The Best Beaches of the Algarve

We came to Algarve for the beaches... the Algarve possesses many charms but its highlight remains miles of white sand beaches backdropped by a dramatic rocky coastline. There are so many beaches that it can be overwhelming to plan how to see them all. The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is the biggest bang for your buck- covering many of these coastline gems across a 3.5 mile hike.

The Seven Hanging Valley's Trail deserves its own guide but incorporates the following beaches: Praia da Marinha, Benagil Beach, Praia do Carvalho, Farol de Alfanzina and Praia do Vale de Centeanes. Click below for more details about these beaches and a detailed guide for hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. The real secret is that we really fell in love with 3 beaches that lie outside the popular Lagos/Albufeira area. Our favorite "off the beaten path" beaches were: Praia da Bordeira (Carrapateira); Praia de Verde (Verdalago Resort) and Cacela Velha in Rio Formosa.

We were looking for a quiet and calming beach vibe. Crowds, power boats and party groups are big deterrents when we are looking for a quiet day at the beach. There are many ways to enjoy Algarve's beaches but kayaking in the early morning remains the best way to experience many of the Seven Hanging Valley beaches. We spent the morning kayaking with Ecotours and the afternoon hiking across the Seven Hanging Valleys.

Seeing the Algarve Beaches from the Water

Nothing quite compares to seeing Algarve's beaches from the water. There are countless options for kayak and SUP tours in the Algarve. We happened upon a lucky gem that offered us so much more than just a tour. Upon arrival, you will travel down a dirt road onto a family property. Admittedly, I was little nervous-there was no water in sight and it really seemed like we were intruding on private property! Thankfully, our host Vincent greeted us along with a host of his farm animals and it immediately felt like home. Chiquito, the donkey was rescued after having a debilitating skin disease but he was all love, wanting scratches and pets behind the ears. Vincent, an environmental engineer shares his passion and dedication to protecting the natural resources of the Algarve and really went above and beyond to make this tour something special.

After getting suited up in a half wet suit and given a dry bag which are provided, we headed out on an ATV through the family's private property to a stunning secluded beach. We were given some history on the property that has been in their family for centuries. In the 60's, smugglers used this beach to bring over alcohol and in the 90's hashish from Morocco. The family considered selling the property out of fear for their safety. Once the 8th Hanging Valley, this beach and the property surrounding it were ripe for new construction. In an effort to reduce tensions between the locals and developers, Portugal removed 3 of the designated Hanging Valley locations to the seven we know today.

We launched our kayaks with our guide, Alan and traveled along the coastline, catching views of Praia da Marinha and onto Benagil beach where we explored its hidden caves. The ocean is fierce and unpredictable and even on a calm day it's important to have a guide to navigate these caves. You can no longer beach in Benagil due to high volume of tourism, as a result, paddling through these caves is the closest you are going get! We loved this tour and highly recommend using a local company to explore this beautiful coastline! See Below to book with Ecotours and support a local family business.

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Seeing the Algarve Beaches by Horseback

Our second favorite way to experience Algarve's beaches is by horseback. There is nothing quite like galloping (may be an overstatement-more like a slow trot) across pristine dunes amid May's wildflowers. Carrapateira was indeed a surprise hidden gem. Sitting on the far western side of the Algarve, Carrapateira hosts a few cafes and shops but is mainly a small seaside town. Also a resting point for the Fisherman's Trail- a 143 mile hiking trail that traverses from Port Corvo to Lagos.

Praia da Bordeira was ultimately our favorite beach of the Algarve. This 3 kilometer beach has a deep depth that has earned it the nickname, "Sahara of the Algarve". Surrounded by limestone cliffs and unspoiled nature, Praia da Bordeira remains fairly unknown. Spending an hour exploring the dunes on horseback is the perfect way to take in the majesty and beauty of this special area. After a morning horseback ride, we decided to spend the entire day here and headed into town to grab some lunch and surf board!

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Surfing Algarve's Beaches

Praia da Bordeira offers some great surfing waves! After seeing a number of beginner surfers, we stopped in at Pipe Spot Surfshop. We chose a board we could fit in the rental car and grabbed some salads at Micro Bistro Bar in Carrapateira (4 min drive from Bordeira). The beach is so deep that parking at the base and hiking across the beach would take an hour! We drove up to the top and parked next to the boardwalk for an easier walk down onto the beach. It took a little practice but Lindsey did eventually surf a Bordeira wave!

Exploring Bordeira

There is so much more to Bordeira than just the beach! In May, the dunes were covered in colorful wild flowers and a short hike (or drive) brings you to vistas stretching across the limestone cliffs for miles! You'll find small surf cabins along the coastline and many options with boardwalks to hike along this stunning coastline! Take a long walk along the beach to the other end where there are caves and more stunning views of the Atlantic.

Praia Verde

We were so lucky to experience the Verdelago Resort that sits adjacent to Praia Verde. Across the Algarve on the Eastern side, this developing resort offers every detail in luxury living. We spent a full day relaxing on Praia Verde and the sunsets were stunning! Verdelago takes extra efforts towards sustainability and protecting the unspoiled resources of the Algarve. The Eastern Algarve is quiet and we spent 4 days exploring this portion of the Algarve. For a detailed review of this incredible 5-star Resort.

"Junet-se a nos para proteger o futuro do nosso planeta!" -"Join us in protecting the future of our planet"

-Verdelago Resort

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Cacela Velha

Also situated in the Eastern Algrave, Cacela Velha overlooks the Rio Formosa, one of the seven wonders of Portugal. The Rio Formosa tidal pools are some of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the Algarve. Most people don't venture this far east in the Algarve but we found the beaches here to offer a serenity and beauty unique to the Algarve.

The beaches of the Algarve are some of the most stunning beaches we have ever experienced. We hope this helps you add some water adventures and off the beaten path explorations to your next trip to Portugal!