Located close to Cabo da Roca cape , Ursa Beach is reached via dirt track along a twisting and steep route right through to this calm and sparsely populated beach. The strains of the route are more than justified by the superb landscape that awaits with the enormous rock formations dominating the beach. The beach itself was named after one such formation that takes a shape suggestive of an urso (bear). It takes approximately 15 min to get there by foot from Cabo da Roca, I strongly recommend it for trekking fans as there is plenty of nature to explore. But be careful going down the ravine! Try to pack light, no need to take beers to the beach 😊, just enjoy it as it is. Chose to go there when the tide is low as the seashore is small and a bit rocky. This is a very spiritual and peaceful location and it will provide you with the best photos 📷.
Guincho's Beach is considered one of the best beaches in Portugal, and it's also very special to me since it is close to my home, in the resort town of Cascais but also because you can feel the strength of the elements deeply. The sea waters are powerful with hidden currents, so is not really a beach for children to be splashing around if the tide is high. Guincho is fantastic for tourists who enjoy battling against the waves, either on a kite board, body board or traditional surf board 🏄. The shoreline is approximately 800 meters and this means that there is plenty of space even during the summer months. The water is a bit cold so I would only recommend it for swims during warm summer days. I strongly recommend to watch the sunset as the sky lits up in shades of red, orange, pink and purple. It is a very magical moment to experience 🤩🙌.
This beach, located in Aljezur, where there is a small fishing hamlet, nestles in a pretty shell-shaped bay, which shelters it from the cold wind and waves from the north. Although narrow, the beach stretches for over 700 metres and is framed by imposing, craggy, black schist sea cliffs. If you look to the south, you will see a huge, dark, thin rock sticking up out of the sea. This is called the Pedra da Agulha (Needle Rock) and it has become an icon on the Costa Vicentina. At the northernmost tip of the beach, next to the little fishing harbour, there are good conditions for diving, and this is also a great beach for surfing and bodyboarding. The panoramic view from the Arrifana Fortress (currently in ruins), standing atop the cliff to the north, is breathtaking. At Ponta da Atalaia, famous for its barnacles, traces can still be seen of a Muslim Ribat, a convent-fortress of great archaeological value. This is a major surf location, one of the best for beginners 🏄. Mostly attended by surf tourists, you will meet a lot of people from all over the world!
This place is a hidden gem 💠. The river beach of Pego das Pias is a work of art from the Torgal stream, in the municipality of Odemira. In addition to the freshwater, we take advantage of the beauty caused by the erosion of the water that created arcades and mirrors of water in a rocky massif. Gorgeous! It does not feel like you are visiting a new location, more like you are entering into a different dimension. I was a bit apprehensive in sharing this with you because it used to be a top-secret location but ever since some journals found out about it, a couple of bad changes happened. It used to be an extremely wild setting and still is, with the difference that it has trash people leave like cigarette butts 🤦 So make sure to respect the land and keep it extra clean!!! Even though it is a very aesthetically pleasing place, don't go there if your purpose is to take Instagram pictures. It is located in a river so the bottom of the water is dirt which is not very appropriate if you are not whiling explore the unknown and dive into nature. With that being said, if you absolutely love nature and need shelter from the Alentejo warmth this is the right place to go, a place to worship nature 🌿🍄.
Ilha da Armona is part of the natural park of Ria Formosa, located in the Algarve. The island is 9 kilometres in length and up to 1 kilometre wide. There are about 50 people who live on Ilha da Armona permanently. They live mainly from fishing and tourism. Ilha da Armona attracts quite a few visitors, due to its paradise beach. There are no cars on the island and the beach is very clean and can only be reached by boat 🚤. You can choose between the regular ferry and a private speedboat. Once you get there, walk through the village and then take the boardwalk. This wooden boardwalk brings you straight to the Atlantic side of Ilha da Armona, which has the best beach. This footpath is about 1,5 kilometres and the walk to the beach takes about 20 minutes. Ilha da Armona is a popular island, but it is not overcrowded. In fact, the beach is relatively quiet, even in the height of summer. If you are willing to walk a bit, you will have the beach almost for yourself. There is plenty of space. It is a perfect place to get away from the crowded beaches of the mainland of the Algarve. The island is visited both by locals and by tourists. Armona Island is very peaceful and is a perfect place to relax. The beach consists of fine white sand and the sea water is very clean and almost transparent. It is a wonderful place to swim 🏊♀️ with water way warmer compared to the other places.