Ice creams and sand castles, the heady scent of suntan lotion, the crashing of the waves masked by human chatter and excited kids screaming… perfect! On the other hand is makes some people wince.
If you love the sound of the Algarve but you have a more chilled experience in mind, you’ll be wanting quieter destinations for creative thinking and soul searching in the sunshine. You could even plan your holiday around visiting all these magical places, the beaches so few people find. Here’s our at-a-glance guide to the Algarve’s most remote and lonely beaches.
Praia da Murração at Costa Vicentina
- Accessed via an unpaved track
- Dramatic natural surroundingsm rugged and remote
- Dark rock, bright blue sea, turquoise skies – it’s like a mini-paradise
- Popular with naturists and campers
- Clean pale sand
- Strong currents in the water, so take care – it isn’t as harmless as it looks
- Lovely and secluded beach experience
- Tranquil and pristine
Praia do Submarino at Alvor
- A hidden beach located in Alvor
- Reachable at low tide, cut off at high tide
- Nestled at the bottom of a cliff
- Popular with naturists
- Peaceful and quiet
- Exciting rock formations and hidden caves only visible at low tide
- Picturesque setting
Praia dos Pinheiros at Lagos
- Another beautiful secret beach, this time in Lagos
- You’ll find it between Ponta da Piedade and Praia do Camilo
- Accessible via a scary informal trail down a cliff
- Surrounded by dramatic high cliffs
- Lovely golden sand and calm waters
- 50 m of lovely sand, even at high tide
- An unofficial nudist beach
- The perfect antidote to the noise and crowds
Praia do Barranquinho at Lagoa
- Make your way to Lagoa and take the unmarked path he unmarked path just right of the Vila Alba Eco-Resort. Keep walking to the right
- Fresh-scented pine-covered cliffs
- A beautiful little islet off the shore
- Secluded and peaceful
- Enjoy a boat tour to Praia da Marinha from here, famed for its bizarre rock formations, an amazing sight from the water
Praia das Fontainhas near Lagoa
- Access the beach along a secret trail from the cliff top – it’s quite a challenging walk but worth the effort
- A popular stop for boat tours but still nice and quiet
- Calm, clean waters
- Pale soft sand
- Completely embraced by high, beautiful layered pale rock cliffs
- Lots of gorgeous greenery
- Perfect for swimming
Praia do Carvalho at Lagoa
- Accessible via a hidden tunnel
- Known as a particularly romantic place
- Full of drama
- Surrounded by high sandy cliffs
- Beautiful sand
- Amazing rock formations
- A perfectly central rock out to sea, the ultimate in Instagrammable
- A lovely window eroded from the cliff, another exceptional photo op
- Quietest at sunset
Praia do Ninho de Andorinha at Albufeira
- A tiny secret cove on the Albufeira coast nicknamed the Swallow’s Nest
- Almost completely surrounded by high yellow stone cliffs
- A small curved sandy beach
- Tranquil and intimate
- Breathtaking views
- Beautiful clear water
- Accessible by kayak
Praia de Boião near Portimão
- Walk west to the end of Praia do Alemão or get to the beach by boat
- Breathtaking views
- A secluded beach of lovely pale sand
- White limestone rocks sticking out of the water like hot weather icebergs – so beautiful!
- Thrilling hidden caves to explore
- Clear waters
- A panoramic view of the coast from the trail on the clifftop
- A tranquil hidden gem
Pretty Praia das Furnas at Sagres
- Near the picturesque village of Vila de Bispo
- Accessible via an unpaved road
- Popular with nature lovers, wild campers and naturists
- A chilled atmosphere
- Magnificent caves to explore, carved into the cliffs
- A nice big sandy beach backed by high cliffs
Praia do Barranco at Sagres
- Wild and unspoiled
- Accessed via an unpaved road
- Surrounded by green wooded landscape
- Calm waters
- Gorgeous pale sand
- Backed by high cliffs
- Wonderful views
- In a beautiful undeveloped area
Praia da Figueira near Salema
- Near the village of Salema
- Relatively undiscovered
- Only accessed via a narrow path on foot
- Surrounded by wild, rugged landscapes
- Gorgeous dramatic cliffs
- Picturesque and tranquil
- If you’re fed up with lying on the sand, go nature watching in the surrounding countryside
Tips for adventures to remote Algarve beaches
Do some basic planning for an even better time. Can you use public transport or if your chosen hidden beach is within reasonable reach, are you happy to walk back to your accommodation afterwards?
Wear shoes you can walk in, clamber in, explore caves in and climb on rocks in. Otherwise you could end up shredding your feet, no fun for the rest of your holiday. And bear in mind there’s nowhere to buy supplies at these beaches. There may be a village close by, or not, so bring food and drink and don’t forget the sun protection.
The tides are no joke whatever cost you’re on, anywhere in the world, and while some beaches are perfectly safe at high tide as well as when the water is low, it’s best not to take chances. There’ll be a tide app for your phone is you haven’t already downloaded one. Remember the tide times are uneven. High tide one day will be at a different time from high tide the next, and the water doesn’t rise and fall at a steady rate either. If it’s windy the waves can reach higher up the tide line. If you’d like to understand what’s happening, here’s some great information about tide times from the Met Office. This might sound a bit extreme but if you take note of the exit route before you settle down for the day, if anything happens you’ll know exactly how to extricate yourself!
Check the sea conditions before swimming too far out. In some places there are sneakily powerful currents and none of these remote Algarve beaches has a lifeguard. For that reason alone they’re not always suitable for children, never mind the often-tricky routes down to the sand and the networks of caves in the cliffs. Plus, the adults who find their way there probably won’t appreciate a lot of noise. It’s all about the peace.
It goes without saying that you’ll need to bring your litter away with you. These places are pristinely lovely and deserve to stay that way. Luckily the kind of people who enjoy these quiet beaches are rarely the type to leave rubbish behind them. When you appreciate the beauty of nature enough to make the effort to find these secluded beaches, the last thing you’ll be doing is spoiling them.
Some beaches are good for camping, and in Portugal all you’ll need is a basic pop-up or easy-erect tent. Some sleep under the stars, a magical thing to do through the lovely balmy nights of summer.
So that’s it. Pack up your essentials, head off the beaten track, and enjoy some of the sweetest spot along the glorious Algarve coastline. You’ll never forget it.
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