Algarve beaches

The Algarve beaches they are among the best Portugal. This region in the south of the country is one of the most touristic in the entire Iberian Peninsula for a reason. If you add to this that the area offers you more than three hundred hours of sunshine a year and clear, calm waters, you have all the elements to enjoy a dream vacation.

But the Algarve still offers you more. The southernmost region of the Portuguese country also has mountainous landscapes behind its beaches. Specifically, you have Monchique and Caldeirao mountain ranges, through which you can make beautiful and simple hiking trails. And it also has charming cities and towns like Lagos, Portimao, Albufeira, Silves o Faro. But, going back to the beaches of the Algarve, they stretch for about two hundred kilometers from the southeast coast to the extreme east, near Vila Real de Santo Antonio. We are going to show you some of the best.

Benagil Beach

This small cove is known, above all, for its enormous cave, popularly called The Cathedral. Its calm waters allow you to reach it by canoe or boat. Many people do it, to the point that, sometimes, the boats do not allow you to see the sand. This is golden, a color that blends with that of the rocks that surround it.

Next to it, you will find another world famous beach. We are talking about the sandbank da Marina, considered by the Michelin guide one of the top ten in the world. So much so that it has appeared in many advertising brochures in the area. It is also famous for the cliffs that surround it and for the excellent quality of its waters. We advise you to visit it when there is low tide. Thus, you will be able to observe the surrounding marine coves, hidden between mountains.

On the other hand, since you are in this area of ​​the Algarve, visit the beautiful town of Benagil. This small fishing town has managed to retain all its traditional charm. But above all, get close to Lagos, equally fascinating and full of monuments.

Among them, you must visit the Church of Our Lady of Light, a beautiful XNUMXth-century temple with a magnificent Manueline-style portal. The mother churches of Porches and Estombar, from the same period, are also very beautiful. And, along with them, we advise you to see the convents of San José, Nuestra Señora del Carmen and San Francisco, as well as the castles of Porches and Ferragudo, two coastal fortifications that served as a defense against attacks from the sea.

Arrifana Beach

Located in the municipality of Aljezur, is about five hundred meters long and is closed at its southern end by the spectacular Agulha Stone, a rocky inlet in the sea. The beach holds the blue flag badge for the quality of its waters and its sand.

Likewise, its northern part is highly valued by diving lovers. And, like others in the Algarve, it is surrounded by spectacular cliffs. But, in this case, you will be surprised to see that they are made of slate, not limestone.

As we told you in the previous case, since you are in Arrifana, you must visit Aljezur, with a privileged environment that is part of the PNatural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina. But also with interesting monuments. Among them stands out the castle of Arab origin and polygonal plant that dominates it from above. But also the churches of Misericordia, built in the XNUMXth century in Renaissance style, and of Nuestra Señora del Alba, from the end of the XNUMXth century.

But, right next to the beach, you have the Fort of Arrifana, built on a rocky promontory. It was part of the set of watchtowers on the Algarve coast in Muslim times. Finally, you can see in Aljezur several museums interesting. Thus, the Sacred Art Manuel Francisco Parral, the Municipal, which has an area dedicated to the Andalusian legacy, and the Antonian. But more curious will be the Museum of the Sea and the Land of Carrapateira, with great ethnographic value.

Carvoeiro, another of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve

In the town of the same name you will find this other beautiful beach with golden sands and transparent waters. In addition, it has the advantage of having all the facilities and even bars and restaurants right next to it. And, if you visit it by boat, from the sea you will see an impressive picture with the beach in the central part surrounded by two cliffs and with the population in the background.

In one of them is the so-called Dry Algar, a capricious set of sand and dunes that has an original appearance. And, in the other, you have the Mount Carvoeiro, where the most luxurious houses in the area are located and which offers you wonderful views of other beaches in the Algarve.

On the other hand, near this sandbank you have the carvalho beach, more rugged, but just as beautiful, with its white sands and crystal clear waters. However, keep in mind that it is not easy to access it, since you will have to do it through the cliffs that surround it.

Also, since you are in Carvoeiro, we recommend that you visit the beautiful Alfanzina lighthouse, built at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. And, above all, that you walk through the streets of the town, full of the charm of small fishing villages.

Falesia Beach

Another wonderful sandy area in the Algarve is this beach in the important town of Albufeira. Its peculiarity, which makes it unique, is the color of some parts of its sandbank. It's from a reddish tone due to the unique cliffs that surround it. For this reason, it is considered one of the most spectacular beaches in the Algarve. But its crystalline waters and its great extension, more than five kilometers, also contribute to this.

In addition, it offers you all kinds of infrastructures. It has car parking, hammock and canoe rental and rescue equipment in summer. As if all this were not enough, its waters never fall below a temperature of fourteen degrees, although they can reach up to twenty-two.

On the other hand, we advise you to visit the beautiful town of Albufeira. In this you can see the castles of Paderne, an XNUMXth-century Muslim fortress that is in ruins, and Albufeira, built in the XIII to defend the coast. But also the medieval bridge of the same name and the Church of the Lady of Hope, a Renaissance temple with Manueline elements from the XNUMXth century. In addition, inside you can see several baroque carvings, among which the one of the Archangel Saint Michael stands out. You should also visit the Casa de la Misericordia, the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Guía and the Medronheira tower.

Ponta da Piedade beach, perhaps the most spectacular of the Algarve beaches

This sandy area is one of the most impressive natural places in the entire Algarve due to its imposing limestone cliffs. In addition, these make up figures that will remind you of the Cathedrals beach, in Lugo. Ponta da Piedade is also in Lagos and can be accessed through hiking trails or by sea. Regarding the former, they start from the lighthouse that gives its name to the beach, built at the beginning of the XNUMXth century on the remains of the old hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad.

As we have just told you, Ponta da Piedade is located in the municipality of Lagos, which we have already told you about. But, now, we also want to recommend that you come to see the spectacular Governors Castle and the ruins of the Celtic city of lacobriga. All this without forgetting the buildings of the Regimental Warehouse, from the XNUMXth century, and the old Town Hall, a beautiful Pombaline-style building.

Beliche Beach

This beautiful beach of white sands and turquoise blue waters is located in the parish of Sagres, within the municipality of Vila do Obispo, very close to the spectacular cape st vincent. If you are a fan of surfing, we recommend it, since all lovers of this sport speak wonders about it for its direct waves, although small.

On the other hand, as we advised you on other beaches, take the opportunity to visit nearby towns. Especially Vila do Obispo, a small town of just five thousand inhabitants, but full of charm. In this one, you have to see the precious mother church of Raposeira, with its white walls and its Manueline style.

You should also visit the Forts of Burgau and Boca del Río, both from the XNUMXth century. In addition, next to the latter, you have some interesting ruins from the Lusitanian-Roman era. Even older is the Aspradantes Menhir. And, finally, we recommend that you approach the Church of Our Lady of the Conception, another beautiful temple from the XNUMXth century, and the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, built in the XNUMXth century.

In conclusion, we have told you about those that, in our opinion, are some of the best Algarve beaches. However, we could mention many others. For example, that of Flag, also in Lagos; that of the three brothers, with its spectacular rocky landscape; from filgueira, which is accessed by a spectacular path or that of the Tavira island, with its white sandbanks. Don't you think that these beaches of Portugal deserve your visit?