Sunny Algarve Beaches

The Algarve is located in the south-western most tip of Europe, it´s main economy is tourism and without a doubt some of the best, unique and most beautiful beaches in the world can be found here.

Over two hundred kilometers of Algarve coastline wait for your discovery. From Odeceixe in the northwest of Algarve to Vila Real Santo Antonio in the south east, there are such distinctly varying landscapes that it is never hard to find beaches with that special feature to suit the tastes of every guest.

Nature lovers should head to the genuine sanctuary of the Costa Vicentina in the western region of the Algarve and savor the unspoiled sceneries. Generally made up of steep striking cliffs and cut back from the eroding action of the sea to form bay type sandy coves. Costa Vicentina is a protected Natural Park.

It´s coastline is rich in wildlife, eagles, falcons and other feathery species soar across these skies. The sea is perfect for sports like surf, bodyboard, kitesurf, scuba diving and sport fishing. Arrifana, Vale Figueiras, the famous Amado beach, Cordoama, Martinhal and Zavial to name a few, are some of the most popular beaches in the area.

The Barlavento coast, the western stretch of the Algarve, is distinguished for its golden red cliffs with all their unique shapes providing the perfect setting to fantastic beaches, and the many caves and strange and admirable rock formations. Some of these beaches are linked to one another by passages carved out of the rocks as like the few beaches of Solaria, Estudantes, Três lrmãos.

Some are isolated like the Algarve beaches of Camilo, Canavial and Porto de Mós. Others are rather crowded and busy as for example the beaches of Dona Ana Praia da Rocha and Oura Beach. On the Sotavento coastline, referring to the east of the Algarve, there are large expanses of sand interrupted only by the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Between the beaches of Falésia and Faro, where the islands of the Ria Formosa begin, there just one long stretch of sand broken up only by the Marina of Vilamoura and Quarteira fishing port.

Blessed with cliffs molded over the eons by the hand of erosion or by stretches of white sand dunes you’ll find many popular beaches, such as Vale do Lobo, Garrão, Ancão and Quinta do Lago.

Where the Ria Formosa begins you have lovely island beaches as Faro, Deserta, Farol, Armona, Culatra, Fuzeta, Tavira island, Cabanas and others. Most of which you can only get there by boat and forming island beaches and long tongues of sand that are calm, peaceful and highly striking.

Some of these last mentioned island beaches can be enjoyed not only on the Atlantic side but as well on the Ria Formosa side.

The Algarve beaches of Altura; Praia Verde, Cabeço and Manta Rota are joined together by the same wide stretch of sand and surrounded by dense pine tree forests, forming one of the most beautiful groups of beaches of the Eastern Algarve coast.

The landscape Eastbound is marked by vast views of Algarve beaches all the way from Faro to Vila Real Santo Antonio, whether to play or rest or just to admire the spectacular scenes.

The current 2009/2010 winter has been severe and devastating on all Algarve beaches, especially the beach at Fuzeta where homes were destroyed by high waves, protecting sand  dunes washed away and the natural opening of a new channel. Watch the video below.