This is the first beach to the east of Albufeira Marina and is a city beach, located in the old centre of Albufeira. A huge rocky ledge in warm tones stands on the sands, holding out against the generalised receding of the cliff and constituting a distinctive landmark. These rock formations are known locally as […]
Pedestrian access to the beach is through the tourist complex that occupies the approach, descending a gully through which a torrential stream runs. The gully is cool and is lined by a curtain of bougainvillea and impressive stone pines and cork oaks. While the pine grove surrounds the beach, once on the sands the dominant […]
The beach is named after the hotel belonging to the Inatel Foundation, which stands on a rocky veranda overlooking the central section of the long beach. An abundance of plants that have adapted to these saline environments, such as saltwort and Mediterranean saltbush, can be seen growing on the continuous line of steep cliffs flanking […]
This beach in the form of a shell is smaller than the ones to the west and it nestles between curiously-shaped cliffs. To the east, there is an intricate-looking rocky platform where you can observe the intertidal marine life at low tide. This is also a good spot for snorkelling around the submerged rocks. Warm […]
This is a huge beach, part of a continuous stretch of sand almost 6 km in length. It is flanked by a line of high cliffs in deep tones ranging from reds to whitish, in a contrasting game of colours with the green of the pine groves above. At the western end, the cliff is […]
The footpath to Coelha Beach takes you alongside farmland, where you can see olive and carob trees that look like they must be a hundred years old. As you approach the sea, you begin to see exuberant coastal scrub consisting of juniper, Kermes oak, mastic trees and dwarf fan palms (Europe’s only native palm tree), […]
At Castelo Beach, the cliffs stand tall, marking the landscape. The beach, nestling between rocky walls, is full of hidden nooks and little bays. At the easternmost end, a scenic rock formation reminiscent of the battlements of a fantasy castle, give the beach its name. This small promontory is deeply eroded; the rocky ledges that […]
This is a small rocky beach nestling between low, attractively-eroded cliffs. Huge seaweed-covered rocks are scattered along the tideline and under the water, filling the air with the salty scent of the sea. The hot, dry beach is framed by plants, especially stone pine and mastic trees, and massive century plants. Closer to the sands, […]
This little bay follows on from the rocky massif that delimits the bay of Albufeira to the east and its orientation means you can contemplate the coastal panorama all the way to Vilamoura. The beach nestles between cliffs, giving rise to a tranquil rocky pool. You can go for a walk along the rocky platform […]
The beach stands at the mouth of an occasional stream, whose riverside vegetation and small pebbles reach all the way down to the sand. On the east bank is a small eucalyptus wood with the typical scrubland of the “Barrocal” clay region amongst its undergrowth, which is sometimes used for unauthorised camping. The beach here […]
The beach is located at the easternmost end of Cabanas Island, close to Cacela Harbour and you can get to it by boat departing from a place called “Sítio da Fábrica” (“the site of the factory”) in Cacela Velha. This historical town, where you can admire the bright white houses with their traditional cobalt blue […]
This estuary beach is located in the heart of the marshlands, next to a cluster of storage huts that serves as support for fishing and shellfish gathering. A variety of boats anchor in the little bay, surrounded by gleaming saltpans. To the west you will find the Ria Formosa Nature Park’s Head Office and Interpretation […]