The seaside town of Carvoeiro has some 12 beaches for you to choose from. They range in style from the very busy and family fun orientated, to the quieter, romantic and more couple centric. This fabulous selection of beaches cater for everyone from the couple just wanting to relax and enjoy each other’s company, to families with young children enjoying, sun, sea and sandcastles and groups of friends looking for beach bars and adrenalin fuelled water sports.Part of the Algarve’s appeal is that it can be all things, to all people. Its vast coastline, varying terrains and changing waters, make it the ideal holiday location. One day you can be enjoying the thrills and spills of waterskiing and the next, the peace and quiet of a secluded beach cove.
The waters are warm and generally calm. The currents pick up in a few places but these are well marked with flags and the main beaches are manned by lifeguards throughout the summer months keeping them as safe as possible.
1. Praia de Marinha
Ideal for a day trip to the beach, once here, you won’t want to leave. Marinha is located 5km southeast of Lagoa and just 1km east of Benagil but from wherever you are staying in the Algarve, Praia de Marinha is well worth a visit.
One hundred and sixteen wide shallow steps, cut from the rocks, transport you effortlessly from a cliff top car park to the soft golden sands beneath. This small beach cove sits below some magnificent rock formations providing an intimate, cosseted feeling that will make you want to stay on longer and this feeling is further enhanced, by the friendliness of the staff at the beach side snack bar.
At high tide this relatively small beach is reduced in size still further, becoming no more than a sandy strip.
At this time, the sand is usually home to the gear of snorkellers. The quality and clarity of the water here is so good that it attracts people from all over, to spy on and mingle with species from the sub aqua world.
When the waters recede, the area becomes a fascination for children of all ages as the many rock pools play host to some interesting and varied marine life. Previously submerged coves become accessible once again and harbour treasures left behind by the sea.
2. Praia de Benagil
This small beach, a short drive from Rocha Brava on a sharp bend in the road, is often used by local fishermen. They haul their boats up onto the beach, laden with the days catch which makes for an interesting spectacle. A small number of restaurants and bars in the area regularly benefit from the fisherman’s catch, ensuring the very freshest of fish gets served at their tables.
Having unloaded their catch and finished for the day, for a small fee the fishermen will offer to take holidaymakers out on the water. As you trip up and down the coast, you can properly appreciate the majesty of the rock formations and the diversity of the scenery that this part of the world has to offer.
3. Praia de CarvalhoIf you leave the resort of Rocha Brava and wander across the cliffs tops with views of the sea out to the west, you will stumble upon this tiny but beautifully presented beach. With steps in the rocks leading down to a tunnel, through which you have to climb to get down to the beach, access to the sanded paradise is not exactly straight forward, but it is certainly worth it.
This secluded spot is a haven for couples who are looking to escape the other more touristy beaches and because it is relatively difficult to access, many of the more committed peace seekers find their way there. With rock formations on either side it is a natural sun trap and out of the cooling breeze, it really can get very warm indeed. A number of stubborn rock forms protrude from the sea and present dramatic sunset photo opportunities.
4. Praia Centianes
This lovely beach is proving more and more popular, so much so, that a new apartment complex is being built in the vicinity. Just 500 metres from the resort of Rocha Brava, the beach provides plenty of space at least when the tide is out.
A measure of its increasing popularity is the fact that the beach has recently been extended, through the removal of some crumbling cliffs. These needed to go, to make the beach safe but as a result of the increased space, this has led to increased patronage. The beach is approached by a pathway from a small gravel car park and there are a few steps leading down onto the sand. Sunbeds and shades are available here.
5. Vale de Covo
The beach at Vale de Covo is about as picturesque a setting as you are likely to find in The Algarve, especially in the evening. The rock formations are dramatic, the beach is small and intimate and the whole thing is lit up at night time giving it an especially, magical feel.
This pretty little cove just past the Almonsor Hotel is reached by quite a few steps so you must go prepared, but it is well worth the effort once you are there. There are lots of small caves that have been eroded into the rocks providing perfect little hideaways for those feeling romantic.
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