this beach is less sheltered than Praia do Beliche, it is still located in the cove formed This is the first beach on the southern coast and it is contained within a spacious bay to the by the headlands of Ponta de Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent). The headland east of Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent), which protects it from the prevailing winds of Ponta de Sagres, with its sheer cliffs, can be seen from the beach, as well as the Fortress of and waves. The large expanse of sand nestles between sheer limestone cliffs where enormous Sagres, a 16th-century construction with a 14th-century chapel contained within it, where St. nooks and crannies and undercut slopes can be seen. Close to the high tide lines, it is common Vincent is said to be buried. You can also see Cabo de São Vicente and its lighthouse at the to find limestone karrenfeld (rocks that are deeply furrowed by erosion), with their curious opposite end of the cove. Access to the beach is by foot along a wide ramp carved out of shapes, and colonised by all kinds of eye-catching plants, such as the Mediterranean beach the warm-coloured cliff, where you may come across very steep gullies dug out of the rock daisy. Contained within the town of Sagres, Praia da Mareta is a highly popular beach that is by the flow of water. The sandy beach stretches southwards and all the way along it you can greatly appreciated because of the calm water that it provides for bathing, as well as being a appreciate the shape of the limestone cliff and the vegetation that has spread across it, such as good starting point for diving into the bay’s submerged caves. On this beach, there are traces rock samphire and sea orach, plants that are highly resistant to the salt spray. of mediaeval grain silos and ovens, which were used until the 16th century. As we are now in the heart of the Biogenetic Reserve, the picking of flowers and plants is strictly The beach can be reached either by car or on foot, as it is in the town of Sagres, close to the GNR forbidden, as these are vital for the preservation of this area. headquarters. There is ample but disorganised parking space, and there are basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets) both on the beach and nearby. The beach is supervised during the bathing There is a tarmac road to the beach from Sagres, heading for roughly 500 metres in the direction season and faces south. of the Fortress of Sagres. The parking area is fairly large but disorganised, and the beach has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces west. // Beach guide // Beach guide

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Praia do Martinhal Martinhal Praia do Barranco The beach stands at the mouth of one of the most beautiful valleys in the region, with slopes and Praia dos Rebolinhos that are covered by fairly high and dense thickets of junipers and where there appear some Situated to the east of the town of Sagres, and despite being sheltered from the prevailing imposing limestone outcrops and a narrow area of grassland occupied by fruit trees and westerly and south-westerly winds and waves, Ponta da Baleeira (where the Sagres fishing riverside vegetation. The sandy beach is small but wide, forming a small area of sand dunes harbour is located) is nonetheless fairly windy due to the persistent northerly winds that blow to the west and spreading inland up the gully, where it mixes with the shingle. This is used by down the wide valley from inland. The water is, however, calm and very good for windsurfing bathers to build small stone semicircles that serve as windbreaks. At either end of the beach and diving, and there are frequent boat trips taking people to visit the beautiful limestone are light-coloured limestone cliffs and you can see the lofty ruins of a 17th-century fortress. islets that are situated off the beach, famous for their rocky inlets and underwater grottoes. The Although access to the beach is via a dirt track, it is nonetheless very popular, particularly amongst beach is basically sandy, with high dunes in the centre and marshland vegetation stretching surfers and caravanners. inland up the valley. To the east, the cliffs begin to reappear, with a lot of shingle on the beach, used by bathers to build shelters that serve as windbreaks. Here, you will find the ruins of an There is a dirt track roughly five kilometres long, leading to the beach from the village of Raposeira important Roman pottery centre and, on the islets, you can find remains of fish salting tanks. (EN 125). The beach is not signposted. The parking area is reasonably large but disorganised, and the beach has no support facilities or supervision. The beach faces south. To the east of Praia do Martinhal is Praia dos Rebolinhos, nestling between cliffs and facing south. On this beach, you can find some well preserved coastal scrubland and a great abundance of pebbles, the so-called rebolinhos. The beach is deserted and can be reached on foot through the resort that has been built there. It has no basic support facilities or supervision. There is a tarmac road through the Martinhal beach resort in Sagres, leading to the beach roughly two kilometres away. The parking area is fairly large but disorganised, and the beach has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces south-east. Martinhal and Rebolinhos Martinhal and Rebolinhos // Beach guide // Beach guide

2 3 33 vila do bispo vila do bispo

Praia da Ingrina Praia do Zavial Zavial As you travel along the road leading to the beach, it is worth taking some time to appreciate the extensive wheat fields and the frequent megalithic monuments that are to be found and Praia das Furnas dotted around this region, especially the menhirs carved out of white limestone. Close to the The beach stands at the mouth of an occasional stream, whose riverside vegetation and small sea, the farmland gives way to low-lying coastal scrubland. The shell-shaped beach is small pebbles reach all the way down to the sand. On the east bank is a small eucalyptus wood with and has an idyllic appearance, inviting you to take a dip in the calm waters of the bay. A large the typical scrubland of the “Barrocal” clay region amongst its undergrowth, which is sometimes platform of limestone karrenfeld (rocks that are deeply furrowed by erosion) to the west and used for unauthorised camping. The beach here is wide, with a small sand dune where you can jagged limestone cliffs to the east mark out the edges of the bay. The beach is particularly find such plants as European beachgrass. This spreads over some distance eastwards, since good for diving, with an extensive area of submerged and highly attractive rock formations, at the western end there is an enormous rocky spur that marks out the boundaries of the both to the west and east. beach. Exuberant endemic juniper bushes, together with the vegetation that has successfully adapted to the salty atmosphere, are the main features covering this limestone cliff. Praia do There is a tarmac road from the village of Raposeira (EN 125), leading to Praia da Ingrina, roughly four kilometres away. The parking area is fairly large but disorganised, and the beach has basic support Zavial is very popular among surfers, with the eastern end of the beach being calmer with its facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach jagged cliffs and rock formations that are known locally as furnas. It is possible to reach this faces south. part of the beach by walking along the sand or by climbing down from the top of the cliff. In the area close to Praia do Zavial, you can also visit the ruins of a 17th-century fortress. To the east of Praia do Zavial is the small Praia das Furnas, which owes its name to the shape of the cliff, greatly eroded by the elements and wherefurnas have developed: enormous undercut slopes dug out of the base of the cliff and grottoes. The coastal scrubland reaches right down to the sand, where a small stream also finds an outlet. This is a very peaceful beach. There is a tarmac road from the village of Raposeira (EN 125), heading towards Praia do Zavial or Praia da Ingrina, roughly five kilometres away. The parking is disorganised, but the beach has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. Access to Praia das Furnas is via a dirt track from the village of Figueira (roughly two kilometres away). The parking area is disorganised and the beach has no basic support facilities or supervision. The beaches face south-west (Zavial and Furnas). Zavial // Beach guide // Beach guide

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Praia da Figueira Praia da Salema Cars have to be parked roughly 500 metres from the beach, after which access is gained by The beach is located in the small fishing village of Salema, where it is used as a fishing harbour, foot along a narrow path that runs along one of the most beautiful valleys in the region, with so that the central part of the beach is occupied by boats and all the necessary fishing tackle, lush green slopes, pinewoods and impressive outcrops of limestone, amongst which you can such as the basket trap and the longline with its hooks. You can watch the boats returning to see some enormous caves. On the grassy banks of the small stream, you will find orchards of the beach after a fishing trip and then sample some of the octopus, moray or white seabream fig-trees and olive-trees in particular, with lots of birds busily entertained in eating the fruit. that the fishermen have caught at one of the local restaurants. In the village of Salema, there The beach is very peaceful and feels somewhat like the end of the world, possibly due to are also some ruins of a Roman villa, as well as of an old fish canning factory, testifying to the the absence of vehicles in the surrounding countryside. It nestles between warm-coloured area’s longstanding fishing traditions. The beach has a beautiful promenade, as well as café cliffs with some very curious shapes, and at the eastern end are some ruins of a 16th-century and restaurant terraces overlooking the sea. To the east, the landscape is wilder and more fortress. The shingle is also used here by bathers to build semicircular shelters that serve as peaceful, and in the rocky cliffs you can see some of the footprints left by the dinosaurs that windbreaks. inhabited this region roughly 140 million years ago. There is a tarmac road from the village of Figueira (signposted on the EN 125), heading towards the The beach can be reached on foot in the village of Salema (signposted on the EN 125). There is an fortress roughly one kilometre away. The parking area is small and disorganised, some 500 metres organised car park and the beach has a range of support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as from the beach, which has no support facilities. The beach faces south-east. being supervised in the bathing season. This is classified as an accessible beach. The beach faces south/south-east. // Beach guide // Beach guide

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Praia da Boca do Rio Praia de Cabanas Velhas Two streams flow together at this peaceful beach, one of them with a wide valley that gives rise to a vast floodplain currently used for agricultural purposes.A long the two valleys, you can (Almádena) observe some hydraulic irrigation devices that bear witness to the longstanding occupation This is a small and welcoming beach, which becomes very narrow at high tide, with some of this region. At Praia da Boca do Rio, there was once an important Roman villa, and some small, jagged and highly eroded limestone cliffs, where there are all kinds of nooks and crannies remains can still be seen of its frescos and mosaics, baths, stores and the structures used for resulting from the slipping of the various strata of the rock. The beach stretches eastwards and salting and preserving fish, with two associated cemeteries, all of which suggests that it was you can see some peculiar rock formations at either end. The hillsides overlooking the beach possibly once part of a fishing port. In the cliffs to the east (Ponta de Almádena), you can visit are covered with the typical low-lying scrubland of rocky coastlines, with an area of young the 16th-century Forte de Almádena. In the area around these streams, it is quite common to pine-trees to the west. The beach is not greatly used by bathers, although the pontoon at the spot some otters or at least the signs of their presence. eastern end is very popular with anglers. The abundant shingle of the beach is used by bathers to build small semicircular shelters to serve as windbreaks. There is a tarmac road from the village of Budens (EN 125) to the beach roughly three kilometres away, or there is also a dirt track from Salema, running along the top of the cliff for roughly two kilometres. There is a tarmac road from the village of Burgau, heading westwards to the beach roughly three There is a spacious but disorganised parking area, and the beach has no support facilities. There is a kilometres away. There is a spacious and organised car park, and the beach has basic support facilities picnic area amongst some eucalyptus trees, close to the beach, which faces south. (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. Classified as an accessible beach, it faces south. // Beach guide // Beach guide

8 9 3 3 vila do bispo Martinhal

Praia do Burgau Contained within the village of Burgau, this is an urban beach marking the western border of the South-west Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park. It nestles in a small cove that is sheltered from the elements and is used as a fishing harbour, where many of the traditional fishing arts are still to be found, such as the basket trap and the longline with hooks. Just as at Praia da Salema, you can watch the boats returning to the beach after their fishing trips and then sample some of the octopus, moray or white seabream that the fishermen have caught at one of the local restaurants. Those using the beach thus share the sand with the fishing boats and the fishermen. On the cliffs is a 17th-century fort and the ruins of a 16th-century tower. The beach can be reached on foot in the village of Burgau (signposted on the EN 125). There is an organised car park and the beach has a range of support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as being supervised during the bathing season. The beach faces south/south-east. // Beach guide // Beach guide

0 4 41 amilo C Lagos // Beach guide // Beach guide

2 43 4 44 // Beach guide Lagos. materials aswood,materials stone, iron ortheleaves of sugar. withsuchraw work The localcraftsmen Rodrigos confectionery, suchasthefamous the arbutus-tree), ortheregion’s traditional medronho live offfishing, and theofhoney production A diversified, itsexcitement lastingall year round. social andculturallife that isasdynamicit of thismeetingtraditionsandcustoms isa come together incomplete harmony. The result many years, different peopleshave seemingly where,cosmopolitan placesintheAlgarve, for being atthesametimeoneofmost andtradition, thatisfullofhistory Lagos isacity s well theregion’s astourism, inhabitants , sweets madeofalmonds, eggsand (brandy made from the berries of (brandymadefrom theberries Luz Dom Dom Meia PraiaMeia rides along thecoast. rides for you to enjoy longpleasantwalks orboat landscapesarebreathtaking anopeninvitation of thesubmerged rocks. The municipality’s outtheoutlines that itispossibleto make caves, naturalarches and water so transparent consists ofmany smallwelcoming coves, fullof of Lagos, thatshelters thecity the promontory such aspecialmunicipality. Ponta daPiedade, of itscliffs, oneofthe features Lagos thatmakes called becauseofthegoldenandochre colours is alsothe picturesque andtraditionallocalshops. Butthis canbefoundfruit ofancientknowledge, inthe basin.Alltheseproducts,the Mediterranean the fanpalm, theonlypalm-tree native to the dwarf Costa d´Ouro D . Ana (theG old C oast), so- The beach is associated with a small but very cosmopolitan resort, where a paved avenue runs P for theuseofholidaymakers. available facilities support of a variety is there diving,and and sailing kitesurfing, windsurfing, has reached all the way to the sea. This bay of suitedcalm water to is waterparticularly sports: called so- the formation: rock notable a is marlstone and limestone of out carved cliffs whitened of landscape this against out Standing water. trickling of effects the by formed been have that crevices many with and colour in grey becoming east, the to up rises cliff lavender.The sea as such plants, cliff typical grow tides the of reach of out and rocks ochre-coloured these On anemones, buckshot barnacles, limpets and top shells, wrapped in a carpet of green seaweed. sea environments: intertidal of life typical the of some and fossils marine displaying and sea the by sculptedcolours, warm of platform rocky extensive an is wall, the footof the at beach, the walls of the fortress originally built to protect the church from attacks by the Moors. On the to west the in leads avenue this palm-trees, large by Bordered entertainment. street some as along the seafront, offering visitors a variety of sun-filled outdoor cafés and restaurants, as well raia daL

close to endofthebeach. themattheeastern There is the possibility of stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should be taken when walking walking when taken be should care that so cliffs, the from falling stones of possibility the is There classified asanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth/south-east. season. is bathing beach the The during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has which beach, the areanear fromLagos). kilometres organisedparking seven an Thereis The beach can be reached on foot through the town of Luz (signposted on the on (signposted Luz of town the through foot on reached be can beach The Rocha Negra Rocha (black rock), a volcanic seam originating in the Serra de Monchique that Monchique de Serra the in originating seam volcanic a rock), (black uz EN , roughly 125, L agos

45 // Beach guide 46 // Beach guide LAGOS characteristics and there are some very quiet sections to befound. quiet sections andthere arecharacteristics somevery D is it there and colours Pontaof headland the of Piedade. da rockalreadythe toformationsaresee possible that part ochre where warm places very display cliffs those the west, in the Towater. reeds trickling of common signs are or seablite, shrubby and saltwort orach, wormleaf sea as such sea, the from salt of spray the withstand can that plants are face cliff the properties. medicinal special has claim people local the which cliff, the of foot balance. of state precarious very a in overhang to seem that content) clay high a heavily with (limestone of marlstone out of layers carved stratified are cliffs the and colours light-grey of predominance a is there west, Sagres.to wayTo the the all coastline the follow to possible being it superb, is landscape the Miradouro da of point from end.cliffs viewing Seen either the at high by framed sand of expanse vast a forming valley, open wide a in situated is beach The P espite the proximity of of Lagos,the city the area around the beach still maintains its natural raia doP

south. and is during the supervised bathing season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has which beach, a the near area is parking large There fairly Mós. de Porto towards heading station, fire the to next roundabout the at left turn and Lagos. from beach the to leading road tarmac a is There walking close to them. when taken be should care that so cliffs, the from falling stones of possibility the is There orto deMós orto I n the rainy season, a thick layer of clay builds up at the at up builds clay of layer thick a season, rainy the n rive up the up Drive A talaia, at the top of the cliff,the topof the at talaia, A venida dos venida D escobrimentos escobrimentos rowing on Growing The name of this beach derives from the dense reed bed ( bed reed dense the from derives beach this of name The P submerged rock formations, forming oflongridges. aseries of rows aligned aesthetically the see can you that transparent so is water The peaceful. very lavender.sea narrowa Theis beach one, sheltered cliffs,shaped byscenically the isolated and rugged environments, such as pale stonecrop, Mediterranean beach daisy, sweet alyssum and them, and through growing passing in rainwater the small the cavities by that have cracked formed and in them sculpted are highly the typical are plants cliffs of these the form that rocks of the cliff face, with a predominancered intense and ochre fiery of very tones. The carbonate of honeysuckle. The narrow, winding path to the beach takes you down some steps carved out entanglements dense and asparagus wild mastic-trees, enormous there see to possible now is it that so orchards, fig-tree old the occupy to begun slowly Algarve’shas “barrocal”region the of scrubland rich the where cliffs, the of top the over footpaths of series a by reached be can season. rainy beach the The in cliffs the down waterfall a in cascades that stream flowing raia doCanavial

f ot d Ms ruhy 0 mte) r rm h lgtos o Pna a idd (ogl one (roughly Piedade da Ponta of lighthouse facessouth. kilometre). facilitiesandisunsupervised, the The beach,whichhasnosupport from or metres) 200 (roughly Mós de Porto of east the to development urban the from cliffs the of top the over beach the to footpath a is There the cliff top,keeping asafe distancefrom theedge. from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking to them, as well as on when walking The narrowbeach is and very should only be visited at low tide. There is a of possibility stones falling canavial ) along the banks of a fast- a of banks the along ) L agos

47 // Beach guide 48 // Beach guide LAGOS shags opening their long black wings so that they can dry more easilyinthesun. candry shags openingtheirlongblackwingssothatthey the elements, by give rise to carved distinct shapes and been furrows. On have the isolated rock they formations, youwhich can see from material the on depending which, textures, and colours different many of cliffs high amongst nestling isolated, and small is beach The skills. climbing rock definite very some implies land by beaches these to access since Balança, da designremarkable of the coastline, as well as to reach some small sandy beaches such as Praia of amongst crannies and name the coastline this nooks earned already have cliffs the of of colours ochre intenserocks. The the lots and caves arches, potholes, rocks, of groups isolated rocks: carbonate the on elements the and time of ravages the from resulting features relief jagged geographical of the diversity remarkable of a is there side where place eastern a Piedade, da Ponta the of headland on appear to beach first the is This scales. of set an of enormous reminiscent is which end, eastern its at formation rock a to name its owes beach The P raia daB Costa d´Ouro Costa  the cliff top,keeping asafe distancefrom theedge. from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking to them, as well as on when walking The narrowbeach is and very should only be visited at low tide. There is a of possibility stones falling beach, which has no support facilities and is unsupervised, facessouth-east. facilitiesandisunsupervised, beach, whichhasnosupport difficult. The very is access such but metres), 200 (roughly Piedade da Ponta of lighthouse the from Lagos. from boat by is beach the to access of means recommended The (the alança G old C at. rm ao, o cn ae ba rd t apeit the appreciate to ride boat a take can you Lagos, From oast). I t can be reached on foot on reached be can t This small cove forms a kind of natural rock pool, sheltered by enormous rock formations, rock enormous by sheltered pool, rock natural of kind a forms cove small This P surprisingly different ofthe sea. surprisingly world andbrightly-coloured bushes of among sea the orach. submergedSnorkelling rock formations will reveal to you the large as well as cliffs, the in fossils marine countless see can you itself, Once beach lavender.the on are sea you and alyssum sweet daisy, beach Mediterranean environments: rugged steep. very out of arethe rock some stepsto carved help you in your cliff faces are descent, but the rocky water. of passage the by cliff the of face steep the of out dug been has which gorge,deep narrow a down way its winds wood.then this emergingfrompath hoopoes The that has been clearly shaped by the wind. you have to cross over some exuberant coastal scrubland and walk through a small pinewood here get toorder in and Balança, Praiada neighbouring the to is it than easier little a is beach “Boneca”(doll).name the with baptised been has beach the why explaining woman, a of shape the to attributed has imagination popular the that one is which amongst raia daB

which has no support facilities and is unsupervised, faceseast. facilitiesandisunsupervised, which hasnosupport the cliff top,keeping asafe distancefrom theedge. from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking to them, as well as on when walking The recommended means of access to the beach is by boat from Lagos. from boat by is beach the to access of means recommended The The narrowbeach is and very should only be visited at low tide. There is a of possibility stones falling from the lighthouse of Ponta da Piedade (roughly D otted here amongst the warm colours of this cliff are the typical plants of these of plants typical the are cliff this of colours warm the amongst here otted oneca A s you walk, s youyou will walk, see birds such as or blackbirds 300 metres), but such access is difficult. The beach, I t can be reached on foot on reached be can t ere and there and Here A ccess to this to ccess L agos

49 // Beach guide 50 // Beach guide LAGOS a commonfeature ofthisbeach. inaccessible to predators, with birds such as shags, herring gulls and black-headed gulls being undercutting. carved areout of cliffs calcarenites, formingthe typical featuresand such ochreas isolated is groups of colour rocks, predominantarches and the side, either On crevices. of lots with type sea shells embedded in the Behind rock. the beach, the cliff is and soft of red, being of the sand-clay kinds different many observe can you where and hand by dug been has that tunnel narrowdamp tothrougha possible pass of byis means this it and intobeach two the divides sea. the from spray salt the to adapted have which saltwort, wormleaf and orach sea are plants predominant the sea, the to exposed most is that cliff the of face the On roses. rock sage-leaf and roses rock spotted mastic-trees, oaks, kermes region: the of plants typical the with scrubland of area an through passing beach, boats. sailing of triangles white the with dotted of municipality the and Lagos between coastline the over view panoramic fabulous a cliff, is there the of top the on From terrace the P raia doCamilo  to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking support facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach The season. bathing faces south. the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support C towards da do heading Piedade. Ponta Praia station, fire the to next roundabout the at left turn and Lagos.from beach the to leading road tarmac a Thereis amilo is signposted. There is a small but organised parking area near the beach, which has basic has which beach, the near area parking organised but small a is Theresignposted. is amilo C ountless birds appreciate the platforms of the isolated rocks because they are they because rocksisolated the of platforms appreciatebirdsthe ountless lbufeira, with a sweeping perspective of the ocean the of perspective sweeping a with Albufeira, large set of stone steps leads down to the to down leads steps stone of set large A rive up the up Drive n enormous rock formation rock enormous An A venida dos venida Algarve’s “barrocal” D escobrimentos escobrimentos h ra t te ec big yu u ot a ml veig on fo wee o can you where from point viewing small a onto out you brings beach the to road The P D Pinhão. do Praia to Praia leading beach, the of east the cliff, to the of top the along footpath a submerged the rock inhabit all formations.fish, small of shoals urchins,or sea There is shrimps starfish, anemones, sea seaweed, colours: different of range new whole a discover to chance the offers you you’re snorkelling Once forbathers. that water, crannies find the and will in you sheltered nooks of cliffs, manner aprovidingthe all of shape the by caused inlets small of series consists beach The bushes. enormous some forming cliffs, the of faces rocky the cover orach, sea or saltwort wormleaf as such sea, the from spray salt the to adapted specially have that Plants sea. the overlooking platforms the on resting gulls black-headed or herons gulls, areherring these horizon:groups isolatedrocksscatteredthe the of along on shining seen be crevices, isolated groups of rocks, the remains of potholes and caves. contemplate the curious carbonate rock formations sculpted by both freshwater and seawater: ona raia DonaA

support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach The season. faces south-east. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants various facilities has which support beach, the near area parking organised and large fairly a is There signposted. is to them. left at the roundabout next to the fire station, heading towards Ponta da Piedade. Praia Piedade. da Ponta towards heading station, fire the to next roundabout the at left Lagos.from beach the toroad tarmac a Thereis close walking when taken cliffs,from be carethe stonesfalling should that of so possibility Therea is A na is a famous and very popular beach, with a wide range of tourist facilities all around it. na rive up the up Drive A venida dos venida C ountless white dots can D escobrimentos and turn turn and escobrimentos L D agos ona Ana

51 // Beach guide 52 // Beach guide LAGOS Lagos, thebeachisrelatively peacefulandquiet. swimming. underwater attractive beach. the over cross to having without water the into dive to you allowing sea, the into down leading steps of the beach, and, on the other side of this, a special viewing point has been built with a set of cliffs, high between nestling rocks. carbonate one,warm-coloured of out carved small a to is beach beginning The area. gradually barren are previously which this occupy olive-trees, and mastic-trees as such of scrubland, species characteristic coastal the of predominance a is there inland, Further rocks. the between beach daisy, all grow sweet alyssum, sea orach and wormleaf saltwort profusely in the cavities and allowing you the chance to observe some of the typical coastal vegetation: Mediterranean Praia from top cliff the along running footpath a along reached be can beach This P raia doP

The beachfaceseast. season. bathing the during supervised is and facilities support basic has which beach, the near park onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. the Praiafrom beach the tofootpath a is There There of stones is falling a frompossibility the cliffs, close so that care when walking should be taken A venida dos venida n extensive submerged area of rocks offers you the chance to enjoy some enjoy to chance the you offers rocks of area submerged extensive An D escobrimentos and follow the signs to Praia do Pinhão. There is a very small car small very a is Pinhão.There do Praia to signs the follow and escobrimentos inhão lthough it is small and very close to the urban centre of centre urban the to close very and small is it Although D ona n enormous natural arch appears to the east the to appears arch natural enormous An na, as well as a tarmac road from Lagos.from road tarmac a as well as Ana, D ona rive up Drive Ana The cliffs become a little lower on this beach and are covered in reeds, hinting at the existence P and impregnated withanintense smellofthesea. and seaweed. brightly-coloured shrimps anemones, sea barnacles, buckshot shells, top limpets, mussels, environment: intertidal the of organisms characteristic the see can you where crannies and nooks of full is Batata. The tunnel to the west has been worn away quite severely by the of action the sea and dos Praia connects east, the to another, land; to sea the the in rocks of group isolated an connect to order in hands human by built archway a curious see can you where from beach a tiny to access offers west the to one cliffs: these of out hand by dug in. been Tunnelshaveswimming for water calm of possibility the providing sea, the into continue that formations rock bysheltered and small very is marshes. beach The salt- the of soils saline the in grow also which and sea the from coming spray salt the to well haveadapted that seablite,shrubbyspecies and orach sea saltwort, here,wormleaf especially of a fairly constant flow of fresh water. Thetypical cliff plants are also to be found in abundance raia dosEstudantes

n ao. hr i a ognsd akn ae na te ec, hc hs oe upr facilities support some has which beach, the near area(restaurant) onthecliff top, butisnotsupervised. The beachfacessouth-east/east. parking organised an is There Lagos. in to them,especiallynearthetunnelsthathave beendugoutoftherocks. The beach can be reached either on foot or along a tarmac road fromroad tarmac a along or foot on either reached be can beach The There of stones is falling a frompossibility the cliffs, close so that care when walking should be taken I n these cavities, the atmosphere is humid, heavily laden with salt with laden humid,heavily atmosphereis cavities,the these n studantes to the neighbouring Praia da Praia neighbouring the to Estudantes A venida dos venida D escobrimentos escobrimentos L agos

53 // Beach guide 54 // Beach guide LAGOS from thegoldenhuesofcliffs along thisstretch ofcoastline. small boats that offer trips around the so-called and yachts bythe avenueused Lagos, of accompanyingroute marina the tothe fromsea the of the elements. the on crannies and beach, a common feature on this stretch exposed of tothe coastline, the effects which is very nooks sheltered many are There harbour. the to entrance the at right mole is a tiny area of sand called Praia de Solaria, and the Fortaleza da Ponta da Bandeira stands the Beyond holidaymakers. of use the for available arefootpath. facilities small leisureVarious sunnypaveda square,with a there occupied runs which topis along very the stoneand with covered been has and beach the behind cliff the Lagos of most characteristics: urban of displayingalready city the of centre historic the from metres few a only Bensafrim, de Ribeira of dos Praia between situated is beach The P raia daB

n ao. hr i a ognsd akn ae na te ec, hc hs aiu spot facilities support various has which beach, the(restaurants near and toilets) area and is supervised parking during organised the bathing season. an The isbeach faces There south-east/east. Lagos. in roadfrom tarmac a along footor on reachedeither be can beach The to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking I t is a fairly popular beach, appearing as a continuation of the long waterfront atata studantes and the mole built on the western side western the on built mole the and Estudantes Costa d’Ouro ( G old C A oast), a name that derives venida dos venida D escobrimentos escobrimentos The sandy beach of Meia Praia accompanies the shore line of the wide bay at Lagos, starting starting Lagos, at bay wide the of line shore the accompanies Praia Meia of beach sandy The away from the coast, it is also possible to enjoy some deep-sea sports fishing.away from sports thecoast,itisalsopossibleto enjoy some deep-sea holidaymakers. of use the for beach the on available made are sports these for sailing, water skiing, fishing, beach volleyball, beach football, etc., and various facilities support kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing, sports: beach and sports water of kinds forall spot attractive the municipality, and also because of the huge expanse of sand that forms it, it is a particularly grass, couch sand as such plants of predominance a with sand, helping to preserve the vegetation of the dune system, this being thicker at the seafront scatteredand olive-trees here and there. with patches of pinewoods and the scrubland typical of the “barrocal” region with carob-trees coveredinland, stretch that hills green very and gentle the and itself beach the of dunes low the between distance the into spreads horizon The sea. the into stretching rocks of groups de Ria of barrier sand the to kilometres four than more for stretching and Bensafrim de Ribeira the of mole eastern the at retan trefoil and the eye-catching sea daffodil. sea eye-catching the and trefoil Cretan Meia P Meia A habitat. which has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing the during season. The beachisclassifiedasanaccessible beach andfacessouth-east. supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has which beach, the near area parking organised partly and large fairly a is Thereroad. this from signposted is Praia Meia Marina. the towards heading Lagos, from beach the to leading road tarmac a is There void walking on the vegetation of the sand dune system, thus helping to preserve this vulnerable this preserve to helping thus system, dune sand the of vegetation the on walking void raia lvor. To the west you can still see the city of Lagos, with its with Lagos, of city the see still can you west the ToAlvor. network of raised footpathsA network runs over much of the A s this is the only essentially sandy beach in beach sandy essentially only the is this s E uropean beach grass, sea holly, sea grass, beach uropean little further further little A L agos

55 // Beach guide Praia da Rocha Portimão // Beach guide // Beach guide

7 6 5 5 58 // Beach guide Portimão. for andplaying essential goodssuchascork and theinlandregions, providing anoutlet vital communication route the coast between Aradewasfor theRiver its turn, many years a are thelivelihood ofthelocalcommunities. I fishing andnon-industrial shellfish picking offered by thetides: fishfarming, salt-pans, of life ofthosewholive from thegreat wealth yousanctuary, canappreciate thepeacefulway mud. I peaceful water andbanksoffinesand coastgivesthe wave-battered rocky way to Aradetothe River thewest, places where of deAlvor toRia theeastand estuary wetland areas: the important two between The shorestretches lineofthemunicipality n the Ria doAlvor,n theRia arecognised wildlife Prainha Vau n highly attractive tourist destinations. tourist highly attractive municipality’s beacheseven more valuableas fishing, have sports madethe or deep-sea sailing, such diving as windsurfing, water sports facilitiesofferedas thesupport for enjoying supply ofshopsandaccommodation, aswell welcoming beachesofgoldensand. The varied which, nestlingamongstthecliffs, are many and intensely coloured coastline, rocky along ofitsjagged feature isthebeautifulscenery But Portimão’s mostfamousanddistinctive ofthemunicipality’s supply. tourist part and all bytour operators, fishermen forming Nowadays theriverisnavigated aboveport. host to theAlgarve’s fishing mostimportant Rocha and Nascente (Três I P in thesea. appearing rocks of groups some see to possible already is it where beach, the of end eastern of tourist developments. The carbonate cliffs, highly sculpted by the elements, reappear at the area an to waygives and narrower becomes system insects. dune of sand Tolots the east, the environment, the dunes are the home to various species of birds, micro-mammals, reptiles and couch sand as plants delicate such see grass, can you seafront, the On beach. the to way the extending all and vegetation their by place in held dunes, sand the come mudbanks the after of town fishing picturesque the lagoon; the in anchored boats fishing and is boats sailing many with and houses typical its barrier with the of side inland the on sight: of out and (ranging from bivalves to cuttlefish). The molluscs sand barrier and is afish huge one,of stretchingspecies into thevaluable distance highly many for ground breeding a as functions also it birds, both those living here all year round and migratory birds passing through the region, but water of species countless for sanctuary a habitat this is water.only calm Not of channels and salt-marshes of area extensive an with lagoon inland an of existence the permits ocean, do the Ria the protecting by that, barrier sand wide the along situated is beach The raia doA  the bathingseason.I during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has beach Nascente.The and large fairly a organised partly area parking at is There signposted. clearly is beach The Portimão). from kilometres five roughly There is a tarmac road leading to the beach from the town of town the from beach the to leading road tarmac a is There habitat.

A E void walking on the vegetation of the sand dune system, thus helping to preserve this vulnerable this preserve to helping thus system, dune sand the of vegetation the on walking void uropean beach grass, cottonweed,grass, beach uropean lvor P t isclassifiedasanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth/south-west. Alvor Poente; and a fairly large but disorganised area parking at oente retan trefoil or sea daffodil. sea or trefoil Cretan rmãos)

lvor, (signposted on the on (signposted Alvor, D espite their hot, dry dry hot, their espite P o rt lvor from Alvor i m EN Alvor, Alvor ão 125,

Alvor Alvor Nascente 59 // Beach guide 60 // Beach guide PO find various speciesoforchids.find various plants as pale stonecrop, and in the spring, in the between the clearings mastic-trees, you will daisy. beach Mediterranean and lavender sea seablite,shrubby saltwort, wormleaf environments,as saline such these to well haveadapted gull.yellow-legged the or dove João d´Arens, an excellent place for spotting such birds as the shag, the jackdaw, the rare rock Ponta of formation rock the in result and fossils marine in rich are cliffs carbonate these east, diving.for Toplace the ideal an coves these making life, marine colourful and rich a to home the are rocks same these level, tide the Below potholes. and rocks of groups isolated caves, arches, cliffs: these amongst formed are that features typical the as well as rocks, the among crannies and nooks different many have each seawater.They and freshwater both of action the by sculpted intensely shapes, irregular very with formations rock scenic by another one Prainha consists of a series of small, sheltered and shell-shaped sandy beaches, separated from P rainha  RT bathing season,facessouth. the during supervised is and facilities support basic has towardsPrainha.which heading beach, The between road the from beach the to leading road tarmac a is There walk down some steps carved outofthecliffface. walk down somesteps carved then and sand the around built development tourist a through pass to have you beach, the to get edge. the from safe distance a keeping top, cliff the on walking when as well as them, to There is a possibility of stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should be taken when close walking I M ÃO A t the top of the cliffs, the predominant plants are those that those are plants predominant cliffs, the the of top the t rowing in the crevices of the rocks are such are rocks the of crevices the in Growing lvor and Praia da Rocha/Vau, da Praia and Alvor I n order toorder n rens, surrounded by numerous isolated groups of rocks of groups isolated numerous by surrounded d´Arens, João Ponta the of formation rock das Canas ( P its proximity to the major and very busy tourist centre busytourist its proximity ofPortimão. to themajor andvery eastern end. The beach is a peaceful one, set in what are still very beach’snatural surroundings,the at despite visible are that ones the as such caves, enormous and arches formations, rock a great fossils)abundance of marine in which the effects of erosion have givenrise to isolated therapeutic and purposes) the ochre cliffs out of biocalcarenites carved (carbonate rocks with for people local the by after sought highly cliffs are redclays (their soft material furrowed,sand-clay a highly from formed of succession a is beach sandy this to backdrop The beach. the before just valley pinewood, the in green growing fig-trees, and very olive-trees enormous and to way dense gives which a with covered is cliffs these of top The different birds. many of for species shelter provide and coastline receding the against firm stood have that ( gully The name of the beach derives from the watercourse that flows onto the beach down a narrow raia doB

beach, which has basic support facilities and is supervised during thebathingseason,facessouth. during facilitiesandissupervised beach, whichhasbasicsupport onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a tarmac road to the beach from There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking barranco ), with thick beds of reeds growing on either side. To the east you can see the see can you side.east Toeither the on growing reeds of beds thick with ), arranco A lemão)

A v. V3 (Portimão), heading towards Praia da Rocha/Vau. The PO RT I M ÃO

61 // Beach guide 62 // Beach guide PO C falls offitscliffs andisbelieved to have medicinal properties. which clay, its for after sought much is and holidaymakers amongst beach popular fairly a is stretch coastlinebetween trail thatrunsalongthebreathtaking ofrocky Vau andPraínha. This nature a is there cliffs, the of top the on west,bathers. Tothe of delight the are that crannies and nooks countless form and erosion by moulded heavily been have rocks the of faces The saltwort and sea orach, species that are highly resistant to the sea breezes laden with salt spray. seawater. and a in introduced been having vain attempt nature,to stabilise these cliffs, which are extremely vulnerable withto rainwater contact in exotic is cactuses) and plants ice (aloes, beach the around area the in vegetation the of Most gardens. with planted areas amongst set facilities support tourist of succession a are height beach the in Behind area. lower central the in become interrupted are beach and the of ends two the out mark that cliffs ochre and red The P areanos, the cliff is covered in the typical vegetation of these systems, especially wormleaf especially systems, these of vegetation typical the in covered is cliff the areanos, raia do

RT as anaccessiblebeachandfacessouth/southwest. the bathing facilities season. during (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised The beach is classified support various has which beach, the near area parking organised an is signposted.There is beach There is a tarmac road to the beach from onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking I M ÃO A t the edges of the beach, towards Praia do Barranco das Barranco do Praia towards beach, the of edges the t V au A v. V3 (Portimão), heading towards Praia da Rocha/Vau. The C anas or Praia dos Praia or anas do dos Praia of beaches the of includes and stretch Rocha da Praiaprecedes the that coastline of part forms and Vau do Praia by side western its on bordered is beach This this coastlineunderrelatively safe conditions. the offering protected, and out marked duly possibility of establishing close contact with cliff, nature and with the fabulous the rocky landscapes of of top the along footpath a is there a large natural arch and the remains of potholes. Between Praia do Vau and Praia dos way to sea level and the an isolatedall rock down formation drops that that is reminiscent beach of the a small of fortress, end displaying western the at pothole enormous an being rocks the amongst features notable most the beach, the crannies along another and one from on nooks follow which and caves countless are There pothole. old an of remains the through dos Praia fossils.to To marine get of abundance great a with rocks resistant more and lighter-coloured have been carved: soft and vividly red sand-clay rocks alternate with biocalcarenites, which are ochre colours alternate with one another, showing the different materials out of which and thered which in cliffscliffs, high of line continuous a backdrop their as have beaches sand. These P raia dosCareanos mado and Praiados and TrêsAmado

hc hs aiu spot aiiis rsarn ad olt) n i sprie drn te bathing the during supervised is season. The beachfacessouth/south-west. and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support various has which the beach is from the roundabout with a fountain. There is an organised areaparking near the beach, There is a tarmac road to the beach from onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking C areanos, you have to walk down a set of steep steps that seem to lead you down you lead to seem that steps steep of set a down walk to have you areanos, C astelos, extending over an area of more than one kilometre of kilometre one than more of area an over extending astelos, A v. V6 (Portimão), heading towards Praia da Rocha. PO C areanos, Praiaareanos, RT C A areanos, I ccess to M ÃO

63 // Beach guide 64 // Beach guide PO allowing you to enjoy over thesunshineandpanoramicviews theseafrom thecliff top. restingand hasvarious points, beingplanted withsomegarden areas ofterraces, andaseries which marks the border between Praia dos Três of point viewing the and beach this Três between top cliff systems. dune sand small of formation of abundance an is there cliffs, sand-clay Mediterranean and alyssum the to next accumulated has sand where sweetthe itself,daisy. places beach beach those the in On orach, sea saltwort, wormleaf spray: sea the by created down the cliff face, bordered by thick vegetation that has adapted to the saline environments some rather strange and fantastic shapes. The beach is reached via a set of steep steps that run in rocks, resulting the of contours the of different moulding a as well ochre,as and red bright the typical cliffs of this stretch of the coastline, where there is an alternation in colour between Praia do P raia doA

RT bathing season. The beachfacessouth/south-west. near the beach, which has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the to the beach is from the roundabout with a fountain. There is a fairly large and organised parking area from beach the to road tarmac a is There onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking I Amado is situated between Praia dos M ÃO mado n attractive footpath and cycle track runs along the along runs track cycle and footpath attractive An A retan trefoil and sand couch grass, leading to the to leading grass, couch sand and trefoil Cretan v. V6 (Portimão), heading towards Praia da Rocha. Rocha. towardsv.Praiada heading (Portimão), V6 C C areanos and Praia dos Três astelos and Praia da Rocha. This track is paved C astelos (also known as Bela Bela as Vista), known (also astelos C astelos, framed by A ccess The beach, whose name (three castles) alludes to the isolated rock formations that have stood has somemore peacefulareas atits western end. and extensive quite is which beach, sandy this on predominate to tend basin). colours Warm Mediterranean the in places few a in only found (being distribution geographical restricted ( penis Moor’s of Portuguese in in known plant rare extremely and small growsthereplants,halophytica these of roots the on parasite a as living orach. sea and saltwort wormleaf especially sea, the from spray salt the to resistant are that plants and mastic-trees of profusion a is there the slopes, On rocky gentler swifts. and doves rock gulls, black-headed gulls, herring kestrels, as such birds with popular very faces, cliff the on platforms rocky as well as arches,rocks, of groupsas isolated featuresand caves such see to you allowing beach, this of formations rock sculpted the over highly view remarkable a is there where from point, viewing this from cliff the down run onwhichthe Trêsof promontory point jagged viewing by the is bordered coastline, retreating the against firm P raia dos Três Castelos

season. The beachfacessouth/south-west. beach, which has basic facilities support (restaurant and toilets) and is during supervised the bathing from beach the to road tarmac a is Portimão. There of city the through foot on beach the reach Youcan to them, as well as when walking onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking A v. V6 (Portimão), heading towards Praia da Rocha. There is an organised parking area near the near area v.towards Rocha. parking Praiaorganisedheading da an (Portimão), Thereis V6 nglish as Maltese mushroom, but with the suggestive vernacular name vernacular suggestive the with but mushroom, Maltese as English C astelos is to be found. You can reach the beach via a set of steps that steps of set a via beach the reachfound. Youcan be to is astelos piça-de-mouro ), which derives from its phallic shape and its and shape phallic its from derives which ), A t the foot of the cliffs, the of foot the t PO RT I M ÃO

65 // Beach guide 66 // Beach guide PO of its extraordinary beauty. of itsextraordinary because here itself impose to seems also landscape natural the Rocha, da Praia surrounding Três beach, the of end either at found be to points viewing high the From atmosphere. livelycolourful and providesdistinctive and its supply with tourist beach the restaurants, discos, and a casino, finally culminating inMarina. Portimão This greatly diversifies and cafés open-air bars, hotels, of succession a that has Rocha da avenue Praia of seafront The the along bathers. runs for designed facilities support different of variety wide a find will you which along area, its of whole the almost cover that footpaths wooden wide of network I Portugal. of whole the in beaches known best the of one and holidaymakers amongst beach popular increasingly an is Rocha da Praia cliffs, shaped aesthetically and protected warm-coloured kilometre, by one than more over stretching sand, of area spacious and vast a With P ltar. The landscape is also marked by the mouth of the River River de Monchique. hills of Serra the of mouth the by marked also do is Ponta landscape of The Altar.lighthouse the and d´Arens João Ponta of formation rock scenic the between across the River Santa de Fortaleza and west t has been subjected to major improvement work, so that the beach is now provided with a with provided now is beach the that so improvementwork, major to subjected been has t raia daRocha

RT There is a tarmac road to the beach through the city of Portimão, following the signs to Praia da Praia to signs the following Portimão, of city the through beach the to road tarmac a is There classified asanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth/south-west. different of variety wide a is beach season. The bathing has the during supervised is which and toilets) and (restaurants facilities beach, support the near area parking organised an is There Rocha. to them, as well as when walking onthecliff top,tokeeping asafe them,aswell aswhenwalking distancefrom theedge. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking I M ÃO Arade estuary, visitors can enjoy a fabulous panoramic view over the coastline D C espite the heavily and tourist atmosphere urbanised of the area atarina de Ribamar to the east, the latter standing at the bar the at standing latter the east, the to Ribamar de atarina rade itself and the nearby nearby the and itself Arade C astelos to the to astelos

Alvor Nascente (Três Irmãos) 67 // Beach guide Lagoa Senhora da Rocha // Beach guide // Beach guide

68 69 C

70 // Beach guide arvoeiro Lagoa. mark out its coastline, resulting in unexpected and one and is characterised by the jagged cliffs that of the municipality of Lagoa is essentially a rocky ceramics and pottery of Porches. The coastal strip of traditional crafts, embodied in particular by the lace-patterned chimney-pots and their great wealth dazzling white houses, their intricately designed, their narrow cobbled streets, their rustic and municipality’s towns and villages have preserved that is typical of the agricultural purposes is the lush green scrubland in the gullies and fields that are no longer used for fig-trees or carob-trees. Now to be found growing vineyards and dryland orchards of almond-trees, all of undulating fields planted with never-ending I nland from the sea, the landscape consists above A lgarve’s “barrocal” region. The Pintadinho as their place of shelter and their breeding grounds. of birds and bats have chosen these rock formations be seduced by this landscape, for countless species But it is not only humankind that has allowed itself to isolated groups of rocks, potholes, arches and caves. where different features have been formed, such as has resulted in unusual eroded limestone landscapes, furrows. The persistent action of water upon the rock giving rise to some curiously shaped crevices and and the rain that slowly erodes them from inside, wears them away and undercuts them at their base; the action of water: the saltwater from the sea that ochre-coloured carbonate rocks, are vulnerable to of time and the elements. The cliffs, carved out of permanently changing because of the erosive effects truly breathtaking landscapes, their appearance C aneiros and P descending the hill in a series ofwhite terraces.descending thehillinaseries River the of bank eastern the overlooks which town, fishing traditional Ferragudo,a of of the stream that flows intoriver the there. This is a small beach situated at the foot of the hill da Praia sandy the appears C do João São de Forte the of north Tothe areas to thesouth,where agreen coloursofthecliffs. thewarm interrupts patch ofpine-trees playground. children’sa even and restaurants and cafés air open facilities, tourist of variety a are which to raised wooden footpath has been placed sand. over the sand of and runs along accumulation of part the beach, next an been has there where cavities rocky small the in grow which of as such systems, dune sand of plants typical the or orach, sea and saltwort wormleaf as such sea, the from salt of spray the to adapted have vegetation, that plants of those especially kinds all with covered are cliffs the of faces rocky The elements. the by away eaten and eroded greatly been have that cliffs of line a by framed sand, of expanse spacious and large a is beach The triangles. white and masts of profusion great a Marina, Portimão in moles at the river’s mouth, with it being possible to see, close to the western mole and already RI the of Ferragudo. The main access to heart the beach coincides with the opening marked by the the two great in situated is beach The trn o te te sd o te ie, ne urned h dfne f h etay there estuary, the of defence the guaranteed once river, the of side other the on atarina raia G

the bathing season. Both beachesfacesouth-west.the bathingseason.Both during supervised also is beach this and toilets), and (restaurants facilities support various there are to them. fairly fairly large parking area close to Praia da Grande and Praia da Praia both to Lagoa) from kilometres five (roughly Ferragudo of town the from footpaths are There There of stones is falling a frompossibility the cliffs, close so that care when walking should be taken P raia daA I t is a very popular beach, although there are some quieter and more peaceful more and quieter some are there although beach, popular very a is t rande Angrinha. There is a small but organised areaparking near to Praia ngrinha, whose shape changes in accordance with the mouth the with accordance in changes shape whose Angrinha,

ngrinha Angrinha, 250 metres from Praia rade, which, together with the Fortaleza de Santa de Fortaleza the with together which, Arade, ver ae sur, t h fo o te on of town the of foot the at estuary, Arade Grande. Only at Praia retan trefoil, all trefoil, Cretan Grande, and a LLAGOA agoa Grande Arade, A

Praia Grande and Angrinha Praia Grande 71 // Beach guide 72 // Beach guide LAGOA see salt crystals glittering onitsleaves. glittering see saltcrystals whereas sea orach is a plant that “transpires salt”, and in the or eveningmorning early you can content carbonate sodium (since it absorbs sodium from saline soils), so that it is high widely used in the manufacture of soap, a has that plant a is saltwort Wormleaf bushes. enormous form and cliffs the of faces rocky the cover orach, sea and saltwort wormleaf as such sea, the from spray salt the to well particularly adapted have that Plants landslides. earlier of remains the sand, the on seen be can rocks of blocks countless and furrows, and crevices of full and cliffs. the of walking rocks the of by out carved steps reached steep of set is a down beach The waves. breaking the for horizon the on waiting patiently more are sea and sand consistent, with both it being frequent to mole, find waves leaping same over the breakwater and tothe see surfers of side seaward the on whereas calm, is here River the of mole waterthe and mole tothe next sand of accumulation fromsmall estuary,thereinland a the is eastern the around spread has that beach small a is This P raia doMolhe

at thefoot ofthecliffs, offallingstones. due to thepossibility Youtowalk can Praia Pintadinhodo lowat tide, youalthough payshould attentionclose to areathe has no supervision. has nosupervision. The beachfacessouth-west. Although there is a restaurant here, it is not authorised to provide facilities for bathing and the beach beach. the near area parking organised and large fairly kilometres. threea roughlyfor is Theresouth heading Lagoa), from kilometres five (roughly Ferragudo from beach the to road tarmac a is There ere, the cliffs are very jagged very are cliffs the Here, rade. Moving Moving Arade. promontory promontory on which a lighthouse has been built. The rich scrubland of the Pontado of west the to immediately lies that beach the is This P background. River the of mouth the enormous of kind a vault with two arches. forms The beach faces west and, from that Praia do Pintadinho, it is possible to see gallery the to drawn is attention end, northern beach’s the do Ponta of foot the at place taken has that undercutting clear the as such sea’serosion, the of result a as rock limestone the in produced been have cliffs,warm-coloured various marine fossils can be seen, as well as shapes the that remarkable broom, Spanish palms, profusion. great in grow fan lianas which over roses, rock spotted and roses dwarf rock sage-leaf myrtle, thyme, mastic-trees, vegetation: of patch green do Ponta of headland the of cliffs exposed the of vegetation typical the with joins and coastline the to down way the all reachesregion raia doP

to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking season. The beachfaceswest. the near area parking disorganised beach, but which has basic large support facilities (restaurant and fairly toilets) and is a supervised during the bathing is There kilometres. three roughly for south There is a tarmac road to the beach from Ferragudo (roughly five kilometres from Lagoa), heading Lagoa), from kilometres five (roughly Ferragudo from beach the to road tarmac a is There intadinho rade marked out by its moles, as well as the city of Portimão in the in Portimão of city the as well as moles, its by out marked Arade ltar. The beach is therefore framed by a dense a by framed therefore is beach The Altar. ltar. On the cliff that marks out marks that cliff the On Altar. ltar, a narrow and elongated and narrowAltar, a Algarve’s “barrocal” LAGOA I n the n

73 // Beach guide 74 // Beach guide LAGOA by egrets (cattle egrets and little egrets), this being a particularly rare case in these birds are to land. befound normally nestingintrees ondry case rare particularly a being this egrets), little and egrets (cattle egrets by place nesting and sleeping a as used also winter.is the it in But preferredplace their sleeping arearocks,as the these use on who shags therefore of largecolonies spot to sight common a Network Natura the da Leixão the is This sea. the from salt the with laden winds constant the to adapted successfully have that plants with covered ledge large a with coast, the from removed further and larger other the two isolated groups of rocks can be seen in the water, one smaller and closer to the beach and do Ponta of headland the present-day sea level. To the west is the high and almost straight line of cliffs that form the abovesuspended valley formingbeautiful and a middle the in sand the of levelto the almost its distinctive natural surroundings. The cliffsrise up at either end of the beach, dropping down This small sandy beach appears to the east of the headland of Ponta do P raia do

support facilities and is not supervised, facessouth-west. facilitiesandisnotsupervised, support no has which lighthouse.beach, Thethe to close area parking small a for except beach, the around south for roughly three and a half kilometres to Ponta do heading Lagoa), from kilometres five (roughly Ferragudo from beach the to road tarmac a is There closeto them. care whenwalking shouldbetaken children or people with reduced mobility. There is a possibility of stones falling from the cliffs, so that for recommended not is approach this that so fishermen, the by there placed ropes the of help the lowtide. with managed only normally Tryingis and difficult to reach frombeach the cliffsthe is very The preferred means of access to the beach is either by boat or else on foot from Praia dos G aivota, designated a specially protected area for birds, under the scope of scope the under birds, for area protected specially a designated aivota, V I nitiative, because of its importance as a habitat for various sea birds.sea various for habitat a as importance its of because nitiative, ale daA ltar, where enormous caves can be seen. On the line of the horizon, the of line the On seen. be can caves enormous where Altar, zinhaga Altar. There are no parking places in the area Altar and is notable for E urope, since urope, C aneiros at I t is t still possible to see the lighthouse of Ponta do Ponta of lighthouse the see to possible still da Valedo Praia of continuation a is beach This P wormleaf saltwort andseaorach. wormleaf saltwort cliff plants:of diversity thyme,typical rock samphire,Mediterranean beach daisy, sea lavender, great a by colonised been have they here and resistant, more are and rock colour in the grey are that of areas are These calcite. of effects the involves that reaction chemical a through intertidal of organisms marine environments. typical the by area the of colonisation the for allowing and water the in already rocks of blocks many with beach, the of stretch eastern the along visible host of nooks and crannies amongst the rocks. The remains of an earlier landslide whole are a also and quite undercutting severe caves, impressive some in resulting visible, quite is sea the rainwater.the by eroded and furrowed intensely are and beach the centreof towards smaller the cliffs become these white.of faces rocky The and ochre,pink of colour,shades of with strips alternate featuresthe prominentare most the which in cliffs high by framed is and one previous the than longer however,and wider much raia dosCaneiros

toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during toilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth-west. (restaurantand facilities support basic has which beach, the areanear organisedparking an Thereis kilometres. half a and three roughly of distance a over beach the to signs the following and south to them. There is a tarmac road to the beach from Ferragudo (roughly five kilometres from Lagoa), heading Lagoa), from kilometres five (roughly Ferragudo from beach the to road tarmac a is There There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking A t some points, the cliff has the appearance of having been “cemented”, of having appearance the has cliff the points, some t ltar and the Leixão da Leixão the and Altar A A zinhaga, and to the west of the beach it is it beach the of west the to and zinhaga, t the foot of the cliff, the erosive action of action erosive the cliff, the of foot the t G aivota. The beach is, beach aivota. The LAGOA

75 // Beach guide 76 // Beach guide LAGOA and P walking down anarrow,walking windingsetofsteps. C piece of sand that comes into view as you round the the westerncliff end marking of Praia do I popular beach,withlotsoflife andentertainment. central square, which forms an attractive space for social conviviality and shopping. for and walking some magnificent views over the ocean. The beach is continued by the sunny The footpaths and viewing points on top of fishing the cliffs offer for visitors some fantastic sea opportunities to out taken still purposes, are although they and are also bathers used to the take holidaymakers on with fabulous tours beach of the the sea caves. share boats coloured brightly- fishermen’s The caves. enormous with filled and green in covered are cliffs scenic beautifully The tourism. of terms in municipality the of hallmark visual the as itself establish to cliffs the of faces rocky the on time of work aesthetic the of advantage taken has successfully it and cliffs surrounding the with amphitheatre natural a forms village white dazzlingly water.calm of cove welcoming Theand small a with association its through being into came C P f you’ref in arvoeiro. This tiny beach nestles amongst some tall warm-coloured cliffs and is reached by reached is and cliffs warm-coloured tall some amongst nestles beach tiny This arvoeiro. centre, tourist cosmopolitan a into converted been has that village fishing old an arvoeiro, raia doCarvoeiro

or supervision. or supervision. The beachfacessouth-west. of PraiaParaísoseason. do bathing the is during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has which beach, the near area parking organised an is There There is a tarmac road to the beach from Lagoa, heading south for roughly three and a half kilometres. to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking C arvoeiro arvoeiro and has a very small and organised car park, although the beach has no support facilities C raia doP arvoeiro, then we dare you to pay a visit to Praia do Paraíso, a small shell-shaped small Paraíso,a do Praia to visit a pay to you dare we then arvoeiro, araíso

00 metres to the westmetres the to1500 I t is a very t is a very

Carvoeiro Carvoeiro The beach is a large expanse of sand stretching westwards and flanked by imposing sheer imposing by flanked and westwards stretching sand of expanse large a is beach The P sea itself. white seabream or sand smelts that can be seen swimming around the rock formations in the sea anemones) that can be seen on the rocks to the shoals of common two-banded seabream, animals characteristic of the environmentintertidal (buckshot barnacles, mussels, limpets and view over the coastline; snorkelling will help you to discover the secrets of marine life, from the cliff at the eastern end, covered by exuberant coastal scrubland and offering you a magnificent Walking is favouredparticularly found. at be this beach: a to set are of wooden fossils steps takes you marine to some the top and of the cliffs the of plants typical the where ledge rocky a runs. along furrows rainwater minuscule the of which series a by marked is cliff the of front the beach the of section central the in while sea, the by undercutseverely been already has base the that see can you cliffs, aesthetically sculpted by rainwater and seawater. On the rocky face of the cliff to the west, raia de

rsarn ad olt) n i sprie drn te ahn sao. h bah ae south/ faces beach The season. bathing the during supervised southwest. is and facilities support toilets) basic has and which (restaurant beach, the near area parking organised an is There kilometres. to them. There is a tarmac road to the beach from the lower end of end lower the from beach the to road tarmac a is There There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking V ale Centeanes wide wooden footpath runs across the beach, accompanying beach, the across runs footpath wooden wide A C arvoeiro, heading east for roughly two two roughly for east heading arvoeiro, LAGOA

77 // Beach guide 78 // Beach guide LAGOA which are coloured with lichens in the rainy season. Mediterranean beachdaisy.Mediterranean the salt spray from the sea are cliff plants, the typical such as sea lavender oreye-catching the to native palm-tree only the palms, fan dwarf and mastic-trees trees, juniper of predominance a with scrubland, coastal thick to home is and green and lush very is beach the before gully itself. The cliff the of face the in bar a for space comfortable a even and porticos crannies, and nooks tasteful of number a also but patience, and care great with dug was walls. that the tunnel the in only not embedded is fossils it marine And of lots see can you where rocks, the of out hand by their great height all along the edge of the beach. and small a nestles group there of rocks marks the beach’s which central area and cuts the horizon into two. of The cliffs maintain midst the cliffs. ochre eroded heavily by flanked sand in of patch welcoming V-shape, narrow a forms coastline The P raia doCarvalho

kilometres. There is an organised parking area near the beach, which has no support facilities or facilities support no has supervision. The beachfacessouth. which beach, the near area parking organised an is There kilometres. of end lower the from beach the to road tarmac a is There to them. face. cliff the down gently There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs,descending so that care should close be when taken walking steps, stone of set enormous an via reached is beach The E urope. great entanglement of lianas grow profusely over the shrubs, the over profusely grow lianas of entanglement great A A Growing in the limestone rock exposed to ccess to the sand is through a tunnel dug C arvoeiro, heading east for roughly five roughly for east heading arvoeiro, n attractive and enormous enormous and attractive An The beach appears at the bottom of a deep valley and is closely linked to the fishing harbour harbour fishing the to linked closely is and valley deep a of bottom the at appears beach The P eroded limestone landscape, suchascaves andpotholesinthefaceofcliff. rainwater.by caused rock limestone the of dissolving the and sea the of waves the of action joint the by shaped and sculpted highly now are rocks These coastline. present-day the submerged and inland as locally known also fossils, marine in rich very and rocks carbonate of out carved cliff, ochre-coloured imposing the as far as eastwards stretches beach the boats, brightly-coloured the by passed have you Once region. this of beaches isolated the and caves sea the see to trips on visitors take also top. cliff the on up higher placed is beach the to name its gave that village Benagil. fishing of The raia deB

The beach, unsupervised for bathing purposes, facessouth. The beach,unsupervised (restaurant). fishing for facilities support basic some has which beach, the near area parking tiny a is to them. School School and following the signs to the beach, roughly five and a halfkilometres from the There is a tarmac road to the beach from the There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking A ccess to the beach brings you out into the area reserved for the fishing boats, which boats, fishing the for reserved area the into out you brings beach the to ccess I enagil n Benagil, it is possible to see the typical features of this type of highly of type this of features typical the see to possible is it Benagil, n concheiros , which testify to a past time when the sea reached further further reached sea the when time past a to testify which , EN 125, turning southwards at the lgarve Algarve EN I nternational nternational LAGOA 125. There

79 // Beach guide 80 // Beach guide LAGOA visible around thepicnicarea atthe top ofthecliff. land, allow yourselfon dry to be seduced by the fields of orchids that grow here in the spring, back you’re When suits. diving own their with those or snorkellers to either accessible here, trail nature underwater an cuttlefish. follow and can octopus You curious the and fish young the sand along grass or sea of wrasse area rainbow westerly most seabream, The smelts. two-banded common seabream, white of shoals and pipefish greater shrimps, starfish, and urchins sea anemones, sea to home are environments rocky the habitats: marine of diversity impressive an also is There top). cliff the from seen be only can case, this isolated in that, rocks caves, the in arches, shafts formed (naturally features:potholes and formations rockrock shaped curiously of range remarkable a to rise giving and creviced and fissured cliffs, highly limestone warm-coloured by surrounded is beach The to the line of the cliffs does the visitor manage to see the sand that stretches away westwards. A long but gently descending set of steps leads down into a small cove, and only by advancing P raia daMarinha

School and following the signs to the beach, roughly four and a half kilometres from the from kilometres half a and four roughly beach, the to signs the following and School There is a fairly large and organised parking area near the beach, which has some basic support support basic some has which beach, thebathingseason. during facilities (restaurant andtoilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth. the near area parking organised and large fairly a is There There is a tarmac road to the beach from the to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking EN 125, turning southwards at the lgarve’s coastline conceals within it within conceals coastline Algarve’s lgarve Algarve I nternational nternational EN 125. “barrocal” region, with an abundance of sweet-smelling carob-trees. sweet-smelling of abundance an with region,“barrocal” the of shrubs typical the with filled fields through you takes beach the to path The P kestrels, andshagscaneasilybespotted inthislandscape. swifts seabirds. and bats especially animals, different of kinds all for habitat perfect the providescavities, of full ledges rocky raised and undergroundgalleries caves, its with coastline, of stretch this of landscape limestone eroded typical caves.The and slopes undercut enormous rocks,in resultingthe shaped has sea the which in way the see to possible is it beach, the around cliffs the On swimming-pools. natural beautiful some as well as bathers, the by of advantage taken always almost crannies, and nooks sheltered various to rise givingoutcrop rocky a by divided is and sand of stretch small a is itself beach beach. The whole the surrounds greenthat of patch daisy,a formingbeach Mediterranean eye-catching the typical species that and grow on juniper-treescliffs, such as rockwith samphire, wormleaf seaareas, saltwort, orach and the scrubland coastal in found normally plants exuberant the raia daA

beach facessouth. The supervised. not is but restaurant, a has which beach, the near area parking organised and large to them. School and following the signs to the beach, roughly six kilometres from the from kilometres six roughly beach, the tosigns following the and School There is a tarmac road to the beach from the There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking lbandeira EN 125, turning southwards at the erring-gulls, black-headed gulls, black-headed Herring-gulls, loser to the sea grow sea the to Closer EN lgarve Algarve . There is a fairly 125. fairly a Thereis I nternational nternational LAGOA Algarve’s

81 // Beach guide 82 // Beach guide LAGOA the otherendoftunnelisPraia daRocha. daSenhora points where the light reaches, you can see countless marine fossils embedded in the rock. roughlymetres.overof 60 distance a Rocha, da Senhora of headland rocky the of whole the through passing hand, cliffs by the of out dug painstakingly tunnel a through else or middle, the in roughly emerging top, cliff the from slope the down run that stepssteep fairly salt-marshes.of the set of a soils reachedvia saline is the beach The sea, such as wormleaf saltwort, sea orach and shrubby seablite, plants that have also colonised face. cliff These terraces the are covered in with profuse vegetation tiers that has adapted of to the formation salt spray from the the in resulted have that landslides earlier of remains see roughly 300metres long, bordered by acontinuouslineofred andochre cliffs where you can sand, of expanse large a is beach The landscapes. coastal different the over view panoramic magnificent a affording and coast the of rest the from out jutting promontory narrow very a the of west the to appears beach The P raia Nova  beach facessouth-east. and organised areaparking near the beach, which has no support facilities and is not supervised. The the signs roughly to daRocha, Senhora four from andahalfkilometres Porches. There large isafairly There is a tarmac road to the beach from the from beach the to road tarmac a is There cliffs, close to them. the sothatcarewhenwalking shouldbetaken from falling stones of possibility a is There Rocha. da Senhora da Praia neighbouring the onto down way your make to have you tunnel, by beach Rocha. Tothe da reach Senhora of promontory The set of steps leading down to the beach is roughly 200 metres from the parking area on the on area parking the from metres 200 roughly is beach the to down leading steps of set The C apela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, a chapel built on built chapel a Rocha, da Senhora Nossa de apela EN , turning southwards at Porches and following and Porches at southwards turning 125, I n the walls of the tunnel,those the at of walls the n A t This very welcoming beach is associated with the fishing harbour of Senhora da Rocha, so Rocha, da Senhora of harbour fishing the with associated is beach welcoming very This P niomns a wl a te onls brs ht ek hle hr: hg, etes black- kestrels, shags, here: shelter seek andswifts. headed gulls, herring-gulls that birds countless saline the these of as plants well typical the as see environments, to common is it face, cliff the On lianas. of profusion great a grows there which over mastic-trees, and olive-trees wild junipers, with green, deep can you where from toway the all coastline the of whole the Rocha, see da Senhora of promontory prominent the by west the to and beach is marked out to the east by the line of cliffs,The sea. where itby is possible toaccessible see various potholes,only are that beaches isolated as well as colour, and fascinating light a of interplay find will you where caves, region’ssea the visit to people taking for used also fishermen’sthe huts. and pots) octopus the (especially equipment fishing various the boats, fishing the with shared is sand the that raia daS   facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season, is classified as an as classified is season, bathing the during accessible beachandfacessouth. supervised is and toilets)support basic and has (restaurant which beach, facilities The beach. the near restrictions special to subject and limited is fairly a is There Porches. from kilometres half large and organised a areaparking near the promontory of and Nossa Senhora da Rocha, four although parking roughly Rocha, da Senhora to signs the to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should be close when taken walking There is a tarmac road to the beach from the from beach the to road tarmac a is There roughly is beach The enhora daRocha 0 metres from the parking area on the promontory of Senhora da Rocha. Rocha. da Senhora of promontory the on area parking the from metres 150 A t the request of holidaymakers, the same boats are boats same the holidaymakers, of request the t lbufeira. The beach is surrounded by a patch of patch Albufeira.a by surrounded is beach The EN , turning southwards at Porches and followingPorches and at southwards turning 125, LAGOA

83 // Beach guide 84 // Beach guide LAGOA seabirds, theserocks are ofgreat interest for nature conservation. the retreatedhas coastline restthe moreof much quickly. Providing while forhabitat ideal countless an erosion, of effects the withstood have rocks of groups These east. the to seen be orach. sea and saltwort wormleaf lavender, sea daisy, beach Mediterranean samphire, rock plants: thyme, cliff typical of diversity great a by colonised been have that rocks resistant more are been have to “cemented”. appears almost rock These the where areas greyish some are cliffs, wearing away of the rocks are quite extraordinary. and jagged rock formations. The shapes that have been formed in the cliffs by the erosion and shelteredprovidedsinuous of crannies full and warm-coloured, is nooks bythe space the but one, large a not is nestles beach the which broom.in Spanish bay Theand trees,mastic-trees pine- side: either on vegetation of lots by bordered and style Portuguese the in paved steps I P n order to reach the beach, you have to make your way down a long set of gently descending raia daCova Redonda

and is supervised during thebathingseason. during and issupervised The beachfacessouth. area roughly 200 kilometres from the beach, which has basic facilities support (restaurant and toilets) signs to the beach, roughly four fromkilometres Porches. There small is but a organisedvery parking There is a tarmac road to the beach from the to them. There is a of possibility stones falling from the cliffs, so that care should close be when taken walking n isolated rock formation with a shape that is reminiscent of an enormous ship can ship enormous an of reminiscent is that shape a with formation rock isolated An EN 125, turning southwards at Porches and following the I n some places, amongst the furrows of the and P P isolated groups of rocks, separated only by a narrow gap, interrupt the line of the horizon. the of theseaare thechosenhabitatofmany wallsoverlooking seabirds.These rocky line the interrupt gap, narrow a by only enormous separated rocks,two of where groups beach, isolated welcoming and small the to face cliff the down run alyssum sweet eye-catching the and plants thyme aromatic by side either on bordered steps of set a arches and potholes are the distinctive marks of this stretch of coastline. rocks, of groups isolated saltwater: and freshwater of effects the by sculpted formations rock and ocean. the vegetation over views coastal fantastic typical some affords the when by bordered taken is path be The edge. always cliff must the to care close due walking although Beijinhos, dos Praia neighbouring the to leading their top a there along To is and footpath up rise cliffs the of faces rocky west,the the around whichdensevegetation hasbegunto grow intheform ofreeds andtamarisks. rainwater, of trickles of existence furrowed, the highly revealing is beach the surrounding cliff The erosion. of effects the by marked rocks of area an within contained still is Olival do Vale of bay sandy the of end western the at situated is it Although raia de  beach facessouth/south-east. and is during supervised the bathing season, although this only applies to Praia de Vale do Olival. The toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has which beach, the near area parking disorganised h sgs to signs the the from beach the to road tarmac a is There is highly restricted, in order to prevent further destabilisation of the cliff. On the beach, there is a is there beach, ofstones fallingfrom the possibility thecliffs,close to them. sothatcarewhenwalking shouldbetaken On cliff. the of destabilisation further prevent to order in restricted, highly is Praia dos Beijinhos can only be reached on foot across Praia de Vale do Olival. Traffic on the cliff top cliff Olival.de PraiaVale the do acrossTraffic foot on on reached be only can Beijinhos dos Praia raia dosB rmação de Pera, roughly five kilometres from Porches. There is a fairly largebut fairly a is There Porches. from kilometres five roughly Pera, de Armação V ale doOlival eijinhos EN nother remarkable feature is the profusion of profusion the is feature remarkable Another , turning southwards at Porches and following and Porches at southwards turning 125,

rmação de Pera, the beach of beach Pera,the de Armação A t Praia dos Beijinhos, LAGOA

Vale do Olival and Beijinhos Vale do Olival 85 // Beach guide 86 // Beach guide Praia Grande Silves

86 // Beach guide

87 // Beach guide 88 // Beach guide Silves. rmação dePêra,beaches: Armação urban awell-known area oftheAlgarve’s includes two mostfamous kilometresroughly inlength.Nonetheless, five this that itoccupiesisrelatively small, amountingto area, althoughthecoastalstrip ofitssurface terms in intheAlgarve the secondlargest municipality andanoutletforcontact itstrade. I meansofmaintaining asanimportant functioned Arade,with thecoastlineviaRiver whichonce long enjoyed anexcellent form ofcommunication abroad valley, farming fertile, overlooking has beach. But Silves, an inland that city stands proudly other possibilitiesthansimplysunbathingonthe a diversified naturallandscapethatoffers tourists andculturalfeatures historical and with important consistsofessentiallyhillyterrain, The municipality rmação dePêraArmação rmação dePêraArmação t iscurrently on theirway to different places. round, birds thatstop butalsothemigratory offhere for water birds, notonly thosethatlive here allyear line ofsanddunesandwetlands of great importance andisborderedthan sixkilometres by animmense forming acontinuousbeach thatstretches over more one oftherare longexpansesofsandinthisregion, coastlineisinterrupted to rocky givetypical way to region: thelarge dePêra. bay ofArmação Here, the special area ofthe Algarve’s inthecontext western belonging ofSilves to occupiesa themunicipality species offloraandfauna. The stretch ofcoast value, interesting whichare hometo somevery natural landscapeanditshabitatsofgreat ecological centre for tourists, andPraia Grande, noted for its Praia Grande well as the tourist of resort the of The western end of the beach is marked by the jagged limestone cliffs that are atypical feature P heron orthesmallandtireless plovers. de grey enormous the as birds,such water Ribeira countless and vegetation typical its with the Alcantarilha, of mouth the at formed is that wetland the and distance the into stretching areagradually in the dunes never-ending are see humanbefore presence nowyou. youup What opens horizon the and disappears the of evidence the beach, fishermen’s the passed have you Once subsistence. their of basis very the was which nets), and equipment (fishing preparethe to used beach) the of “armação”east the to inland Pêrafurther (situatedof village the from fishermen the where place the is this that fact the from derives beach’sname The beach is full of brightly-coloured fishing boats and huts where the fishing equipment is stored. east of the beach, doing justice to the longstanding fishing traditions of meal. Toa or the drink a for stop can you where restaurants and cafés outdoor sun-drenched beachgoers. raia deA

as anaccessiblebeachanditfacessouth/south-west. provided (restaurants and toilets)in the bathing and season. the beach is supervised This is classified of town the through foot on reached be can beach The ). There is ample but disorganised parking space at each end of the beach. Various facilities are facilities Various beach. the of end each at space parking disorganised but ample is There 125). Algarve’sregion.western Tobay,however,sandy largeeast, a the as of beginning the is promenade runs along the beach by the sea with areas of gardens and many and gardens of areas with sea the by beach the along runs promenade A rmação deP rmação Armação de Pêra, which providesfor all services of kinds important êra rmação de Pêra (signposted on the on (signposted Pêra de Armação rmação de Pêra,Armação the S ilv e EN s

89 // Beach guide 90 // Beach guide silv irrigation devices. irrigation orchards,dryland now semi-abandoned, where of old mills and therehydraulic is no shortage and fields wheat of essentially consisting area, farmland a is dune sand immense the of side that correspond to ancient beaches that have since been transformed into stone. On the other de Ribeira the of mouth the to close beach the on stand you When thrift. prickly eye-catching the and fossilised) become now have and than more are that dunes (ancient arenites observe can you it over crossed have you once and area, the over view panoramic delightful a offering bridge and pathway with smell.helichrysum its typical curry-like to up of widths reachinghere, one robust a is dunes sand the of systemgallinule. The purple or emblematic stilt black-winged elegant the as such species, different of populations important to home is it since birds water watching for lagoon famous internationally an being area latter of the beach: the marshland of without countryside, any signs of human presence. Two wetland areas mark out the perimeter Praia at dunes sand and beach The P raia G

south-west. provided (restaurants and toilets) and the beach is in supervised the bathing season. The beach faces area parking in the centre of the beach area and at the western end. There are some facilities support disorganised but large fairly Salgados.a dos Praiais There neighbouring the from or sand the across and to the central area of the beach. The eastern end of the beach can only be reached on foot either and a half kilometres, the road turns into a dirt track for roughly 2 kilometres, heading both westwards discover habitatsofthearea. thevarious There is a tarmac road leading to the beach from the village of Pêra (close to the to (close Pêra of village the from beach the to leading road tarmac a is There to chance the you offering fields, the through and beach the along running trail nature a is There e s 00 metres, where there is a predominance of aromatic plant species, such as the as such species, plant aromatic of predominance a is there where metres, 300 rande lcantarilha Alcantarilha to the west and Lagoa de Salgados to the east, this rande stretch over more than two kilometres of open of kilometres two than more over stretch Grande I n the central area of the beach, there is a wooden lcantarilha, you will see some rock formations rock some see will you Alcantarilha, EN 000 years old years 3000 125). A fter one fter

Praia Grande 91 // Beach guide 92 // Beach guide Túnel (Peneco)

92 // Beach guide A lbufeira

93 // Beach guide 94 // Beach guide Albufeira. tourist centres, with roughly thirty kilometres kilometres centres,tourist with roughly thirty are main municipality one ofthecountry’s along thecoast. Nowadays, Albufeira andits to tourists seethefabulous cavesfor taking boatsthatare todayits brightly-coloured used dos Pescadores (thefishermen’s beach), with is Praia industry and itsprosperous fishexport from thecity’s longstandingfishingtradition white houseswiththeirarches. What remains its narrow streets, theoldcastleandvery oftheregion’speriod occupationare Moorish natural amphitheatre. from Remaining the theseaanditsappearance ofa overlooking position becauseofitslofty in the8thcentury), The of city the “castle ofthesea” ( Falésia Albufeira bywas known the Al-Buhera wasitsname Rocha Baixinha Rocha Arabs as and brightly-coloured orange groves.and brightly-coloured orchards withalmondtreesdryland inblossom grass,made from surrounded esparto by orrugsandmats as azulejos, copperarticles of thehand-painted decorative tilesknown are stillpractised,suchasthemanufacture peaceful villageswhere traditionalhandicrafts thatof to existalongsideanotherreality: thesecontinue most famousintheAlgarve, facilitiesanditsnightlifetourist are the perhaps offer to tourists. Althoughthemunicipality’s different facilitiesandamenitiesthatthey oftheiruseandoccupationthe in terms oftheirnaturalsettingbutalso only interms differentthem very from oneanother, not beaches,of coastlineandover allof twenty C astelo formed at the very end of the Ribeira de The beach is a continuation of Praia P which allows you to discover thefloraandfauna ofthesanddunesandLagoadosSalgados. areas. peaceful and quiet very some with sand of expanse vast a is beach The fauna. and flora in abundant as just but lower much now distance, the stretching into dunes sand are east the to fishing; seen be can of the lagoon, surrounded by thick vegetation where coots and in sometimes particular shags natural its Praiaof dunes sand robust the arewest the to state: in remains still beach the to close area The palm-trees. tall by flanked avenue an a tourist development tolinked the golf course along the shores of downthe lagoon, walking which communicates sporadically with the sea, you can follow the Praia the follow can you sea, the with sporadically communicates which raia dosS A  The beachisclassifiedasanaccessibleandfaces south-west. which has basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. to the beach roughly away. 2 kilometres There large is a fairly and organised near the beach, car park Lagoa dosSalgadosisnotsuitableeitherfor bathingorfor water sports. t ValeParraroad between de the on algados rossing over the area around the mouth of the Ribeira de Ribeira the of mouth the around area the over Crossing Grande to the east of Lagoa dos Salgados, the lagoon that is AlbufeiraPêraand (EM Espiche. To reach the beach, you have to pass through rande and the broad mirror-like surface surface mirror-like broad the and Grande 26), there is a tarmac roadsignposted tarmac a thereis 526), rande nature trail, nature Grande alb ufe Espiche, i r a

95 // Beach guide 96 // Beach guide alb and P stone pines on the top of the orange-coloured cliff.stone pines onthetop oftheorange-coloured and Salgados dos Praia Praia of system sand-dune the of continuation a providing helichrysum, as such seen, be can dunes vegetation sand typical of the beach, the of end western the at mainly heavily, more accumulated soap. of manufacture the in used therefore are and terrain), wormleaf for sodium from known its high contentsaline of sodium (since carbonate it extracts saltwort, as such sea, the from spray salt the to adapted have that plants with covered are and sea, the by polished and rainwaterby sculpted heavily been haverocks Nowadays,these coastline. present-day the submerging inland, further reached sea the when past distant a to as fossils,known marine in rich very are rocks carbonate warm-coloured These exposed. more being end western the with end, eastern the at especially bathers, for shelter all above and crannies, and nooks coves, small providing sand, the from again once the of formations rock characteristic the Praia daG P raia daG

beach. The beachfacessouth-west. at both season, bathing the the beach itself. The beach has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road connecting connecting road the from beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There organised car at park at area parking disorganised but large fairly rande. To the east, the dominant feature is the rock formations, and there is an area of area an is there and formations, rock the is feature dominant the Grande. east, Tothe ufe rmação dePêra. endofthewidesandybayalé liesattheeastern ofArmação Onthisbeach, i raia daG r a alé Oeste G alé Leste, G alé L alé Oeste and at and Oeste alé 100 metres from the beach, areaas well near small as parking a very E rpa bahrs, rcl trf ad h aromatic the and thrift prickly beachgrass, uropean este

G gres alvno r etr rgo emerge region western or Barlavento Algarve’s alé Oeste, 200 metres from the beach, and a large but large a and beach, the from metres 200 Oeste, alé G alé Leste. alé G alé Leste is classified as an accessible an as classified is Leste alé I n the areas where the sand has sand the where areas the n concheiros uia to Guia G alé. There is a is There alé. , testifying ,

Galé Oeste Galé Leste This area of sand is smaller than the beaches to the west, but it is a very diversified area because to theregion. colour of the area surrounding the beach, which has been planted with species that are native beach in the rainy season, so that the vegetation is thicker in this here. area. abundance in grow and spray salt to resistant are as such plants aromatic are plantsthat whilstonthebeachare tides, sea orachandwormleafsaltwort, thyme andhelichrysum, the of reach of out but cliff, the On beach. the surround that mastic-trees and trees pine the of green the by softened colours, warm by dominated is environment. Snorkelling is also recommended amongst the submerged rocks. The landscape shaped platform of rocks, where, at low tide, it is possible to observe marine life in the intertidal corrosion and wear and tear that they have suffered over the years. To the east is an intricately the from originating west, the to especially unusual, quite are rocks these by formed shapes The formations. rock jagged and sinuous its by provided shelters and recesses many the of P raia L doManuel

fairly large and organised car park park car organised and large fairly There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road between between road the from beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There downThe somewooden beachisreached steps by ordown walking awooden ramp. west. season. bathing the during supervised area parking nearer to the beach. The beach has facilities basic (restaurantsupport and toilets) and is 00 metres from the beach, as well as a very small and restricted restricted and small very a as well as beach, the from metres 100 ourenço I t is classified as an accessible beach and faces south/south- faces and beach accessible an as classified is t n occasional stream flows onto the onto flows stream occasional An Green is the predominant uia and Guia alb G alé. There is a is There alé. ufe i r a

97 // Beach guide 98 // Beach guide alb two-banded seabreams,two-banded white seabreams orsandsmelts, whichswiminandoutoftherocks. common of shoals the rocks,to the of faces the on visible are which and anemones), sea and limpets mussels, barnacles, (buckshot environments intertidal in found typically animals and among the fish the from ranging region, the of life marine the isrecommended observe can you whererocks, underwater Snorkelling elements. formations, rock the these by by fissured and produced sculpted intensely landscapes curious the observing top, cliff the along spray.salt to resistant is which saltwort, wormleaf the is plant aloes. enormous pines,mastic-treesand stone especially smell of the sea is intense here. The hot dry sand is backed by areas covered in plants and trees, shaped aesthetically and low cliffs. between nestling beach, rocky essentially and small a is This P raia doEvaristo

supervised during thebathingseason. during is supervised The beachfacessouth/south-west. and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support basic has beach the but area, parking disorganised There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road between between road the from beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There downThe somewooden beachisreached steps by ordown walking awooden ramp. normous blocks of rocks are scattered around the sand and under the water and the and water the under and sand the around scattered are rocks of blocks Enormous ufe i r a loser to the sand, the predominantsand,the the to Closer I t is possible to walk eastwards walk to possible is t uia and Guia G alé. There is a is There alé. Praia do P out oftherocks by erosion. This area is ideal for clifftop walks, giving you the chance to observe the graceful shapes carved appreciate these places that are inaccessible to predators, shags,for they or findkestrels shelter andas refugesuch here. birds, sea Varioussamphire. rock and orach sea saltwort, wormleaf as such environment, marine the to adapted have that plants of consisting predominant time the this colour, also is green rocks, of groups different the of top flat the On pines. stone of wood a of green deep the by dominated is beach the surrounding arearapidly. more The back driven being is coastline the of remainder the while erosion, to resistant more are that castle, hence the name of the beach. A between these imposing rocky walls and is full of hidden nooks and crannies and small creeks. t the eastern end of the beach is a scenic rock formation that is reminiscent of an enormous enormous reminiscentrockan is scenic of formationthat a is beach the of end eastern the t raia doCastelo

dsraie prig ra 0 mte fo te ec. h bah a bsc upr facilities west. support basic has south/south- beach faces beach The season. Thebathing the during beach. supervised is and the toilets) and (restaurant from metres 600 area parking disorganised a falling of possibility the of stones orrocks. because cliffs the near walking when recommended is care particular cliff. the of order destabilisation in minimise cliff top to controlledthe on When you’re beach, the on There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road between between road the from beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There The beach is reached by walking down some wooden steps or down a wooden ramp. Traffic is strictly C astelo is backed by high cliffs that dominate the landscape. The sandy beach nestles I t is a small and jagged promontory with groups of rocks i and Guia alb G l.Tee is There alé. ufe i r a

99 // Beach guide 100 // Beach guide alb and wornoutoftherock by timeandtheelementsare quite fascinating. beach still much preserves of its original rich vegetation and the different formations sculpted major landslide. Once again, you will feel like walking along the cliff top, for the area around the action of the sea on the limestone rocks. as well as severe undercutting at their base and galleries that have been caused by the erosive the with walls, rocky high by protected cove small a in themselves find will visitors beach, the on lichens. to The vegetation grows thicker around the stream native that flows along a narrow gully. Once is that tree palm fan only dwarf the and palms, trees mastic oaks, kermes junipers, with appear, to begins scrubland coastal old. centuries be to look that carob-trees and trees olive- see can you where farmland, through passes that footpath a by reached is beach The P raia daCoelha

lto da Alto and toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during and toilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth/south-west. ofstones fallingfrompossibility thecliffs, carebelow them. is recommended whenwalking but organised car park park car organised but There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road between The beach is reached by walking down some wooden steps or down a wooden ramp. Since there is a ufe i C r oelha to the east. Various marine fossils can be seen in the warm-coloured cliffs, warm-coloured the in seen be can fossils east. marine Variousthe to oelha a 00 metres from the beach. The beach has basic support facilities (restaurant facilities support basic beach. has the frommetresbeach The400 A t the western end of the beach, there is evidence of a E rp, nage i laa ad oord with coloured and lianas in entangled urope, A s you draw nearer the sea, the typical typical the sea, the nearer draw you s Guia and G alé. There is a small This is a large sandy beach set amidst warm-coloured limestone cliffs, full of furrows and furrows of full cliffs, limestone warm-coloured amidst set beach sandy large a is This P marine life ofthecoast. marine inthissection of the submerged rocks, is recommended toso that a little snorkelling discover the abundant glittering on its leaves. When the water is sufficiently clear, you cancrystals see thesalt mysterioussee outlines to evening early or morning the in possible being it salt, transpires speak, to so that, plant a orachs, sea of abundance an is environment marine the to exposed and sand the On tops. cliff fissured and furrowed deeply the over hangingtrees, mastic enormous and limestone.the dissolves which rainwater the of and cliffs the on waves the of force mechanical the of action combined the at the base of the cliffs, potholes and isolated groups of rocks, shapes and forms resulting from PontePequena crevices. On this beach, there is a wide diversity of very curiously shaped rocks, for example the raia deS

being supervised during thebathingseason. during being supervised The beachfacessouth. facilities (restaurant large has and a toilets),fairly and organised as welland basic support car park as falling of possibility the of stones orrocks. because cliffs the near walking when recommended is care particular cliff. the of order destabilisation in minimise cliff top to controlledthe on When you’re beach, the on There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the road between between road the from beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There The beach is reached by walking down some wooden steps or down a wooden ramp. Traffic is strictly (small bridge) and bridge) (small ão Rafael I n the area around the beach arepinewoodsgreen beach of patchesareaaroundthe the n Ninho das Andorinhas das Ninho (swallows’ undercuttingarches, nest): uia and Guia alb G alé. The beach The alé. ufe i r a

101 // Beach guide 102 // Beach guide alb is covered by a patch of pines, and the dwarf fan palm, the only palm-tree that is native to native is that E palm-tree only the palm, fan dwarf the and pines, of patch a by covered is line. tide beach high the aroundareaabovethe remainThe they rocks,although growthe on Plants that are resistant to salt spray, and rock samphire,such as wormleaf saltwort manage to top. the at shape window curious a forming beach the to closest one the and group central Penecos as locally known is beach the why is pool.This rock enormous an in swimming the size of the beach, dominate the line of the horizon, giving bathers the illusion that they are to relation in disproportionate clearly rocks, isolated enormous elements. Three the and time by away worn and eroded rocks, the of faces the in galleries countless and arches potholes, seen be can which amongst rocks, sculpted intensely and low by sheltered is cove small This P urope, canbeseenintheundergrowth. raia dosA

large but disorganised parking area and basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets), as well as well as toilets), thebathingseason. during and being supervised The beachfacessouth. (restaurant facilities support basic and area parking disorganised but large careis particular beach, the on you’re near thecliffsoffallingstones or recommended becauseofthepossibility When rocks. whenwalking cliff. the of destabilisation minimise to order in top There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach from the village of São Rafael. The beach has a fairly fairly a has beach Rafael. The São of village the from beach the to signpostedroad tarmac a is There cliff the on controlled strictly is steps.Traffic wooden some down walking by reached is beach The ufe (the beach of the three rock formations). i r a rrifes All of these rocks are highly sculpted, with the Praia dos Trêsdos Praia area, in the old centre of centre old the in area, of east the to beach first the is This P popular. beach, the as locally known of are“penecos”. formations rock these very since is and feature beach urban an is This distinctive most the representing and cliff the of erosion general the stones. falling of possibility the of view in face cliff the to attention careful pay must you although marina, below. over the panorama a fantastic you offers beaches that of point viewing a with houses, white very of line a is which of top the on cliff, high the and marina the of moles the are west Tothe sea. the contemplate and sit can you where cafés outdoor with beach, the overlooking balcony enormous an onto leads squares. tunnel sun-filled The and shops handicraft bars, of kinds all are there where centre, tourist the of streets narrow the amidst situated and cliff limestone raia do Túnel (P C The beach is reached on foot from the old centre of centre old the from foot on reached is beach The (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during (restaurants andtoilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth. city.the nearby.facilities of support parking part westernorganisedbasic Therecar is has beach The rocks. are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are A t the foot of this cliff is a footpath thatyou takes round the mass of rocks towards the Albufeira and from where there is an enormous staircase leading down to the sand n enormous rock has remained isolated in the middle of the beach, resisting beach, the of middle the in isolated remained has rock enormous An lbufeira. The beach is reached through a tunnel dug out of the of out dug tunnel a through reached is beach The Albufeira. eneco) lbufeira Marina and is situated in the midst of an urban urban an of midst the in situated is and Marina Albufeira lbufeira, or from the viewing point in the in point viewing the from or Albufeira, alb ufe i r a

103 // Beach guide 104 // Beach guide alb crowded, nature becauseofitsurban anditsuseasafishingharbour. very get can beach The restaurants. and bars countless with area shopping large a is beach especially sea orachs and wormleaf saltworts, environments,which grow profusely marine in the these crevices. Behind of the plants typical the of composed is and walls cliff the of tones to blend into the rock out of which the cliffs have been carved. The vegetation cuts the yellow seem houses white brilliant the of foundations the and sea the overlooking amphitheatre an beach. the of areasurroundingentirelyThe is part urban: show the tourists to here the from region’s off setting caves boats many and also potholes. are there The although bathing boats, and area fishing is coloured decorated thus highly brightly limited to the the for western reserved largely is beach this traditions, fishing longstanding there is a break in the cliffs and bordered to the east by the quay. Praia dos Pescadores is a continuation of Praia do Peneco, being situated in a lower area where P raia dosP

support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. The beach Thefaces south-west. season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities basic support has beach The nearby. area parking organised and large a is There centre. city the from foot There is a tarmac road leading to the beach through the city of city the through beach the to leading road tarmac a is There ufe i r a escadores lbufeira is arranged in the shape of shape the in Albufeiraarranged is lbufeira, or it can be reached on reached be can it or Albufeira, D oing full justice to Albufeira’s The beach owes its name to the to name its owes beach The means that it can get very crowded.means thatitcangetvery itself.sand the rockin arecropformationssome out which that which beach, urban an is This enormous the is east the to sea; the the quay of Praia dos Pescadores and the town is laid out in the form of of an houses amphitheatre white facing brilliant the and beaches the over view a enjoy and stop can you where points of number a with cliffs these of top the along footpath a is There orach, plant species that have adapted to the saline conditions of these marine environments. by a continuous line of steep cliffs, where there is an abundance of and sea wormleaf saltwort sand on a kind of rocky balcony overlooking the sea. The beach is a long stretch of sand flanked P raia doI C rocks. west. facilities (restaurant and the toilets)during bathing season. and is supervised The beach faces south- foot from the city centre. There is an organisedarea parking near the beach, which has basic support of city the through beach the to leading road tarmac a is There are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are natel I natel complex, which is situated at the eastern end of the of end eastern the at situated is which complex, natel I natel building that dominates the landscape, next to next landscape, the dominates that building natel lbufeira, or it can be reached on reached be can it or Albufeira, lbufeira. To the west is Albufeira.west Tothe alb ufe i r a

105 // Beach guide 106 // Beach guide alb was flourishing in the city, the present-day there are frequent clumpsofseaorachs, andreed bedshave developed around thestreams. top. cliff the along trees mastic enormous and pines stone of there and of rainwater,trickling which has sculpted the rock as it passed through. the There by are patches caused here lines frequent the by interrupted is cliff The crannies. and nooks of number a of part central the of shape rectilinear pressure from less the urbanisation of the is area, the therecliffs arehere lower infor height and theywest, lose the more the to beaches the than surroundings natural more has Alemães the name of this organisation and the rest of the beach remained with the old name. Praia dos family, so that the vast expanse of sand adjacent to it was given the name of do Praia of east the to continues beach This P When raia dosA C rocks. area near the beach, which has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised supervised is and toilets) and thebathingseason. during (restaurantsThe beachfacessouth-west. facilities support basic has which beach, the near area or Forte de São João), or it can be reached on foot from the centre.city There is an organised parking There is a tarmac road leading to the beach through the city of city the through beach the to leading road tarmac a is There r i rcmedd hn akn na te lfs eas o te osblt o flig stonesor offalling the possibility of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are ufe I natel became installed here, the stretch of sand to the west of the building was given was building the of west the to sand of stretch the here, installed became natel i r a lemães lbufeira, taking on more gentle contours and forming and contours gentle more on Albufeira,taking I natel building was a factory belonging to a I natel. I n the period when the canning industry industry canning the when period the n lbufeira (follow the signs to signs the (follow Albufeira Alemães loser to the sand, the to Closer ( G ermans). ermans). G erman erman I natel the coastline as far as Vilamoura. as far as coastline the of edge eastern the out marks of bay that the massif rocky the after immediately begins beach The P cliffs from crumbling. dotted with the enormous aloes that have been planted here in a vain attempt to prevent the to native is that palm-tree only the palm, fan dwarf the as such soil, region’sthe of scrubland the growin that clayplants the to saltwort, wormleaf and orach sea the beach, ranging from the typical plants that have adapted to the salt of the sea, such as the and a line of poplars growing along its banks. There is abundant vegetation in the area around galleries and potholes. undercutting, of profusion a shows João São de Forte the of front in beach the to stretching heavily eroded been by have the elements, cliffs and a strollThe area.westwards along the bathing platform of the rocks at out their foot marking shore the along formations rock several raia dosA C beach facessouth-east. season. bathing the during The (restaurantssupervised facilities toilets)is and support basic has beach itself.The beach the near area parking restricted and tiny a and beach the from metres 200 There is a tarmac road leading to the beach through rocks. are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are lbufeira, and, looking away from this to the east, you have a panoramic view of view panoramic a have you east, the to this from away looking and, Albufeira, A small stream flows onto the beach in the rainy season, with reed beds veiros I t is a small sandy beach, nestling between cliffs and with and cliffs between nestling beach, sandy small a is t Areias de São João. There is an organised car park E urope. The landscape is urope.landscape The alb ufe i r a

107 // Beach guide 108 // Beach guide alb of the sand and cliffs – yellow, orange and ochre – softened only by the deep green of the of stone pines. green deep the by only softened – ochre and orange yellow, – cliffs and sand the of colours warm the by characterised is area surrounding Bicos. The dos Pedra the past walking bycove isolated small a reach can you and peaceful,morecrowded and less becomes it east, patches of stone pines. There are various tourist amenities at the beach, but, cooling if you and walk further dense with filled gullies many cliff’s the of one down running steps, wooden of João or through the tourist development at its far end by climbing down a huge and steep set aesthetically but low relatively by framed shaped cliffs. The eastern end of the beach beach can also be reached on foot through sandy a at arrive visitors restaurants, and cafés outdoor sun-drenched of full squares small and streets the through passing after itself: town the through reached be therefore can beach the of end western The tranquillity. and peace complete in bathe to possible is it where Oura, da Praia of end eastern the marks that beach gradually becomes more natural leading to the Pedra dos Bicos, a jagged rock formation tourist amenities with the beach being framed by an of urban predominance development, while a to is the there east the west, the to sand: of expanse diversified highly and vast a is This and Nascente P raia daO C The beachfacessouth-east. season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has beach The beach. the of centre the in organised) well and (large park car paid the for except small, There is a tarmac road leading to the beach through beach the to leading road tarmac a is There rocks ufe are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are i r a ura P

oente

reias de São João. The parking areas are very very are areas parking João. The São de Areias Areias de São

Oura Poente and Nascente Oura Nascente I P white cliffs thatprovide thebackdrop to Praia da Falésia. and red of line continuous the see can trees.you palm Toeast, tall the by lined beach, the of part central the along promenade small a is There formations. rock various the by provided has developed. The beach is quite large and has a number of pleasant little nooks and crannies the stream that flows onto the sand in the rainy season, on the banks of which a thick reed bed the beach, the cliffs have been worn away and highly polished by the action of the waves and from Seen edges. the awayof crumbling the fromresultingprecipices small overhangingthe precariously balance to seem and cliffs the of top the at wood dense a form pines stone The cliffs are low and greatly furrowed by the rainwater, interrupted here and there by deep gullies. greencool the with beach. the frame pinewoodsthat the surroundings of orange Thedeeply n Santa n raia deS C (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during (restaurants andtoilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth-east. facilities support various has beach The park. car organised and large fairly a d´Água.is ThereOlhos hr i a amc od inotd o h bah f te od between road the off beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There rocks. are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are E ulália, the blue of the sea and the bright colours of the sand blend harmoniously harmoniously blend sand the of colours bright the and sea the of blue the ulália, anta Eulália ea d So oo and João São de Areias alb ufe i r a

109 // Beach guide 110 // Beach guide alb kilometre. a roughly over stretching large, fairly is beach The missing. are roof the and walls the of one where doorway, arched an with house a of reminiscent is and beach the of end eastern the at formed has that pothole enormous one of remains the are remarkable Quite arches. and shapes resulting some curious in such features wellof observing as the as possibility potholes elements, these rock formations offer visitors the shelter of a number of nooks and crannies, as the bottom by of the the sea action and furrowed at the top by the rain. at polished cliffs, warm-coloured by framed large, fairly is beach The sea. the from spray salt the to resistant are which of both saltwort, wormleaf and samphirerock are itself sand the on a patch of pine trees, growing gullies, denser in the various while the plants that predominate by a row of bougainvilleas and some ancient stone pines and cork trees. The beach is backed by of dense vegetation, down which there flows a fast moving stream. This is a cool gully, flanked The walk to youthe beach takes through the surrounding tourist development, along a valley P raia L daMaria C south. and during the is bathing supervised season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces by road and areparking restricted here. The beach has basic facilities support (restaurants and toilets) d´Água. There is a tiny but organised car park park car organised but tiny a d´Água.is There There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach off the road between between road the off beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There rocks. ufe are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are i r a uísa 00 metres from the beach. Both access to the beach the to access Both beach. the from metres 300 reias de São João and Olhos and João São de Areias H ighly eroded by the The beach is contained within the picturesque village of Olhos d´Água. The local fishermen fishermen local The d´Água. Olhos of village picturesque the within contained is beach The P contemplate thesea,aswell asasmallpromenade alongtheseafront, linedby palm-trees. and sit restaurantscan whereyoucafésoutdoorand squarewith central a thereis and beach to rise popular nature, and tourist at thewestern ofitsurban endofthebeach.Because thisisavery give formations especially coves, sheltered rock small and cavities jagged arches, undercutting, rocks, The of groups seaweed.isolated coloured brightly and anemones sea barnacles, buckshot topshells, limpets, tides: between life marine observe can you example, for where, beach first the is this east, the from coming those for since, cliffs, limestone its for ( name their village the and beach the both gave sand the in springs freshwater famous The ramp. loading and boats fishing their with beach the of end eastern the occupy to continue olhos d´água olhos raia dosOlhosd´Água C faces south. beach The season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support and on the on and Thereroad tarmac a is through d´Água,Olhos of village the signpostedis which fromboth rocks. are is recommended when walking near the cliffs because of the possibility of falling stones or stones falling of possibility the of because cliffs the near walking when recommended is are ). These are visible by the shoreline at low tide. But Olhos d´Água is also noted also is d´Água Olhos But tide. low at shoreline the by visible are These ). EN . There is a tiny but organised car park near the beach. The beach has various various has beach The beach. the near park car organised but tiny a is There 125. alb ufe Albufeira i r a

111 // Beach guide 112 // Beach guide alb das B large and spacious beach, particularly to theeast,stretching allthewaylarge to andspaciousbeach,particularly Praia daFalésia. brightly-coloured ( bee-eaters the with example, for case, the is cliffs. This the of rocks the in nests and shelters themselves build some and woodland the frequent birds Many roots. tangled intricately their exposing earth, the of crumbling the by created precipices small of edge the over hanging seen be to sometimes juniper,is as such scrubland, coastal the of plants typical the and pines stone the furrows.exquisitelysculpted and especially vegetation,deep,sinuous The some to rise giving rainwater, of trickling the by made grooves of full are cliffs the of sides The vegetation. leafy exuberant ochrecliffs, with the filled of out carved gully a along you takes and one winding a pleasant walk and because the road is unsuitable for vehicles. The path leading to the beach is of Loulé. gives way to softer cliffs, carved out of sand and clay that stretch all the way to the municipality A P fter this beach, the jagged limestone coastline of the of coastline limestone jagged the beach, this fter raia doB

(restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during (restaurants andtoilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth-west. kilometres.distance ofroughly five andahalf to drive to the west mole of Vilamouraand then walk Marina over the sand to the eastern end over a There is a tarmac road signposted to the beach off the road between Olhos d´Água and d´Água Olhos between road the off das beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There The road leading to the beach is a track dirt covering a distance of become impassable in the rainy season as it occupies the bed of a fast flowing stream. flowing fast a of bed the occupies it as season rainy the in impassable become ufe A I t is recommended that you make your way to the beach on foot, both because it is a çoteias. There is a fairly large parking area near the beach, which has basic support facilities support basic has which beach, the near area parking large fairly a is There çoteias. elharucas i r a arranco abelharucos

) that have given their name to the beach. lgarve’s western Barlavento region Barlavento western Algarve’s 500 metres, but this can frequently I t is possible is t I t is a fairly Aldeia This beach is extremely vast and stretches eastwards over more than three kilometres, backed P spots. Allyoudistance. have to doiswalkashort consisting here mainly of sea orachs. The beach is a spacious one peaceful and has some very colour, in monotonous more are which cliffs, the of vegetation typical the with together mix thrift, prickly foundbe growing:areascan dune daffodils, of sea bindweed,plants sea typical the which on beach. the forms highly sculpted by the elements. sinuous grooved deeply creating in difficulty patterns and furrows down its face. no To has the east, the cliff becomes gradually lower,rain but remains the that so clay, and sand of out beach. the overlooking pines stone of patches green the with colour of contrasts interesting create which white, brilliant or ochre deep either region, this of colours typical the with cliffs high of line continuous a by raia daFalésia

the western end and a smaller area parking 250 metres from the beach at the eastern end. The beach beach facessouth-west. season. bathing The the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has There roadis a tarmac to the beach through and eastern ends.and eastern The beach is reachedis Thefootbeach on wooden woodenof stepsa ramp,set down and a western the at both retan trefoil and sea holly. These eye-catching and brightly-coloured species brightly-coloured and eye-catching These holly. sea and trefoil Cretan I t is therefore possible to see small cones of sand at the foot of these cliffs, these of foot the at sand of cones small see to possible therefore is t A t the western end, the cliff is high but very soft, being carved carved being soft, very but high is cliff the end, western the t I t is the wearing away of this rock that produces the sand that Aldeia das A çoteias. areaThere at largeis a fairly parking alb ufe i r a

113 // Beach guide 114 // Beach guide alb and Rocha B and Rocha Vilamoura Marina. of moles the see to possible already is it east the to and large, fairly is beach region.The this in shelter and food find hoopoes, typical the as such birds, of kinds different many and foxesrabbits, woodland: this in animals of abundance great a is There cork-oaks. and carob-trees olive-trees, age-old of groves with together blend pines of patches thick where formations, rock ochre furrowed deeply some are as valley open such broad this valley,and beach the the Between norias.of exploitation agricultural earlier the of traces ancient more some past as well as goats, and sheep of flocks grazing and greenhouses past fields, cultivated through you takes beach the to road Baixinha The Beach). Tomatesdos (Tomato Rocha Praia of da name suggestivePraia the earned already has which Quarteira, de Ribeira the of valley the of holly, sea medick and sea daffodils. developmentsTourist also give way briefly to the farmland way to ridges of sand dunes on which there grow the typical plants of sandy areas, such as sea give and lower become gradually Falésia da Praia of cliffs ochre-coloured the Rock), Low the D P oing justice to the name of the beach ( beach the of name the to justice oing raia B daRocha

supervised during thebathingseason. during supervised The beachfacessouth-west. is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has beach The beach. the of part central the near park car smaller slightly Poente,a Baixinha and Rocha Praiada to providingaccess area parking Rocha Baixinha Poente and one and a half kilometres to Praia da Rocha Baixinha. There is a da fairly large Praia to kilometre one roughly for continuing track, dirt a into turns road tarmac the kilometres, through running beach the to signposted road tarmac a is There ufe i r a aixinha P aixinha Praia da Rocha Baixinha Rocha Praiada oente

literally means the Beach of Beach the means literally ldeia das Aldeia A çoteias. A fter three fter

Rocha Baixinha Rocha Baixinha Poente P bev seis uh s ry eos prl hrn, upe alnls n ee mammals even and such astheotter, closeto gallinules themouthofriver. purple herons, purple herons, grey as such species observe places. other to flights migratory their of course the in here off stop that those and area the in permanently live that those both birds, water of diversity great their for noted are that places Park, Environmental ( beds reed with floodplain extensive an is Quarteira, de Ribeira the of section end the around dunes, the from inland Further dunes. sand the of tops the of height the maintain and in place one in sand area, the keep to help the that those particular across profusely spread to plants pioneering certain allowing thus vegetation, the on treading from people prevent who guards, by front their at protected are here dunes The beach. sandy the and dunes the over crossing footpaths wooden raised of from network the observed be can which flora, diversified give way very and a with de dunes, sand sand of Ribeira system broad under the a to disappear of cliffs moles ochre the soft by The east Marina. the Vilamoura to and out Quarteira marked beach, sandy large fairly a is This Nascente raia B daRocha

as anaccessiblebeachandfacessouth-west. the bathing facilities season. during (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised The beach is classified fairly large and organisedarea parking at the western end of the beach. The beach has basic support across thewooden over deQuarteira. bridge walking theRibeira beach, orthrough theMarina, the of end eastern the at area parking the through either via Vilamoura, beaches the to access gain Nascente, for these can only be found at Praia da Rocha Baixinha Poente. for roughly two kilometres. There are no parking facilities for motor vehicles at Praia da Rocha Baixinha There is a tarmac road leading to the beach through Vilamoura (signposted on the Baixinha. through reached be can beach The A fter fter three kilometres along a tarmac road, access to the beach continues along a track dirt I i teeoe osbe o olw oe aue ris n h ae and area the in trails nature some follow to possible therefore is t aixinha ldeia das Aldeia A çoteias, following the signposts to Praia da Rocha Rocha da Praia to signposts the following çoteias, C

aniçal de the aniçal and Vilamoura)Vilamoura I t is recommended that you A EN lb 125). There is a ufe i r a

115 // Beach guide Loulé Quinta do Lago // Beach guide // Beach guide

7 6 11 11 118 // Beach guide Loulé. made ofalmondsandfigs;there isthehustle brandyandthecakes arbutus-berry typical producedus thehoney from wildflowers, the withbrass;thehillsoffer leather orworking stitching where you canstillfindartisans the busyandlively centreitself, ofthecity to there tourists: streets are of theMoorish supplyoffeatures varied to ofinterest avery coexistence ofdifferent realities thatcontribute almond-trees. This regionby the ismarked the seafrom thetop ofitshills dotted with thatenjoys amagnificent of inland city view ofLouléThe municipality iscentred uponan Vilamoura Quinta doLago bird watching. and as naturefavouring suchactivities trekking Natural Park, agenuinewildlife sanctuary Formosasand dunescontainedwithintheRia natural areas ofpinewoods, salt-marshes and and QuintadoLago, aswell astheextensive golf coursesofthebeaches Vale doLobo and holiday resorts developments; theluxury withitssophisticated Vilamoura tourist Marina with thetown’s traditionalfishingactivities; coexistingsideby side centre ofQuarteira, and bustleofthedenselypopulated tourist Vale doLobo the dock in the town of Quarteira, framed by one of one by framed Quarteira, of town the in dock the and Marina the of mole eastern the between situated is Vilamoura de Praia welcoming The P observed amongst the dense reed beds along the banks of that wetland area. area. wetland that of be banks the can along beds birds reed dense of the amongst species observed different hundred a than more Quarteira, de Ribeira the of section its in importance: ecologicalfornoted its be to also is Vilamoura shops. sophisticated and restaurants and cafés outdoor of surroundings delightful the amidst set boats luxury with filled water of sheet vast a Marina, finally, the and, as range, courses,well as tracks,cycle cross-country tennis shooting galleries,and squash mini-cruises, art courts, and centre horse-riding aerodrome, casino, a find also will visitors here, enormous activity prime the an is which golf, besides into where, city, garden a transformed of form the been in complex leisure has Quarteira de Quinta former The developments. Roman fishing villa from the first century AD fishingvillafromRoman thefirstcentury da and VilaMuseum raia de

south-west. and is during the supervised bathing season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces others) and toilets (restaurants, facilities support various has beach area. The parking organised and The beach can be reached on foot fromthe foot on on (signpostedreachedVilamoura be can beach The V rchaeological Site, you can take an imaginary journey into the past of a of past the into journey imaginary an Archaeologicaltake Site,can you ilamoura . nvironmental Park, which incorporates the final the incorporates Environmentalwhich Park, E urope’s largest tourist and real estate real and tourist urope’slargest EN ). There is a fairly large fairly 125). a is There A t the t L o C u erro lé

119 // Beach guide 120 // Beach guide lo season. beachandthereforeThis isanurban crowded. tends to bevery bathing the during entertainment and life of lots and restaurants, and cafés pavement filled the as locally known avenue, lively C and busy a is seafront the of whole water. the calm along in Running swim to chance the holidaymakers offering thus accumulate, to tends sand the which to breakwaters,next of series a byinterrupted is overand roughlythreekilometres, spreads beach sandy ink. ownextensive Theits in cooked squid or shells wedge banded with soup bread as such recipes traditional for ingredients the supplies also sea the and fish fresh grilled of dish a without complete be not would Quarteira in dining-tables Most beach. the of end western the to limited now is it but exist, tostores, continues equipment and boats its with activity, fishing centre.local tourist The major a now is it that so beaches, its for demand Once a peaceful fishing village, the town has greatly developed in order to support the growing P alçadão, offering all kinds of tourist amenities for the support of bathing activities, with sun- with activities, bathing of support the for amenities tourist of kinds all offering alçadão, raia deQuarteira

u south-west. and during the is bathing supervised season. The beach is classified as an accessible beach and faces others) and toilets (restaurants, facilities support various has beach area. The parking organised and the on (signposted Quarteira from foot on reached be can beach The lé EN ). There is a fairly large fairly a is 125). There Praia do Forte Novo is situated at the eastern end of Quarteira, but already in a more natural more a in already but Quarteira, of end eastern the at situated is Novo Forte do Praia the red cliffs, occasionallyinterspersed withsmallcoastallagoons. of tops the cover that pinewoods green the to way gives sprawl urban the where east the to is a buffer zone between the tall buildings of Quarteira and Vilamoura to the west and the area the foot of these cliffs, and here and there you can see pine trees with their roots exposed. This as far as reaches frequently sea sand. The that the of colour pearl-white pinewoods the and top their the at grow of green deep the with sharply contrasting colour ochre intense their coastline, of stretch this of characteristic are that cliffs low soft, the appear there again, once beach. the of width the in reduction breakwaters,immediatelydrastic resultswhich a in setting, far from the hustle and bustle of the urban environment and without the protection of P raia doForte Novo tarmac road leads from the eastern end of Quarteira to the beach, where there is an organised an is there where beach, the to Quarteira of end eastern the from leads Aroad tarmac the bathingseason. The beachfacessouth-west. during area. (restaurantsfacilities toilets)supervised and is and parking support basic Thehas beach L o Here, u lé

121 // Beach guide 122 // Beach guide lo (Cavalo P quiet and peaceful in comparison with the neighbouring beachesofQuarteira. withtheneighbouring quiet andpeacefulincomparison major and thyme Portuguese as plants such to home also is which cork-oaks, and pines beachgrass of the incipient sand dunes. the The with small mixeslagoon is rushes surrounded and by reeds a of vast vegetation food wood wetland of water. Thefor stone brackish searching the herons in grey enormous the or fishing cormorants the watch calmly and birds. water for inviting very is that water of sheet a peaceful creates and land surrounding the floods it that so sea, the to freely flow and sand stretch of the Ribeira do final the accommodate to interrupted are coastline the of stretch this of cliffs red typical The P raia doA  u summer seasonwhenthere isnocommunicationwiththesea. You are advised not to use the lagoon for bathing purposes, since it becomes eutrophic during the during eutrophic becomes it since purposes, bathing for lagoon the use to not advised Youare toilets) at its western end, and is supervised during thebathingseason. during toilets) atitswestern end, andissupervised The beachfacessouth-west. and (restaurant facilities support basic has beach beach. The the near area parking disorganised a is Praiado A (a variety of rock rose) that are exclusive to this region of the regionof this toexclusive are that rose)rock of variety (a fter the turning, the road turns into a dirt track over a distance of roughly three kilometres. There kilometres. three roughly of distance a over track dirt a into turns road the turning, the fter lé lmargem is signposted on the tarmac road from the eastern end of Quarteira to Quarteira of end eastern the fromroad tarmac the on signposted is Almargem reto) lmargem Almargem, which does not always manage to pass beyond the bar of

I t is therefore possible to be on the beach the on be to possible therefore is t lgarve. The beach is very very is beach Algarve. The E tuberaria uropean Almancil. and P P a C away. further much was sea the when period a of ancient Roman fish-salting tanks and the silt of an ancient system, estuary-lagoon the remains the cliffs begins to crumble. of face the as exposed are trees pine the of roots the and sea the towards advance cliffs red the narrows,undergrowth. Loulébeach their do Velho),the (PraiaToas west courses the golf there once again appear the ochre cliffs and pinewoods, only in this case with the grass of the dunes advance into the wetland area, the beach is fairly large and spacious and in the distance wetland area with reed beds, tamarisks and rushes. To the east (the old Praia do de Trafal), Ribeira the the sand and marshy more becomes terrain unmistakable azure-winged magpie or the typical and ancient some olive-trees,very and cork-oaks carob-trees, around which you may spot the fields cultivated extensive norias, and aqueducts as such devices irrigation hydraulic ancient the of some see valley,can rural broadyouwhere a through you takes beach the toroad The raia doL arthaginian fishingvillage. arthaginian  and is supervised during thebathingseason. during and issupervised The beachfacessouth-west. area near the beach. facilities (restaurantsThe and toilets)beach has basic support at its western end parking disorganised but large fairly kilometres. a half is Therea and one of distance a over track dirt A Praia do Trafal is signposted on the tarmac road leading from the eastern end of Quarteira to fter fter the turnoff, the road continues to be surfaced for a further raia do Trafal oulé Here, when the wind whips up the sand, it leaves uncovered some V elho

lgarve Algarve hoopoe flying. lso submergedareaAlso this in are of ruins the C arcavai spreads out to form an extensive an form to out spreads arcavai 300 metres, after which it turns into a Closer to the sea, the L Almancil. o u lé

Trafal Loulé Velho 123 // Beach guide 124 // Beach guide lo amenities to choose from, starting withgolf,amenities to choosefrom, starting butalsoincludingtennis andwater sports. sports and leisure of range wide a larger.is beach There the make to order in occasions, two in danger. For this reason, Praia de Vale do Lobo has already had sand added on to it artificially vegetation with its roots exposed and some buildings and some of the holes on the golf course the cliffs, leaving the as far as reachesfrequentlynarrow, sea somewhat the but long is beach refreshing green of the stone and pines, deep which provide the shelter and for sand the the golf courses of below colour them. pearl-white The the with contrast sharp a form cliffs the of colours redshapes. The natural curious very some forming elements, the to exposed are that saltwater. and fresh both with contact to vulnerable and soft are which cliffs, ochre and red the trademark Praia de Vale do Lobo is surrounded by a tourist high-quality complex and has as its distinctive P raia de

u during thebathingseason. during The beachfacessouth-west. supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has beach Thearea. parking small heading in the direction of Vale do Lobo for roughly six kilometres. There is an organised but relatively There is a tarmac road to the beach from beach the to road tarmac a is There lé rosion has resulted in some deep gullies and crevices in the face of the cliffs the of face the in crevices and gullies deep some in resulted has Erosion V ale doL obo scanxinas, on the road between Quarteira and Quarteira between road the on Escanxinas, Almancil, P flora growing inthesand. crosses over the dunes and, as they walk over them, visitors can the observe rich and aromatic life. region’s aquatic the to shelter and protection offering coastline the accompanied lagoons, the of shores the undergrowth has along natural its with here continues Quarteira since which trees pine of line The gallinule. purple the emblematic or mallard coot, the as such here, nest and rest feed, that birds different the observe to amongst water birds. G das Lagoa is westernvalley the in formed: has lagoon a which of each in cliff, low a beach by divided The valleys this. two accompanies from on follow that system lagoon Formosa Ria the of barriers sand the by continued then are which vegetation, typical with covered systems, dune sand vast to way A and Nascente t Praia do Praia t arrão. Both are freshwater wetland areas, a rare feature along this coastline, popular and very raia doG

is supervised during thebathingseason. during is supervised The beachfacessouth-west. organised parking area near the beach, which has basic support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and dunes. heading in the direction of Vale do Vale of direction the in heading from beach the to road tarmac a is There sand the protect to order in footpaths wooden the to Keep bathing.for unsuitable are lagoons The G arrão, which appears as a continuation of Praia de Vale do Lobo, the cliffs give cliffs the Lobo, do Vale de Praia of continuation a as appears which arrão, A footpath along the shores of Lagoa das arrão P Dunas D ouradas, and in the eastern valley is the smaller Lagoa do Lagoa smaller the is valley eastern the in ouradas,and G oente arrão for roughly six kilometres. There is a relatively large and large relatively a is There kilometres. six roughly for arrão scanxinas, on the road between Quarteira and Quarteira between road the on Escanxinas,

network of wooden footpaths wooden of network A Dunas D ouradas invites visitors L Almancil, o u lé

Garrão Nascente Garrão Poente 125 // Beach guide 126 // Beach guide lo enjoy asnackwhileatthesametimecontemplating thesea. facilities are carefully integrated existing support into landscape,the giving you tochance the sea bindweed and the typical prickly thrift, dotted about the white and pink dunes. The beach’s delicate the daffodils, sea eye-catching the see to sure make must you sea, the opposite side with aromatic plants such as thyme and helichrysum. marshland, visitors will encounter a wide system of sand dunes opening up before them, filled magpies. azure-winged unmistakable the and rabbits spot to common is it where cliffs, red the atop stands that cork-oaks and pines stone of wood the is this Behind noticeable since these flood at high tide and are covered bytypical the salt-marsh vegetation. confines of the Natural Park. The beach is situated at the western end of the Ria Formosa lagoon system, already within the P raia doA  u toilets) and is supervised during thebathingseason. during toilets) andissupervised The beachfacessouth-west. and (restaurants facilities support basic has which beach, the near area parking large fairly a is There tourist development, you will begin a circular drive along a dirt track roughly two kilometres in length. heading in the direction of direction the in heading from beach the to road tarmac a is There Keep to thewooden Keep footpaths inorder to protect thesanddunes. lé ncão Although the lagoons are not yet visible, the marshy areas are quite lube do Clube ncão for roughly six kilometres. six roughly for Ancão scanxinas, on the road between Quarteira and Quarteira between road the on Escanxinas, Already on the ridge of the dunes, on the A fter passing through the through passing fter rossing over the over Crossing Almancil, Formosa Natural Park. Natural Formosa This beach is associatedand tourist is resort with situated a of high-quality in the the Ria heart P and a horse-riding centre. and ahorse-riding courts tennis courses, golf including tourism, high-quality for facilities support excellent are are well preserved and display a highly diversified flora. where you can spot from close up such birds as the mallard, coot or Lourenço,purple São gallinule. de Lago the The of dunes observation the is point high whose area the in trail nature a is standing by the bright white saltpans. This is an excellent area forbird lifeobserving and there flamingos gracious of you’re if flocks and, lucky, work, their at pickers shellfish the vegetation, marshland typical the with covered matter organic and sand mud, of accumulations vast the topossible it contemplate tides,flow the and of ebb the making overRia, the of branches the raia daQuinta doLago to thewooden Keep footpaths inorder to protect thesanddunes. supervised during thebathingseason. during supervised The beachfacessouth-west. is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has beach beach. The the at area parking paid and organised an is Therekilometres. seven roughly for Lago do Quinta of direction the in heading There is a tarmac road to the beach from beach the to road tarmac a is There A ccess to the beach is provided by a by provided is beach the to ccess scanxinas, on the road between Quarteira and Quarteira between road the on Escanxinas, D espite the natural surroundings, there 00-metre-long wooden bridge bridge wooden 300-metre-long L Almancil, o u lé

127 // Beach guide Barrinha Faro // Beach guide // Beach guide

28 29 1 1 130 // Beach guide Faro. network ofbranches oftheriverestuary, network system andtheintricate islabyrinthine biological diversity.remarkable The lagoon been classifiedasaNatural due to its Park which theseaisableto circulate freely, has peninsulas andfive between barrier-islands its beauty. This vastarea, consistingoftwo this region: fish,shellfish,salt and, ofcourse, always benefited from richesof thespecific beach anddunes,ofFaro themunicipality has protected from of theseaby 60kilometres Formosa,Ria anextensivelagoonsystem presence ofthe by theunmistakable Marked Barrinha Farol of Barreta andC includes theAncãopeninsulaandislands marshland banks. ofFaroThe municipality then reveal thelife thatisto befound onthe ebb andflow ofthetides, whichhideand the riverestuary, orbecauseoftheconstant andthebarsof and forms inthesandbarriers ofthesands,shifting giving to shapes new rise constantly changing, whetherbecauseofthe ecosystems ontheplanet. The landscapeis salt-pans results inoneofthe most productive marshland, mudbanks, sandbanksand Faro Ria ulatra.

(P Mar P wonderful, overlooking the distant mountains and the city ofFaro thedistantmountainsandcity overlooking wonderful, framedby thelagoon. is island the of side this from view cycle. The tidal every with renewed completely is Formosa Ria the of water the however,since acceptable, quite remains quality water etc.).The sailing, windsurfing, (jetskiing, sports water for intensively most used fact in is water of expanse vast fishing boats and pleasure boats, as well as the waverunners that are constantly racing by. This the by caused boats.ones of small number waveshere,largeforexceptthe Thereno area by channels of the Ria Formosa lagoon system, although the beach here is narrow and is occupied Ria de SãoLuís). (Barra almost asfarBarrinha there is a nature trail in the form of a raised wooden pathway that runs along the line of dunes the sand dunes and marshland that dominate the landscape. picturesque houses andof shellfishthe pickers,fishermen themselves gradually giving way to arereplacedholidayhomes the by the beach the of westernends and eastern the months,at mud banks. and marshland its with system lagoon the of branch a overcrosses that bridge roadnarrow a Peninsula, which marks out the western boundary of the Ria Formosa. The “island” is reached by raia deFaro -

enínsula doA - beach. Ria and Barrinha are not supervised. are notsupervised. andBarrinha beach. Ria The mainbeachfacessouth-west. the beach by boat from Faro (leaving from well as being during supervised the bathing season. as toilets), and (restaurants facilities support various has beach the and area parking organised an is There is a tarmac roadfrom Faro, tarmac There a is away). kilometres (roughlyeight towardsThereheading airport the I t is possible to bathe on the northern side of a line of sand dunes facing one of the of one facing dunes sand of line a of side northern the on bathe to possible is t lso known as “I known Also D espite the beach’s developmenturban and its intense tourist use in the summer lha de Faro”, this long expanse of sand is, in reality, part of the of part reality, in is, sand of Faro”,expanse de long lha this

ncão) C ais da Porta do Sol). Faro-Mar is classified as an accessible uring During the summer, it is also possible to travel to A t the eastern end of the beach, Fa Ancão r o

Mar Ria 131 // Beach guide 132 // Beach guide (P reached onfoot from Faro beach,over alongwoodenandpathway, bridge orby boat. be can which area, deserted normally and peaceful very bar.a the is of This side other the on is it and waves, and wind the see the to possible of action the to due shape changing constantly plover.is and coastline turnstone tern, gull-billed tern, little the as such region, this in shelter to the observe flora of the system, sand-dune as well as the countless birds that seek food and Barrinha P Fa raia deFaro C r beach. Ria and Barrinha are not supervised. are notsupervised. andBarrinha beach. Ria The mainbeachfacessouth-west. the beach by boat from Faro (leaving from well as during being the supervised bathing season. as toilets), and (restaurants facilities support various has beach the and area parking organised an is There is a tarmac road from Faro, heading towards the airport (roughly eight kilometres away). kilometres There eight (roughly Faro,fromroad airport towardsthe tarmac heading a is There enínsula doA o are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary – Barrinha is an area of great natural beauty without any buildings, where it is possible I lha D eserta (or eserta

ncão) I lha da Barreta), wider and with much denser vegetation, denser much with and wider Barreta), da lha C ais da Porta do Sol). Faro-Mar is classified as an accessible uring During the summer, it is also possible to travel to ere the Here A I southernmost pointofthePortuguesemainland.southernmost the east, the island becomes more robust and forms the headland of sleepers. Torailway with pathway, built wooden raised a over trail nature a follow to possible is it harbour, the Frompredators. natural their from safe peacefully, here nest can terns little or terns gull-billed terns, common terns, plovers,sandwich birds: wildlife,especially of variety Formosa. a Ria for shelter providing as the well as vegetation, original of its preserves areastill dunes sand of uninhabited line The completely a is This lagoon. the sea facing the side facing side the the and on both quiet, and peace total of atmosphere an in kilometres ten stretchingoverroughlysand of expanse never-ending discovera will you beach, the at arrive you Once flamingos. gracious the as such here,feeding seen be can that birds various the to banks. marshland and channels of series a down way its wend to obliged is boat the and Formosa, Ria the by formed banks mud and sand of of the lha daB ccess to the beach is by sea, from the suggestively-named quay of uring the summer months, or upon special request, the beach can be reached by boat from Farofrom boat by reached be can beach the request, special upon or months, summer the during C (leavingfrom is supervised during thebathingseason. during is supervised The beachfacessouth/south-west. are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary G ateway to the Sun), in Faro. C ais da Porta do Sol). Sol). do Porta da ais (restaurantfacilities toilets)and and Thesupport basic has beach arreta (Deserta) I t is always a worthwhile experience crossing the labyrinths uring the trip, you should pay attention pay should you trip, the During C C ais da Porta do Sol (Quay abo de Santa Maria, the Fa r o

Deserta Mar Deserta Ria 133 // Beach guide 134 // Beach guide Fa and P at its western end, at Barra Nova close to and the beach is very peaceful. and thebeachisvery dry, and hot long, immensely is dunes sand of line Ria. The the towards inland facing homes, island.this moored on be formedfromvillage fishermen’s small Therea is to holiday and houses used seaplanes navy’s the when time the from legacies wire, barbed of lot a and bunker A advantageofthewavesis alsopossiblehere, brought taking by theLevante wind. by used is island diving schools for the their lessons, as well as of by countless fishersunderwater and anglers. Surfing west the to mole large The deserted. and peaceful more becomes homes) and tourist occupation, but the beach is a vast one and, as you move east, it gradually holiday (mainly urban intense island’s its the note will and you quay, the wind at Levante arrive you waves.When warm the to exposed being south-east, face now barrier-islands the coastline: the of orientation the in change a marks and breakwaters with stabilised been has Situated on the P s you move eastwards, Praia dos Praiaeastwards, move you s raia doFarol r C there is no supervision at Barra Nova. atBarra there isnosupervision The beachfacessouth-east. toilets). and (restaurants facilities support various are there and round) year (all Olhão and summer) the Faro(in from boat by reached be can beach The o are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary raia dosHangares I lha da C ulatra, Praia do Farol owes its name to the lighthouse enormous built

angares begins to appear, where you can still find an old an find still can you appear,where to begins Hangares C abo de Santa Maria. This bar across the river estuary I t is supervised during the bathing season, but season, bathing the during supervised is t

Farol Hangares P The beach is situated at the eastern end of the island with the same name, being associated being name, same the with island the of end eastern the at situated is beach The the inviting natural poolsformed inthesandandenjoy theconstantlychanging landscape. A as you move inland, as well as to enjoy the warm peaceful water and the warm easterly winds. flora of the sand dunesthe whichrich is possible here tofollow observe on from one another it westwards,that and stretchingso eastwards pots.sand both of expanse vast a is beach The octopus the and trap basket the as such here, used still is that fishing artisanal of equipment traditional the of some discover as well as tide, low at revealed are that banks mud the over and services. The village is still inhabited by fishermen, but it is now equipped with a variety of infrastructures with an old fishing villagetwenty thator untilso years ago consisted entirely of wooden huts. fter fter two hours spent eastwards,walking you will reach Barra raia daCulatra C there is no supervision at Barra Grande. atBarra there isnosupervision The beachfacessouth-east. toilets). and (restaurants facilities support various are there and round) year (all Olhão and summer) the Faro(in from boat by reached be can beach The are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary I n the surrounding area, you can observe the countless shellfish pickers scattered I t is supervised during the bathing season, but season, bathing the during supervised is t Grande, where you can bathe in F A R O

135 // Beach guide Fuseta VilaOlhão do Bispo // Beach guide // Beach guide

7 6 13 13 138 // Beach guide Olhão. shelter andrefuge that allows for thegrowth and region as anarea functions of water ofthisestuary also for thebiological sincethe wealth of theRia, but andcompetencegreat ofitsfishermen, skills notonly for the ofOlhãoisknown municipality Formosa oftheRia NaturalPark, the the heart various origin datingfrom the11thcentury, aswell as remainsmunicipality offish-saltingtanksArab longtime, anditispossibleto findinthe very The fishingtraditionsinthis region date backa advancing gradually into thelagoonsystem. roof terraces,Moorish whichcanbeseen shaped housesbuiltintheC setofsquare- coastline isthebrightly-coloured featureAn unmistakable ofthisstretch of concheiros Fuseta (marine fossils). (marine Located in ubist style, with ubist style, Armona and crustaceans. I reproduction ofmany speciesoffish,molluscs take a closer look at a working tidalmill. acloserlookatworking take this region or thatwasoncecloseto extinction, water dog, anativethe famousAlgarve breed to the park’s water birds, visitthebreeding centre of Park, where for itispossibleto plantrips watching is the Visitors’ C sailingorpower boating.windsurfing, I place forascanoeing, enjoying suchwater sports offresh fish.I with awidevariety filled to visitthemarkets, for theopportunity or as provides to enjoy suchdelicioustraditionaldishes specialregion, bothforvery thechancethatit xarém deconquilhas arroz delingueirão entre Formosa oftheRia Natural Fuseta n thisway, itrepresents a (rice withrazor (rice clams),and (clams and corn mash) (clams andcorn t isalsoanideal n Marim n Marim The beach is situated at the western end of end western the at situated is beach The the invariably fiery huesofthesunset. the invariably fiery admire and winds easterly warm the savour as well as dunes, sand the of flora aromatic and swimming-pools. natural delightful some contain estuary or who who enjoyhave walking their own private boat. The sand banks by the bar of the river those all for quiet and peace pure of moments Fuseta,providing da Praiatowards eastwards unendingly stretches it as sight from disappears beach the and wide barrier very sand and consistentThe sports. is water of variety wide a in engage to need you that facilities the all lagoon system. There is a campsite on this island and you will find that it is fully equipped with Formosa Ria the of banks mud and sand of labyrinth throughthe pass havetoyou beach the reach to order in again, once and, pickers, shellfish and fishermen by inhabited village small P raia daA C faces south-east. beach The season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support Faro,fromFuseta. and Olhão services regular with boat, by reached be can beach The are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary rmona I lha da lha rmona, close to Barra Barra to close Armona, ere, you can also observe the rich rich the observe also can Here,you rande and the and Grande I t has various various has t ol h ão

139 // Beach guide 140 // Beach guide ol right behindthebeach. right this spotisonlybrokenby theregular passingofthetrain,withrailway linebeingsituated of dunes sand and mudflats the see channel,can you bathing. verypeaceful some for opportunity the offering and narrow, but the sand continues into the water, the branch of the hereriver estuary being wide godwit, little stint, white flamingostork, and various species of herons. The beach is somewhat the scour that black-tailedavocet, black-wingedstilt, the food: of search in beaks waders long their with banks mud countless the particular in and crabs, timid the to conditions) saline the to adapted successfully have that (plants vegetation halophytic typical the from ranging lifeplant and salt-pans,animal and marshland the in excellentan is beach forplace observing the aroundmill. area tidal The working its with Park Formosavisitors’Natural Ria the of centre forfishing stores all of and headquarters the is beach the of salt-pans.westwhite the to bright close Very very some above by surrounded is consisting and boats various for point picking, mooring a as used is bay shellfish small The equipment. and fishing support of both group a for to close facilities salt-marshes, the of heart the in situated is beach lagoon This P raia dosCavacos The beachisthevenue for theFesta AnualdosC h facilities and is unsupervised. facilities andisunsupervised. The beachfacessouth/south-east. support no has which beach, the near area parking disorganised a is Therebeach. the to kilometre half after kilometres the last roundabout heading eastwards from Olhão, and continuing for a further There is a tarmac road from the from road tarmac a is There ão EN , turning towards Marim (Águas Santas) roughly one and a and one roughly Santas) (Águas Marim towards turning 125, avacos. I lha da lha rmona. of Armona. quiet and peace The I te itne byn the beyond distance, the n town located on firm land. the of end eastern the at situated is beach The P particularly attractive atlow attractive tide. particularly are which sand, the in pools formed naturally countless its enjoy Fuseta,as da well as Barra of minutes, or possibly travelling by private boat, you can reach the and deserted unspoilt beach itself once again both to the east and west of this area. imposes landscape natural the but point, anchorage the to close houses of group small a is Thereextensive. and attractive equally but narrow, very also is beach the forms that sand of spit The banks. mud the around scattered not nurseries advised shellfish numerous are the youwith interfere although to low, very is tide the when Fuseta from across way your ford the to across swim even can Youshorter. much this is on journey but the salt-marshes, occasion and banks mud by bordered channels same the through way its raia daFuseta C unsupervised area ofthebeach,whichfacessouth-east. unsupervised an is Fuseta da Barra season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities and organised parking area close to the quay (except on market days). The beach has various support The beach can be reached by boat, with regular services from the quay in Fuseta. There is a fairly large are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary Here, the Ria Formosa narrows to some extent and the boat wends I lha da lha A fter walking eastwards for fter walking roughly rmona, opposite Fuseta, a fishing a Fuseta, opposite Armona, I lha da lha rmona or Armona O l h ão 45

141 // Beach guide 142 // Beach guide O remains quite acceptable during the bathing season, since the water of the Ria Formosa is Formosa Ria tidalcycle. completely renewed withevery the of water the since season, bathing the during acceptable quite remains their with mud the beaks. in long food for scouring shore-birds, some also but shellfish, and crabs the especially fauna, local the observe and nurseries) shellfish the disturb to not care due (taking walk around the countless branches of the lagoon and the mud banks of the surrounding area Formosa. the Ria of branch a overlooking Fuseta, of town the to close situated cove sandy small a is This P stretch of sand tends to become very crowded in the summer months. summer the in crowded very become to tends sand of stretch l raia daFuseta (Tesos) Ria

h and facessouth-west. beach accessible an as classified is beach The season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has beach days). The market on (except quay the to close Youfromtownbeach toFuseta.the the walk of can area largeorganised and parking There fairly a is ão D espite the proximity of the nearby urban area, the quality of the water normally normally water the of quality the area, urban nearby the of proximity the espite reatly appreciated by children because of its calm warm waters, the narrow the waters, warm calm its of because children by appreciated Greatly A t low tide, you can you tide, low t

Armona 143 // Beach guide Tavira lha de Tavira I // Beach guide // Beach guide

144 145 146 // Beach guide and migratory species that can be seen here, I flora and fauna, most particularly the water birds. and the chance to observe the typical wetland has to be crossed, offering pleasant boat trips C H unending fine white sand and very warm water. extremely inviting in its eleven kilometres of tide. The coastline is calm and peaceful, and air, blending with the smell of the sea at low spread their sweet-smelling aromas into the trees, almond-trees, fig-trees and carob-trees planted with dryland orchards, where olive- from the Serra do I Tavira. n Tavira, a succession of gentle hills descend t is estimated that, counting both the resident acela Peninsula, the Ria Formosa lagoon system ere too, before it finally comes to an end at the Barril C aldeirão to the sea, Barril particularly on the more palatial houses. telhados de tesoura you; and the city’s very common and curious reflections of the brilliant white salt almost dazzle of this municipality: the salt-pans, where the There are other features that also paint the picture the theme of this ancient and special art of fishing. the used in tuna fishing. Now transformed into a hotel, the fishermen and all the tackle and equipment Ferreira Neto, which once housed the families of the country’s only fishing museum, the conditions, and Tavira can proudly claim to have provides the municipality with excellent fishing birds each year. The close proximity of the Ria also the Ria Formosa plays host to more than A rraial still preserves its museum dedicated to Lacém (four-sided, hipped roofs), found A 3 rraial 0,000 and P P da Fuseta andI you reach Praia do island, the of end western towardsthe walking by and,sand, of expanse huge a is beach The a group inthespacearound ofanchorsarranged thebeach,planted withdunevegetation. the original fishermen’s houses and some of the objects that they used in their aswork, well as see to possible still is it and equipment, fishing tuna old from adapted been have beach the at facilities tourist The helichrysum. as known plant small a from originating smell, curry-like the beach, the to closer characteristic and,very a comes by,there which from system, pass dune sand extensive the holidaymakers of vegetation the as mud the in holes the in hide the especially mudbanks, the of fauna beach. the to kilometre more one roughlyfor trains, tourist small the of one on or foot, on continue then and Ria the of channels the of one over footbridge narrow a cross to have you there, Tosand.get white the of middle the in less or more situated is beach The raia doB A I beach facessouth-east. strong.very is classified as an accessible beach. do beach. Praia accessible an as classified is has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. bathing the during supervised is toilets)and (restaurantsand facilities support various has roughly one kilometre from the footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n ccess to the beach is on foot, or on the small tourist train from Pedras from train tourist small the on or foot, on is beach the to ccess raia doHomem Nu rmona, to thewest.lha daArmona, Praia beach. doHomemNuisanofficialnaturist Homem Nu, and wild a beach deserted with a magnificent view over Barra arril C are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally long the way, it is worth taking some time to observe the different the observe to time some taking worth is it way, the Along

EN 125). There is a fairly large areaparking near the village. The beach bocas omem Nu has no support facilities or supervision. The supervision. or facilities support no has Nu Homem (the typical crabs of these areas) which run and run which areas) these of crabs typical (the I lha de Tavira, a narrow tongue of fine de of lha Tavira,tongue narrow a ´el Rei (signposted and (signposted Rei D´el t avi r a I t

Barril Homem Nu 147 // Beach guide 148 // Beach guide t (S tuna salad known as tuna saladknown the as such dishes typical some as well as Ria, the in picked shellfish best the of some enjoy can you where bars and restaurants with filled is waterfront the along avenue beautiful the Luzia, Santa in Back soup. warm a in swimming are you that sensation strange the you giving island, the to greenseaweednext greatof profusions see to common is it summer the in and seawater, warm the in a swim enjoy and daffodils sea the of flowers eye-catching the admire or Barril do Praia of beaches neighbouring the at than deserted more is and one large a is here beach fauna. The and flora marshland typical the as well as boats, fishing local many the and to cross to the island. The boat ride over the Ria shows you the pots used for capturing octopus known as Praia de Santa Luzia, as it is from this picturesque fishing village that the boats set off 50 metres wide, Praiathe so-called da Terra To the east of Praia do Barril, the P avi raia da Terra Estreita I lha de Tavira, providing complete peace and quiet and isolation. On this beach, you can you beach, this On isolation. and quiet and peace complete providingTavira, de lha I east. season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support organised.and basic large has fairly beach Theis area Barril. Praiado parking at The park car the from There are boats to the beach from Santa Luzia, signposted on the anta L footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n r a uzia) estopeta deatum I lha de Tavira narrows, resulting in a strip of sand no more than . Estreita (the Narrow Land Beach). The beach is also

EN 125 and roughly three kilometres I t faces south- faces t front of the city of city the Tavirafrontof itself. of end eastern the at located is beach The children in particular appreciate the warm still waters of the lagoon, as well as the facilities the provided for diving. as well as lagoon, the of waters still warm the appreciate particular in children around the Ria Formosa. On the side of the island facing the Ria, the water quality is good, and itself. beach the on bars various including area, surrounding the in facilities tourist of kinds all and the more of densely the populated part is feeding.This seen be can storks, white miniature to similar birds small stilts, black-winged that sails up and down the river or just rests there, as well as extensive areas of salt-pans, where River the accompanies quayside the to route The island. the journey does not take long and there are even some people who prefer to swim out to the I lha de Tavira C during thebathingseason.I during large and organised. facilities (restaurants and toilets)The and beach is has supervised basic support from island the to boats areThere order thesanddunes, to you helppreserve shouldusethealready existingfootpaths. I are is recommended as the currents close to the bar of the estuary are normally very strong.are are very I isrecommended normally asthecurrents closeto thebarofestuary t is also possible to find local support for a range of water sports and even for cruises for even and sports water of range a for support local find to possible also is t t facessouth-east. A ccess is by boat fromthe boat by is ccess C ais das Quatro Águas in ÁguasQuatro Tavira das ais (EN I lha de Tavira, with holidayvarious homes, a campsite I lha de Tavira, close to Barra do Barra to Tavira,de close lha C ilão and the artisanal fishing fleet fishing artisanal the and Gilão ais das QuatroÁguas,das in ais Tavira,but ). The parking area is fairly fairly is area 125). parking The C ochicho, right in right ochicho, t avi n r a

Ría Costa 149 // Beach guide 150 // Beach guide t across the river estuary to the east. The beach is situated opposite the village of To the east of oysters and clams picked in the nearby nurseries, as well as the various octopus dishes. nurseries,oysters inthenearby aswelloctopus asthevarious andclamspicked C to returning On isolation. perfect and quiet and peace of moments few a enjoy to able be to distance short a walk to have only you and experience pleasant a is beach the along Walking from minutes few a takes only that journey a boat, however,by is, access of means fromisland quiteis mainland narrowthe youacrossand swim can low at tide.it Thepreferred the Ria, together with the stores of fishing equipment. The branch of theRia that separates the at waterfront long the village. From fishing a remains today even which and area, this in fishing tuna of days old the to back dates origin I lha deCabanas abanas, you can visit one of the many restaurants along the waterfront and sample the local the sample and waterfront manythe restaurantsthe along of one abanas,visit youcan avi I south-east. basic support facilities (restaurant and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing season. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurant facilities support basic and roughly one and a half kilometres from the There are boats to the island (in the form of a taxi service) from the waterfront at footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n r a I lha de Tavira is I lha de

C abanas, a narrow but long strip of land before the last bar C EN abanas, fishing boats can be seen anchored in anchored seen be can boats fishing abanas, 125). The area parking is organised. The beach has C abanas (signposted C abanas, whose C abanas. I t faces t hs ml lgo bah s urudd y amad aogt lomns vnyrs and vineyards allotments, amongst farmland, by surrounded is beach lagoon small This barriers ofC barriers of food. search in beaks long their with mud the scouring calmly shore-birds various observe can you Ria, you will find the the of narrow intense. branch the is Beyond mudflats the and sea the of smell the and marsh, is plant main the where dunes sand low-lying some with narrow quite is itself reedbeach Thebrambles. of with lots and vegetation, beds riverside thick some grows there which along stream, occasional an orchards.dryland The beach is reached by footpatha small cross-country which accompanies P small grasses (sea couch), not offering any great resistance to the advances of the sea. the of advances the to resistance great any offering not couch), (sea grasses small raia doLacém

faces south-east. kilometres. supervision, or facilities areas, Theresupport no has which beach, the and are parking no There is a dirt track from the I f you have a private boat, you can cross over the branch of the Ria and reach the sand abanas orC I lha de acela. E uropean beachgrass. The predominant habitat is in fact the salt- the fact in is habitat predominant The beachgrass. uropean C abanas, very thin and low in this area and only covered with some EN 125, heading towards Lacém over a distance of roughly one and a half t avi Here r a

151 // Beach guide 152 // Beach guide Monte Gordo Santo Vila Real de A ntónio

153 // Beach guide 154 // Beach guide Santo António. Vila de Real Later, in the atthebeginning of thelastcentury. Algarve andmost dynamictownsof therichest in the of SãoD from theores themines extracted transported a great dealoftrafficthrough theboatsthat as aport, Vila deSanto Real António witnessed whole ofthe20thcentury. A fish canningcentre throughout almostthe coastturned Algarve Vila into Real animportant to theeast.Sardine andtuna fishingoffthe borderedof theAlgarve, by Guadiana theRiver issituated end attheeastern The municipality Manta Rota Manta omingos, having atonetimebeen 1960s, the bay of Monte t thesametime, C acela Velha G ordo, with

of the Ria Formosaof theRia NaturalPark. Velha to boundary theeastern thewest marks G andMonte Real NacionaldasD unas Litorais between Mata Vila protected area ofpinewoods formed by the andeastthe and salt-marshes to thenorth its naturalhabitats, withitsbroad riverestuary isnoted forthe municipality of thediversity supplythatifoffered.the tourism Nowadays, of asapioneerin terms acting the Algarve, in became oneofthelargest seasideresorts and hugenumbersoftourists began to attract its immense sandy beach and safe, waters,warm Monte G Monte ordo ordo, whilethe town ofC acela Formosa Natural Park to the east. the to Park Natural Formosa the on situated is beach The P and littleterns. terns gull-billed terns, common terns, plovers,sandwich as such dunes, same these in shelter sea manages to penetrate through this natural wall, and the countless birds that find food and where the barrier, places sand those this in by dunes only interrupted the formed of flora rich way to Praia da Manta Rota. the all stretches which wild, and deserted sand, of tongue narrow a on standing yourself find will you clams, and oysters of nurseries countless its with lagoon, the of branch the crossed Forte the to close point high its from Ria the view over magnificent a is there and noria, mediaeval a around grew town The hills. undulating surrounded by orchardsdryland that spread all the way to the salt-marsh in the form of gently in Fábricada Sítio from boat by travel to preferable is it but Rota, Manta da Praia along walking C raia deCacela  acela Velha, although there is no actual quay or regular boat service here. service boat regular or quay actual no is there although acela Velha, no support facilities or supervision andfacessouth-east. facilitiesorsupervision no support a half kilometres from the Fábricada in Sítio from beach the to boats areThere I footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n EN Here, you can enjoy complete as tranquillity you contemplate the 125). There is a small and organised area parking nearby. The beach has C acela Peninsula, which marks out the boundary of the Ria Ria the of boundary the out marks which Peninsula, acela V I t is therefore possible to arrive at the beach on foot, by foot, on beach the at arrive to possible therefore is t elha

V ila R ila C D acela Velha (signposted and roughly one and acela one roughlyVelha and (signposted om Paio Peres Paio om e al d al e

S C a orreia. Once you have you Once orreia. nt o o C Ant acela Velha is acela Velha ó n io © Vasco Célio

155 // Beach guide 156 // Beach guide V and crannies, particularly attheendsofbeach. and crannies, particularly than the bathing neighbouring area of Praia de Monte frequented less is beach beach. This the of end eastern the at park car the of edge the marks a characteristic plant broom, of the bridal sandy as soils of such the bushes, large-sized some as well as smell, curry-like intense its with air the impregnates which helichrysum, as such appear, to begin plants aromatic more the of predominance a is there visitors the chance to observe the vegetation of the dunes, stretching from the seafront, where allowing sand, the onto lead footpaths wooden Raised facilities. tourist of predominance a is is dunes there beach the of sand part central the in of since town, the of west line and east the to especially wide,The The system. centre. lagoon Formosa tourist Ria important the an of now end eastern is the it marks beach although village, fishing its a of some as retains character still which original Rota, Manta of town the to linked beach extensive an is This P ila R ila raia daManta Rota I classified asanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth-east. various is has beach The season. bathing beach the during The supervised area.is and toilets) and parking (restaurants facilities organised support and large fairly a is There kilometres. two roughly There is a tarmac road to the beach from the from beach the to road tarmac a is There footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n e al d al e

S a nt o o E rpa bahrs ad e hly t te nad ra where area inland the to holly, sea and beachgrass uropean Ant ó n Algarve’s eastern region. io EN , heading in the direction of Manta Rota for Rota Manta of direction the in heading 125, G ordo and offers some peaceful nooks A refreshing line of poplars lose to this beach, you can still see the brightly-coloured fishing boats and the respective the and boats fishing brightly-coloured the see still can you beach, this to Close P very gentlewaves.very with warm is sea the and sunny, and hot very peaceful, relatively is beach broom.The bridal nearer to the sea. Further dunes inland, sand there is of an front abundance of the tall at bushes, such found as typically the characteristic are which cottonweed, fluffy the and beachgrass of consists vegetation predominant their and low are dunes The sight. of out and essentially is distance the intostretches that beach it sandy huge a of consisting Nowadays, purposes, bathing for used auction. by sold was fish caught freshly the where market fish a as used was beach this when time the of you reminding equipment, fishing non-industrial raia daL I classified asanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth-east. is beach Theseason. bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support basic has beach area.The parking organised an is Therekilometres. half a and two roughly for Lota, There is a roadtarmac to the beach from the footpaths provided n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n ota EN 125, heading in the direction of Rota, PraiaManta da V ila R ila e al d al e

S a nt o o Ant E uropean ó n io

157 // Beach guide 158 // Beach guide V sandy beaches. There isapicnicarea nearby, shadedby pinetrees andcloseto thecampsite. is wilder, the line of sand dunes grows wider and you can already see the vegetationtypical of the sea prickly holly has withstood the constant treading of visitors’ feet. To the east, the beach facilities. tourist of variety wide a and seaside avenue, built with the typical busy Portuguese a paving by stones, backed along is which theresand the are beach, gardens the of area central the in and west waves.To the the of driest and sunniest in the hottest, the of one is hereenvironment the and bay wide a of part forms casino.beach a The a basis.on non-industrial continued still is activity the although beach, the of end western the at only found be to are equipment fishing their and boats brightly-coloured the Now communities. fishing by This area shows signs of human settlement from long ago, having been used for many centuries P Monte Monte ila R ila raia deMonte G

The beachisclassifiedasanaccessibleandfaces south-east. facilities (restaurants, various support toilets and others) during the and bathing is season. supervised of the beach is next to the picnic area along a dirt track of roughly roughly one kilometre. There is a largevery and organised area. parking The access to the eastern end There is a tarmac road to the beach from the from beach the to road tarmac a is There G ordo is now an tourist important centre, equipped with all of kinds facilities, including e al d al e

aving been a pioneering region in the history of tourism in the in tourism of history the regionin pioneering a been Having S a nt lgarve, Algarve, whilst the sea is famous for its warmth and the gentle nature o o Ant ordo ó I n the small dunes, which continue to be formed, only formed, be to continue which dunes, small the n n io EN , heading in the direction of Monte Monte of direction the in heading 125, 100 metres in length. The beach has G lgarve, Algarve, ordo for ordo The beach starts close to the mouth of the River River the of mouth the to close starts beach The P the green mantleofthepinewoods growing onthesanddunes. To the west, the beach opens up to form a vast and never-ending expanse of sand, bybacked the mouth of the River the sand dunes are plants such as the of region this in plant typical (a broom bridal of woodland. the through crawling chameleons, camouflaged generally and slow-moving the spot to able smell. curry-like strong a off gives which helichrysum, unmistakable the and thyme of smell aromatic the with filled pinewoods the through runs, also train tourist small a which along footpath, a via is seafront the to access interesting most westwards.stretches The then and breakwater small the at dos Trêsbegins Pauzinhos,which Praia to restricted is purposes bathing for beach this of use environment. The Mediterranean growing on the sand dunes, lends a refreshing green dimension to this hot, dry and very sunny pines maritime and pines stone of woodland protected a Nacional, Mata system. The lagoon kilometres of uninterrupted sand and calm warm water stretching all the way to the Ria Formosa raia deS I during thebathing season.I during Real, over a distance of roughly one kilometre. The beach has basic support facilities and is supervised also be reached on foot, by bicycle or by a taking tourist train from close to complex the at sports Vila wide road running parallel to the beach. There is a areafairly large near parking the beach, which can Santo de Real Vila the along beach the to road tarmac a is There footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n lose to the beach, you will find that the predominant feature is the high bushes high the is feature predominant the that find will you beach, the to Close ntónio for roughly four kilometres and then passing through the Mata along the along Mata the through passing then and fourkilometres forroughlyAntónio anto A Guadiana, and on the other bank of the great river lies Spain. southern t facessouth-west. E uropean beachgrass and sea holly. To the east, you can see ntónio EN V , heading in the direction of the breakwater of breakwater the of direction the in heading 125, uadiana, marking the beginning of twelve of beginning the marking Guadiana, ila R ila lgarve). By the seafront on the ridges of ridges the on seafront the By Algarve). I f you pay careful attention, you will be will you attention, careful pay you f e al d al e

S a nt o o Ant ó n io

159 // Beach guide Castro Marim Praia Verde // Beach guide // Beach guide

1 6 60 1 1 162 // Beach guide C black-winged stilts, avocets, etc., that are the and animals, butitisthebirds, theflamingos, salt-pans, ishometo agreat ofplants diversity branches, canals, mudflatsanddazzlingwhite de Santo withits river António Nature Reserve, marsh. The SapaldeC the planet’s mostproductive habitats:thesalt- and allotments, but above allcreating oneof of land, giving to theplantingoforchards rise the great riverhasfloodedlarge southern areas close to itsmouth. fromThe water overflowing Guadianauntilquitethe banksofRiver covered withwildflowers to thesea, following stretchesThe municipality from the inlandhills astro Marim. Praia Verde astro Marim and astro Marim Vila Real Alagoa and theborder region withSpain. Guadiana theRiver positionoverlooking lofty castle, benefiting fromMoorish itsstrategic and of C located onthehill fort traces ofanoldRoman (roughlyperiod 5000years B C dates backtoof themunicipality theNeolithic undulating sand dunes. The human occupation deep green pinewoods growing onthegently FormosaRia lagoonsystem, framedby the Guadianato of theRiver the links theestuary same stretch ofsand, of landthat athinstrip municipality’s four ofthe beachesare part really feature distinctive ofthehabitat. The astro Marim, whereastro there Marim, now standsthe C abeço ) andthere are The village of village The P framed by avastarea ofpinewoods. horizon Monte of buildings the remainsgreen,the with landscape eastwards,wherethe up opens of line The season. summer the of environment sunny hot dazzlingly the from to appear the typical bushes of bridal broom, which at least afford some shade and visual relief and the sea eye-catching daffodils. inland,Further the vegetation grows taller and there begin of abundance an is up rises gradually region. inland more the and seafront the between vegetation in difference the observe to possible it making footpaths, wooden raised of network a by over crossed is which system, dune sand wide its and beach raia daA   faces south-east. is and toilets) season. and bathing beach the accessible an as during classified is beach The and supervised (restaurants facilities support various has beach The kilometre. one road Therefromtarmac a is the wooden footpaths provided. I n order to this help area,preserve you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised ltura, essentially a summer holiday resort, accompanies the extensive sandy extensive the accompanies resort, holiday summer a essentially Altura, lagoa ( lose to the immense expanse of sand from which the dune the which from sand of expanse immense the to Close A EN E ltura) uropean beachgrass, sea holly, the fluffy cottonweed fluffy the holly, sea beachgrass, uropean , heading towardsheading 125, ltura, forAltura, roughlyof distance a c as tr o o m a G r ordo i m

163 // Beach guide 164 // Beach guide c dry, while the sea is calm and warm. dry, whiletheseaiscalmandwarm. the of bush characteristic the broom, bridal the inland, further and, helichrysum aromatic daffodil, the sea beautiful the flora: their of variety wide the exhibit dunes sand away.The sand the the landscape is old a pool curious that growsthe beach, marking in size when the sea carries coastline. sandy the over view panoramic fabulous a offering and facilities the wood. The car park is sited in a planted garden area equipped with all the tourist necessary throughout green very and rich is undergrowth the and mushrooms, giant of shape curious sand, and in the midst of which chameleons crawl around unhurriedly. The pine trees have the the to hills the of slopes gentle the down way their make which pines,stone of area vast a by D P oing justice to its name (Praia Verde literally means literally (PraiaVerde name its to justice oing as raia

00 metres). (100 beach The the tothere fromfootpath a and area parking organised and large fairly a is beach has various support facilities (restaurants and toilets) and is supervised during the bathing the during season. The beachisclassifiedasanaccessibleandfacessouth-east. supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has beach There is a tarmac road from the tr o o V m erde a r i m lgarve’s sandy eastern region. The environment is hot, sunny and sunny hot, is environment region.The eastern Algarve’ssandy EN 125, heading in the direction of Praia Verde for reen Beach), this beach is surrounded is beach this Beach), Green E uropean beachgrass, uropean 1500 metres. There I n the middle of middle the n The beach is located in what is still a rural landscape, where extremely old trees, especially trees, old extremely where landscape, rural a still is what in located is beach The P quiet area ofland, offering bathersthechance to swiminsafe, waters warm broom, bridal giant a like rather looks which hoopoe, butterfly. the as such birds and chameleons, slow-moving sight. comforting a are vegetation the of colour wild flowers, asparagus and aromatic and rosemary.redplants such as helichrysum The shade and deep green and white with roses rock mastic-trees, enormous trees, arbutus-berry by dunes. olive-trees and cork-oaks, gradually give way to the typical pinewoods growing on the coastal raia doCabeço (Retur) I classified asanaccessiblebeachandfacessouth-east. is beach season. The bathing the during supervised is and toilets) and (restaurants facilities support various has which beach, the near area parking organised and large fairly a is kilometres. There two There is a tarmac road from the from road tarmac a is There footpaths provided. n order to help preserve this area, you should cross over the sand dunes using the raised wooden raised the using dunes sand the over cross should you area, this preserve help to order n Closer to the beach, the stone pines form a densely wooded area, being accompanied lose to the beach, the pinewoods give way to sand dunes covered by the typical typical the by covered dunes sand to way give pinewoods the beach, the to Close E uropeanbeachgrass cottonweed. fluffy the and extensive and an is beach The EN , heading in the direction of Praia do Praia of direction the in heading 125, I f you pay close attention, you can see the see can you attention, close pay you f c as C tr abeço for roughly for abeço o o m a r i m

165 // Beach guide Alcoutim Pego Fundo // Beach guide // Beach guide

67 66 1 1 168 // Beach guide and the local people still maintain their rich and thelocalpeoplestillmaintain theirrich to thetimesofMoors,Neolithic period over thousandsofyears, ranging from the human occupationoftheregion date back Lucar delGuadianainSpain. The tracesofthe you canseethevillageofSan the otherbank, white houses.Guadiana, withitsbrilliant On theRiver natural amphitheatre overlooking river,southern Alcoutimhastheform ofa Far from thecoastline, facingthegreat Alcoutim. links withtheland, occupying themselves extremely tasty lamprey. tasty extremely dishes asthestews madewitheelsorthe been continued, being embodiedinsuch points anddams. Local fishingtraditionshave road, you willfindstreams, chasms, mooring on thelandscape, and, ateachbend inthe handicrafts. Buttheriverimposesitspresence with farming, grazing, huntingandtraditional - P a tributary to the River River the to tributary a P background noise is composed of the sound of birds chirping and the tinkling of the bells the of around thenecksofsheepandgoats. tinkling the and chirping birds of sound the the of composed where is spot, noise bucolic background and peaceful very a is This season. bathing the during acceptable the of surface flat remainsquite normally water the smaller,of and smaller becomes waterquality the although the evaporation, of effects the to due season, dry the Throughout trees. roses.with beds flower- arechasm coveredthe of Thesides reedand,with beds here there, and fruit- fantastic some and lavender oleanders, poplars, with areaparticularly surroundingplanted, The been sight. has unusual an quite it making beach, river this build help to here featuresde natural the of advantage Ribeira the in chasm beautiful takes a beach of I n the heart of the rural agricultural landscape of the of landscape agricultural rural the of heart the n raia Fluvial deA

ec, hc hs ai spot aiiis br ties n soes ad s uevsd uig the during supervised is and showers) bathing season. and The beachisclassifiedasanaccessibleandfacessouth/south-west. toilets (bar, facilities support basic has which beach, and continuing roughly continuing and of town the from road tarmac a is There ego Fundo uadiana. Some of the clear white sands from the coast werecoast broughtfromthe sands white clear the of Some Guadiana. 00 metres along its left bank. There is an organised parking area near the near area parking organised an is There bank. left its along metres 500 lcoutim lcoutim, crossing the bridge over the Ribeira de Ribeira the over bridge the crossing Alcoutim, lgarve’s north-eastern region, this river this region, Algarve’snorth-eastern

AL C O C C adavais, UT adavais I M

169 // Beach guide 170 // Beach guide glo sed to describe aspeciesor Used to describe Class ofmolluscshaving ashell alteration andshapingofthe relief A phenomenonthat leads to the Erosion from whichitoriginates. geographical region,to acertain thatisconfined plant community Endemic irrigation. Refers to crops thatdonotrequire D produced erosion. by marine A steep coastal rock face, Cliff the rock. the dissolution/eatingaway of with water, whichtends to cause vulnerableto contact are very they composed ofcarbonates; Basic rocks (ph>7)essentially Carbonate rocks together by cement. acarbonate joined of sand-sized particles rocks consisting Sedimentary Calcarenites clams. a ligament,suchasmusselsor joinedtogether by parts of two Bivalves together by cement. acarbonate andfossil shells,particles joined consistingofsand-sizedRocks Biocalcarenites territory. exclusive to this which ispartly plantcover,colonised by atypical thehillsandcoast, between in thecentralarea oftheAlgarve rocks ofcarbonate A strip located Barrocal cement. carbonate together by asiliceousor joined of sand-sized particles rock consisting A sedimentary A renite ryland S

s A

RY

An area orlandscapeoflimestone A rock consistingessentiallyof they arethey organisms thatindicate both benefitfrom living together; fungus andaseaweed, inwhich a Symbiotic associationbetween Lichens plants, especiallyshrubsortrees. climb, whichspreads across other toPlant specieswithatendency Lianas ( due to erosion. fissured surface which hasahighlyfurrowed and (Limestone) karrenfeld of thisenvironment. adapted to thespecific conditions biological communitiesthathave at theequinox, colonisedby tides andlow tidesoccurring ebb andflow thehigh between coveredThe coastalstrip by the I conditions. adapted to growing insaline Refers to aplantspeciesthathas Halophytic water, ice, livingbeings). agents(wind, ofexternal activity of theland, resulting from the galleries. and underground surface the communication between limestone rocks, establishing A deepholethatisformed in P shrews. Small mammalssuchasmiceor Micro proportions. are to befound insimilar clay, inwhichclay andlimestone rock ofcalcareous Sedimentary Marlstone calcium carbonate. Limestone quality.atmospheric ntertidal environmentntertidal othole

Mammals creepers)

A reddish clay-loam soil, resulting trees. growing underthe crowns of or forest; thegroup ofplants of thegrass andshrubsinawood Vegetation existingatthelevel Undergrowth wave atthebaseofa cliff. The erosive ofanocean action Undercutting of the “mother-rock”. limestone, whichfillsthecavities from thealteration ofthe Terra rossa capture food inmudbanks. such away iteasierto asto make of thesespeciesare shapedin consisting ofmudsoils;thebeaks Birds thatlive inhabitats S quite thininrelation to itslength. rocks are deposited, generally Way inwhichigneous plutonic S appearance. laminar resulting inaslate-like inparallellayers,arranged rock thatis Metamorphic S drops ofsaltwater. Wind from thesealadenwith S importance. ecosystems ofgreat ecological halophytic vegetation; form they by andcolonised saltwater Alluvial soilsfloodedperiodically S of water. Gully orriverbeddugby theflow Ravine resistant to erosion. and abundantintheearth very consistingofsilicathatis Mineral Quartz hore birds eam chist alt spray alt-marsh

FL Odec Odemir ei Lisboa AG Sine xe s a S S A T T T adapted to theneedsofpeoplewith reduced mobility. Symbol awarded to beachesthathave special accessesandequipment environmental andsafety conditions. Symbol ofquality, awarded to beachesthatdisplay excellent Lifeguard offduty. temporarily Bathing andswimmingallowed. Bathing withcaution.Noswimmingallowed. No bathingorswimmingallowed. RE A BL CHEQUERE G YE CCE REEN F REEN UE F UE LLO D HE Aljustre Lisboa F SSIBL LAG l B W F W LAG LAG EACHE

LAG E E

D B F

Ourique Lisboa E

LAG A CH S

M AP Lisboa m

O apa do alga apado F THE F THE Motorway Road Main Boundary Municipal Castro ALGA Lisboa Ve rd e R r V v E BY M BY e

por U c N Mé Lisboa on Beja rt ICI ol a P ce A L l I h T IE os S Madrid 171 // Beach guide Sevilh a 172 // Beach guide LIS A A australis Common reed Carob-tree monosperma Bridal broom A A rose, Tuberaria major Alcar-do-Algarve Flo loe rbutus-tree lmond-tree sparagus , Agave americana T T r O a a F F , Asparagus spp. , Ceratonia siliqua , Prunus dulcis , Arbutus unedo , Arbutus SP , Retama , Retama , Phragmites , avariety ofrock EC I E S humilis D Cretan trefoil maritimus Cottonweed Cork-oak Ice plant Helichrysum Heather Fig-tree arenariaAmmophila European beachgrass warf fanpalm warf , Ficus carica , Erica spp. , Carpobrotus edulis , Quercussuber , Othanthus , Othanthus , Helichrysum picardii, Helichrysum , Lotus creticus , Chamaerops , Olive-tree Oleander Lianas sylvestris olive-tree, europaea var. Olea Myrtle maritimus Asteriscus Mediterranean beachdaisy Mastic-tree pine Maritime coccineum Maltese mushroom (honeysuckle) bindweed) andLonicera implexa Lavender Kermes oak Juniper , Smilaxaspera (rough , Myrtus communis , Myrtus , Juniperusturbinata , Neriumoleander , Lavandula sp. , Olea europaea; Wild , Olea , Pistacia lentiscus , Quercuscoccifera , Pinus pinaster , Cynomorium , P maritimum samphireRock roseRock P lotocephalus andThymus carnosus P P O ortuguese thyme ortuguese oplar ale stonecrop rickly thrift rickly rchids, , Populus sp. Ophrys spp. Ophrys , Cistusladanifer , Armeria pungens , Armeria , Crithmum , Sedum sediforme , Sedum , Thymus S S soldanella S S salvifolius Rosemary, S S maritimum

age-leaf rock rose age-leaf ea daffodil ea bindweed and couch grass, ea holly, ea grass , Cymodocea nodosa Eryngium maritimum Eryngium Rosmarinusofficialis , Pancratium , Calystegia Elymus farctus , Cistus S S Tamarisk, maritima S Spotted rock rose junceum Spanish broom S maritimus andJuncusacutus S S S weet alyssum, tone pine hrubby seablite ea orach, ea rushandspiny rush ea medick ea lavender LIS Tamarix africana Atriplex halimus , Pinus pinea T T , Medicago marina , Limoniumspp. O , Spartium , Spartium Lobularia F F , Suaedavera , Cistuscrispus SP EC , Juncus I E S

173 // Beach guide 174 // Beach guide LIS O Octopus Limpet Buckshot barnacle Topshell Mussel Cuttlefish Clam sp. vermiculata Wormleaf saltwort Thyme Molluscs Fa yster un T T , Ruditapesdecussatus , Ostreaedulis , Thymbra capitata , Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus , Patella sp. O , Gibbulaspp. , Octopus vulgaris , Octopus a , Sepia officinalis , Sepia F F

SP EC , Chthamalus , Salsola , Salsola I E S ( S S S S equina Anemonia sulcata and Actinia S Symphodus spp. wrasseRainbow seabream Common two-banded White seabream C E Fish C

G tarfish hrimp and smelt ea urchin ea anemones chinoder nidarians rustaceans reen) crab , Palaemon serratus , Marthasterias glacialis , Marthasterias , Diplodus vulgaris , Diplodus , Paracentrotus lividus; , Atherina presbyter , Carcinus maenas m

s

, Coris julisand , Diplodus sargus;, Diplodus Blackbird Black-headed gull G A himantopus Black-winged stilt limosa Black-tailed godwit ridibundus B Cyanopica cyana A Chameleon Syngnathus acus Birds R ee-eater vocet zure-winged magpie zure-winged eptiles eptiles reater pipefish(seahorse) , Recurvirostra avosetta , Turdus merula , Merops apiaster , Chamaeleon , Bimanous , Larus , Limosa , , G Coot Common tern Cattle egret Jackdaw Hoopoe cachinnans Herring-gull nilotica Cormorant ( G Flamingo rey heron ull-billed tern Yellow-legged gull),Larus , Fulica atra , Upupaepops , Corvus monedula , Corvus , Phoenicopterus ruber , Phalacrocorax carbo , Ardeacinerea , Bubulcusibis , Larus argentatus , Sterna hirundo , Gelochelidon , Gelochelidon Little egret Little tern Little stint S P P sandivicensis doveRock P Porphyrio porphyrio P Mallard Kingfisher Kestrel andwich tern eregrine urple heron urple gallinule( lover , Charadrius spp. , Falco tinnunculus , Anas platyrhynchos , Anas , Falco peregrinus , Sterna albifrons , Calidris minuta , Alcedo atthis , Columba livia , Egretta garzetta , Ardeapurpurea , Sterna Cayman) , S S text aretext listed here) (Note: onlythespeciesreferred to inthe Rabbit Fox B White stork Turnstone S O Ma wift tonechat hag, at tter , Rhinolophus spp., Rhinolophus , Vulpes vulpes , Apus spp., Apus , Lutra lutra Phalacrocorax aristotelis mm LIS , Oryctolagus cuniculus , Oryctolagus , Arenariainterpres , Saxicolatorquata T T , Ciconia ciconia als O F F

SP EC I E S

175 // Beach guide vila do bispo vila do bispo u i d e G /// / Beach B e a c h guide // Beach guide

76 77 1 1 vila do bispo na - Lagos A . D

Data Sheet:

Edition and Copyright: Região de Turismo do Algarve (Algarve TourisM Board) [email protected] www.rtalgarve.pt www.visitalgarve.pt

Head Office: Av. 5 de Outubro,18, 8000-076 Faro, Algarve, Portugal. Telephone: (+351) 289 800 400 Fax: (+351) 289 800 489

Graphic Design and Layout: DCB Design

Texts and pictures of the flora and fauna: Paula Gaspar

Photography: Hélio Ramos

Translation: John Elliott

Printing: Gráfica comercial, Loulé

Print Run: 10.000 copies // Beach guide

Distribution: 79

Free 1 vila do bispo www.visitalgarve.pt

REGIÃO DE Turismo do Algarve Algarve Tourism Board Av. 5 de Outubro, n.º 18 8000-076 Faro – Portugal Tel.: (+351) 289 800 400 Fax: (+351) 289 800 489 E-mail: [email protected] www.rtalgarve.pt © Região de Turismo do A lgarve Turismo de © Região // Beach guide

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