Beaches
Meia Praia
Easaly the biggest of Lagos beaches, curving around the edge of the bay all the way from the marina to the river estuary at Alvor. It is a long open beach, but has no natural shade or shelter. Naturists favour the western end.
Batata
The closest beach to the centre of town, by the little fort at the entance to the harbour. A few steps lead down to the sand.
Dona Ana
The most populair beach in the vicinity of Lagos, but accessed by steep steps near the Golfinho hotel. It is flanked north and south by cliffs and because it faces east, the sand here is nicely sheltered from westerly winds. There are smaller beaches off the road between Dona Ana and Ponta Piedade, particularly Praia do Camilo.
Porto de Mós
Situated in a small bay between Luz and Lagos, this beach is flanked by cliffs, which usually give shelter and shade on onde side or the other. There is a large car parking area and beach access is easy.
Praia da Luz
Acces could not be easier to this long, lovely curve of sand right in front of the village. At the western end, the sand gives way to a platform of rocks. It is an ideal family beach.
Burgau
The beach in front of the village is flanked by cliffs. Good for snorkeling and scuba-diving. Parking near the beach is limited; it's best to leave the car at the at the top of the village and walk down.
Salema
In the Algarve's southwest corner, the long stretch of sand right in front of Salema village has cliffs at either end. Popular with windsurfers and good for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Boca do Rio
It is tucked away but acces on the beach is easy. To find it, turn off the EN-125 at Budens. An alternative way is signposted on the back road between Praia da Luz and Burgau - or approach from the other side, on the back road cennecting Burgau and Salema. Scuba divers and snorkellers will want to explore the remains of a French man-of-war lying on the seabed about 300 m offshore.
Zavial
A surfer's paradise and easy enough to drive to. Turn left off the EN125 at Raposeira, the village before Vila do Bispo. The road forks left to Zavial and right to another cove, much used by scuba divers and snorkellers, called Ingrina. Some naturists on the beach; the further east the less is worn.
Beliche
Somewhat secluded. It's a climb down a cliff path to get to this beach at the base of the tall cliffs about three quarters of the way along the 6km road from Sagres to the Cape St. Vincent lighthouse. Parking on the cliff top. At the western end of the beach there's a smaller cove - favoured by naturists - which is cut of by the tide for a while.
Martinhal
This big sweep of sand in a corner of Sagres bay is especially goof for windsurfing. It is signposted on the left shortly before entering Sagres village.
Mareta
The best thing about this beach - especially for those who prefer sunbathing to windsurfing - is that it is situated right in front of Sagres village and is sheltered when westerly winds are blowing.
Tonel
The beach on the on the other side of the Sagres headland from Mareta is exposed to westerly winds and Atlantic breakers. For some folks that's just fine.
Bordeira and Amado
From the village of Carrapateira (on the EN268 betweeen Vila do Bispo and Aljezur) a road, marked by a sign symbolising a pair of binoculars, runs past O Sitio do Rio restaurants to this vast, spectacular expanse of sand. The tracks gets a bit rough southwards past Bordeira, but take it slowly and admire the magnificent coastline as far as a point where you can go no further. It overlooks this big, sparsely peopled beach.
Arifana
One of the few west coast beaches that is right next to a village. It is reached by taking the left fork of a signposted road, which has its junction with the EN268 just south of Aljezur. The right fork on this same road leads to the big beach at Monte Clérigo.
Monte Clérigo
Marked by a small cluster of colourful beach chalets nesting into the hillside alongside a vast expanse of sand. Below them, at one end of the beach, the rock pools are ideal for children to potter about in.
Amoreira
If you miss the first signposted turn-off just north of Aljezur, take the campsite road and you will eventually end up in a dead-end parking area overlooking this huge beach, popular in summer, but delightfully deserted in winter. A river estuary at the far end of the beach offers a warmer and safer alternative to the Atlantic rollers.
Odeceixe
The village Odeceixe is situated in the northwest corner of the Algarve, next to the EN 268 where it crosses a bridge into the provence of Alentejo. There is a signposted turn-off the village on the roadside. Drive through the village and continue along the side of the river, which ends up winding its way across this attractive beach to enter the sea.
