Favourite Algarve Beaches

It really is a tricky subject, 'favourite Algarve beaches', since the region is blessed with so many great examples. Sometimes it seems like my favourite beach is the one I was stretched out on most recently.

But, I'll cheat a bit and give you a list of three, as well as why I chose them...

Praia de Barril  

Barril is really an 'offshoot' of Praia Ilha de Tavira. But, this 'island' beach is great fun to arrive at, since you get to walk across a narrow pontoon bridge (looking down at the water below through the wooden slats) then...
... you can either take a ride on the miniature train or you can walk alongside the track (it's paved) until you reach the praia. 

There are plenty of facilities in the main area once you've arrived: cafes, restaurants, games, shops and even well-maintained toilets (always gets my vote!) It makes for a beach-day with a difference, and I have fond memories of my visits there. (Check out the strange display of large sea anchors rusting in the dunes).
 

Praia da Armona

Getting to Armona beach usually requires a ferry journey from Olhão of about a half-hour's duration. It's convenient enough to get there and back, though, because the ferry service is pretty frequent. (And the journey's not long enough to require 'sea legs' - thank Goodness!) 
Sidebar:
I have actually waded out at low tide - and back again - but I'd advise observing when others leave the beach to trek back, as some of the currents can be strong (even with just your lower half in the water) and there's safety in numbers!
 

Meia Praia

If you like to sun yourself while watching the antics (or do I mean prowess?) of surfers, windsurfers and other brave souls, then this is a great place to go.

The beach looks out onto Baia de Lagos and has a selection of bars where you can slake your baking thirst.

It's a considerable stretch of beach, and I stroll along it to Alvor and back when I feel like taking some exercise.
 
And I should just mention...
 

... until a little while ago, my top 3 Algarve beaches would have included Praia da Arrifana, which which is up on the west coast of Algarve and attracts some hardy surfer types and many mobile homes.

But, when we visited last - during a great day-trip circuit that included Caldas de Monchique, Aljezur, Arrifana and Cabo de Sao Vicente! - I was a little put off by the green "gunge" that was evident in the spume at the beach's edge. It was probably something harmless, like algae, but who wants ankles that look like someone's decorated them with lasagne verdi?

So that's Arrifana off my list of Algarve beaches, until I return to find a clean bathing experience! (You have to be cruel to be kind, sometimes).

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