Beaches in the Western Algarve

The coast around Salema boasts a seemingly endless series of some of Europe’s finest beaches. These are seriously spectacular stretches of sand! On the Algarve’s sheltered south coast, are some of the most beautiful secluded coves and amazing outcrops of rock formations imaginable. Most of the beaches are supervised, with flags to indicate the quality of the water, and have been annually awarded the European Blue Flag for excellence. On the west coast of the Algarve, just 20-minutes from Salema, the landscape becomes wild and rugged. This is perhaps the last unspoilt region in southern Europe, where some of Portugal’s most stunning beaches are to be found. They are constantly pounded by the Atlantic, and are a surfer’s paradise! Here you will find beaches virtually deserted, even in the height of summer.

Moving west from Lagos along the south coast towards Salema and onwards to Sagres you’ll discover the following beautiful beaches:

• Meia Praia is easily the biggest beach in Lagos, stretching for 4km, curving around the bay all the way from the marina to the river estuary at Alvor. A fun and social beach.
• Batata is only a few steps away from Lagos old town centre, located by the little fort at the entrance to the harbour.
• Dona Ana and Ponta Piedada are probably the most photographed beaches on the Algarve. This is a fantastically shaped headland and an area of great natural beauty. Here the sea has formed hidden lagoons, grottos and sheltered beaches. You can take a boat ride to them from Lagos, kayak or walk along the cliff top.
• Praia da Luz is a popular family holiday resort with a lovely beach.
• Burgau and Salema are typical Portuguese fishing villages with nice wide sandy beaches.
• Zavial is a great beach and a surfer’s paradise.
• Ingrina is a quiet little cove much used by scuba divers and snorkellers.
• Martinhal is a large beach next to Sagres, very popular with windsurfers.

From Cape St Vincent up to Alzejur are the vast, rugged beaches of the west coast waiting to be discovered:

• Praia do Castelejo and Cordama beaches, the closest to Salema, are very popular with surfers.
• Carrapateira is a big, sparsely populated wild beach with cliffs and sand dunes.
• Amado is a favourite beach of the local surf schools with its long shallow waves for beginners and bodyboarders.
• Arrifano is one of the few west coast beaches next to a village.
• Amoreira is a huge, beautiful beach with a river estuary at the end of it.
• Monte Clerigo and Odeceixe are right up in the northwest of the Algarve. Both have lovely beaches with rock pools at either end for children to explore.