Praia dos Pinheiros is another of the amazing Lagos beaches which lie in the shelter of Ponta da Piedade. This is probably one of the most secluded little coves along this stretch of coast and access is courtesy of a steep stone stairway hewn into to the sandstone cliffs.
The high ochre cliffs here provide plenty of shelter from the wind and divide the beach up into a number of little coves. All around are the weird and wonderful rock formations that are the trademark of the Ponta da...
To describe the little cove of Praia do Pinhão as a hidden gem might be going a little to far, but it is certainly a gem, and by Lagos standards somewhat hidden.
Tucked away at the bottom of the steep ochre cliffs that stretch along the coast towards Ponta da Piedade the beach at Praia do Pinhão is only really obvious to those who are looking for it. It is accessed by a steep stone stairway that makes its way down the cliff in a series of terraces.
Whilst the little beach here...
Along with the neighbouring Praia do Cais da Solária, Praia da Batata is the closest beach to Lagos' town centre. Just a few minutes walk from all of the town's amenities this is the easiest option around. On the flipside this means it does tend to get busy fairly quickly during the summer months.
The beach is just across the main Avenida dos Descobrimentos from the town and can easily be spotted by the large plaza with a statue of São Gonçalo of Lagos that stands overlooking the ...
Technically speaking Praia de São Roque doesn't exist as a beach in its own right and is generally considered to be part of the vast crescent of sand that is Meia Praia. The beach is still referred to by its old name by some locals though.
Historically Praia de São Roque and Meia Praia were two separate beaches divided by a stream. However, over the years the course of the stream has changed and no longer exists. The name itself comes from a...
Praia do Martinhal is a wide sandy beach just outside Sagres. It is around 2km from the town and takes about 25 minutes to walk here meaning it is usually relatively quiet.
The beach at Martinhal is set in the shallow and relatively sheltered east-facing Bay of Baleeira which is also home to the town's harbour. This means the water here is nearly always calmer than the Atlantic-facing beaches around Sagres' mighty headland. With a lifeguard service running during the summer months...
Praia da Cordoama is one of several beaches that form a long sandy stretch along the coast just west of Vila do Bispo. Cordoama is by far the longest of these beaches but at low tide this doesn't matter as it joins together with neighbouring Castelejo and Barriga to form a huge sandy beach.
All these beaches are part of the beautiful coastline that makes up the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina Natural Park. As such they have not succumb to the ravages of tourism and are largely...
Praia do Barranco is a fairly secluded little beach a few kilometres along the Algarve coast from Sagres. Tucked well away from the ocean swells there is nothing in the way of surf here, unlike many of the neighbouring beaches. Instead you will find calm, clear turquoise waters, ideal for taking a dip in. Cliffs on the western side of the beach also provide some degree of shelter from the winds that this part of the coast is well known for.
The backdrop at Praia do Barranco is one of...
Sitting next to Sagres' harbour and within the lee of its breakwater, Praia da Baleeira is by far the town's most sheltered beach. This is no way Sagres' best or most dramatic beach but it does come into its own when the westerly wind is blowing and there is a giant Atlantic swell. Despite this Baleeira actually has a more exposed feel to it than many of the cosy coves nearby. There is little in the way of cliffs here and the backdrop slopes gently up towards the town.
That said Praia...
Castelejo beach is located on the quieter, more exposed Atlantic coast of the Algarve. Being part of the Vicentine Coast natural park it feels a million miles away from the beaches of the south coast.
The beach is dominated by the huge black schist cliffs that rise out of the golden sand. On some days this can feel like a very remote location, in the summer though it is quite a popular...
Situated on the coast between Lagos and Sagres is the fishing village of Burgau. Like much of the western Algarve the little fishing village was largely undiscovered by the tourism industry until relatively recently meaning it has...