The Algarve is famed for its stunning coastline and beautiful climate: the perfect combination for a luxurious day at the beach!
With a coastline like this, there is an extensive selection of beaches to choose from, but sometimes it's difficult to know where to begin…Here are five of our favourites from the area. Set aside a day (or five!) to take to the sands and appreciate the Algarve's golden splendour.
Praia da Centianes
The closest beach to Rocha Brava is the Praia do Vale de Centianes and, being walking distance, it is popular with many of the guests. The Algarve's rocky coastline is essentially a series of little bays that have been carved out of the towering cliffs. Nestled into a sizeable bay the Centianes beach often provides a nice alternative to Carvoeiro's main beach which is located just slightly further round the coast in the centre of town. Centianes is a large stretch of sand and has a number of facilities with various beach activities on offer including a beach restaurant and toilets. Ramps and steps leading up to the beach bar and viewing station are nice and sturdy. Bear in mind that parking here is not the best, so if you are driving and want to be sure of a space, the earlier you leave the better!
Praia do Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro is a popular town and the beach attracts both locals and tourists. It is located centrally, just in front of the small town square and is nicely sheltered by the protective cliffs on either side of the bay. The beach is well served by a selection of bars and cafés that surround the square and has a nice amount of touristy things on offer from the beach: there are jet skis and pedaloes available for hire, a couple of dive schools in the town if you fancy exploring under water, and even boat trips on offer from the shore. So lots to do for families and children!
Praia Marinha
This one is considered one of the most beautiful in the Algarve, and has featured in promotional material and Portugal guides. It is about 10 minutes to the east of Rocha Brava. The area is attractive right from the car park at the top of the cliff, which has a nice picnic area with good views over the sea. From here you'll be led down a nice tree-lined path before descending a set of reasonably steep steps to find the beach's entrance. The beach itself is popular with families, there are interesting rocky outcrops to explore and calm, clear water which makes it great for snorkelling. At low tide all the secret coves are revealed. At the Praia Marinha there are often boat trips available, and it has a restaurant and toilet facilities too, so you could easily spend all day here.
Praia da Amoreira
The Praia da Amoreira is located on the Algarve's west coast, which is often overlooked in favour of the more touristy spots of the south. People can be deterred by the thought of an uninterrupted expanse of Atlantic, but there are some fantastic little gems in the west and they tend to be less crowded.
Praia Amoreira is slightly to the north of the town of Aljezur within the Vicentine Coast Natural Park and enjoys fantastic scenery. It sits at the mouth of the Aljezur River which means the sandy banks stretch for quite a distance inland at low tide and are backed by undulating wild dunes, rather than the more dramatic cliffs you tend to find in the south. This makes it incredibly picturesque and good for birdlife. Currents can be strong at certain times, so this is a popular one with bodyboarders and surfers. In the summer months there are lifeguards; beach bars and a restaurant are located close to the car park and you will find toilet facilities here too. This one is roughly an hour from Rocha Brava.
Meia Praia
One of the largest beaches in the area, Meia Praia stretches a length of 4.5 km and has been awarded Blue Flag status. The long golden stretch is a gently curving crescent shape carved into a calm bay with clear blue waters just to the north of Lagos. You won't be short of snack bars and restaurants here and there is a good choice of water sports too, so there's plenty to keep you occupied. The endless stretch of sand is mirrored by a vast horizon, and on clear days you can see across the ocean to other points along the coast.
