Praia da Coelha
Praia da Coelha is located west of Albufeira Old Town, surrounded by yellow cliffs, coelha is Portuguese for rabbit the beach considered one of the most picturesque in this area. Praia da Coelha is a beach close to the village resort of Sesmarias the beach has fine golden sand with seashells and clear blue water with coral reefs, good for snorkeling.
To access the beach requires a short walk along a footpath from the car park which passes through Olive trees, ancient Carob trees and Bamboo groves. At the end of the footpath the beach is reached down a paved ramp with wooden steps leading down to the sand. There is also a raised board walk running west towards a small beach bar and restaurant which has toilets and a shower. The cove has fine golden sand and some rock formations. Within walking distance of Praia de São Rafael.
- Villa Cascata to Praia da Coelha - 17 mins drive and 10.5 km away
- Average seawater temperature in summer (ºC) 20-23 ºC
- Good for families and couples
- Blue flag beach
- Car parking
- Facilities available; beach restaurant, sunbeds, toilets, shower
Praia dos Arrifes
Praia dos Arrifes, from the parking lot you can already imagine that you’re arriving at a very special beach. Walk across green grass through dozens of pine trees, and you come to one of the wildest beaches in Albufeira. Praia dos Arrifes, locally known as Praia dos Três Penecos, is a small beach with three massive isolated rock formations emerging majestically from the water. It dominates the line of the horizon and makes this beach feel very exotic and miles away from reality.
The sheltered bay among rugged rocks is one of the smallest bays in the Algarve. To access the beach, there’s a wooden stairway.
The second section, accessible only from the beach, has many interesting rock formations and fossilized bedrocks.
The third part, a satellite beach nestled among craggy rocks, is accessible only from the cliffs and is larger and more peaceful than the other two.
This blue flag beach is great for snorkeling, because of the coral reefs, has a restaurant on stilts with great views, bathrooms, lifeguards on duty and chairs and umbrellas for hire.
- Villa Cascata to Praia dos Arrifes - 14 mins drive and 4 km away
- Average seawater temperature in summer (ºC) 20-23 ºC
- Good for families and couples
- Blue flag beach, with lifeguard in the summer
- Good for snorkelling
- Car park
- Facilities available; beach restaurant, sunbeds, toilets, shower
Praia do Castelo
Praia do Castelo translates to Castle beach, the name refers to a 16th century watchtower that once stood here to protect the coast from the attacks of Barbary pirates from North Africa. There are some remains of the old watchtower near the entrance of the beach.
Praia do Castelo is, yet another gorgeous beach located to the west of Albufeira’s Old town right next to Praia da Coelha, and close to Armação de Pêra.
There are a number of small bays along the several kilometers of coast here, all of which have the same ochre coloured sandstone cliffs, whilst Praia do Castelo cannot boast any rock arches or sea stacks it is all the same a very pleasant spot offering everything an Algarve beach should.
Being a Blue Flag beach there are plenty of facilities including a small beach restaurant which - "O Pic-Nic" - which serves all the standard fare including some good fish dishes. There are also loungers and parasols available for hire.
This beach is surrounded by cliffs, has a wide stretch of thick golden sand, rocks covered with seaweed and incredible crystal-clear bright green-blue water.
The water is crystal clear and there are lifeguards here in the summer months making it a great spot for snorkeling and swimming. The water is definitely the highlight of this beach, It’s so clear and enticing.
Praia do Castelo is a blue flag beach, has a restaurant with Wi-Fi, bathrooms, lifeguards on duty, chairs and umbrellas for hire and a masseur.
- Villa Cascata to Praia do Castelo –16 mins drive and 11 km away
- Average seawater temperature in summer (ºC) 20-23 ºC
- Good for families and couples
- Blue flag beach, with lifeguard in the summer
- Car park
- Facilities available; beach restaurant, sunbeds, toilets, shower
Praia dos Salgados
Set around a kilometer east of the resort of Armação de Pêra is Praia dos Salgados, which covers a large area. It is really just one section of a massive crescent of beach that stretches from the resort, halfway to Albufeira.
Unlike the coast further east, towards Albufeira, with its cliffs and rock formations, Praia dos Salgados is backed by low sand dunes. These are criss-crossed with wooden boardwalks to keep this important conservation area intact.
Set around a kilometer east of the resort of Beyond the dunes is the Salgados Lagoon, an important stopover for many migrating birds and where a number of protected species nest among the reeds and rushes, including red heron, blue-black grassquits, caimans and curlews.
The beach is good for water sports and swimming in addition to surfing and bodyboarding as the sea regularly provides good waves for such activities
- Villa Cascata to Praia dos Salgados – 24 mins drive and 9 km away
- Average seawater temperature in summer (ºC) 20-23 ºC
- Good for families and couples
- Good for watersports
- Blue flag beach, with lifeguard in the summer
- Car park
- Facilities available; beach restaurant, sunbeds, toilets, shower
