I was so pleased to receive this message about two readers' early Algarve memories - and even happier to put it on a visitor page on my website. And that's not just because the author says such nice things about Algarve Beach Life.... honest!
Jennifer,
Having only recently discovered Algarve-Beach-Life.com, I must congratulate you on your site. It’s well designed, easy to navigate, and your deep affection for the region and its people clearly shows through in your writing. As someone who as been visiting the Algarve since 1975, I can easily identify with that.
Over the years my wife and I have visited most places west of Faro, but have little experience of the Eastern Algarve, which is one reason your site holds so much interest.
The Algarve used to be called Europe’s best-kept secret. In the early 1970’s when the Spanish Costas and Balearic islands were filling the holiday brochures, the Algarve was usually relegated to a couple of pages at the back!
It's amazing (in some cases disturbing) to see how the region has developed over the past 30 years. For example:-
Apart from a small section of the marina, in 1975, Vilamoura was nothing more than several thousand acres of land earmarked for development.
Donkey carts populated the N125 or “main road”, but have sadly all but disappeared now.
Beach bars were few and very simple. The one at Praia de Sao Rafael (just west of Albufeira) had no electricity or running water, and kept beer and lemonade cool in ice filled oil drums!
Anyway enough nostalgia, we are here to talk about beaches...
We think the Algarve has some of the best coastline in Europe, and are particularly fond of the smaller cove beaches surrounded by pink and yellow cliffs. Many delightful examples can be found between Armacao de Pera and Portimao - some of which I know from your site that you have visited. However, if you put on your walking shoes and head west from Armacao along the clifftops, you will come across the following delightful dozen (listed from east to west:
Praia da Cova Redonda
A tiny cove that you have to scramble down to but you can feel like Robinson Crusoe.
Praia Senhora da Rocha
Only accessible from the sea, but popular for barbeques with pleasure craft out of Portimao
Praia do Albandeira
A personal favourite - good for swimming and it has a beach bar
Praia do Barranquinho
Another tiny cove but you can swim round to a larger section that is also used for sea-accessed barbeques.
Praia da Marinha
Lovely offshore rock formations, great photo opportunities, but the car park is on the cliff tops, so remember the climb back up!
Praia do Benagil
A delightful little place with a few fishing boats working out of one end of the beach.
Praia do Carvalho
Below the headland of Club Atlantico. Access is down stone carved steps through a tunnel in the rock.
Vale de Centianes
The beach bar here used to be in a cave and was supplied from the clifftop by rope and pulley. It's no longer in a cave but is still run by the same friendly family.
Carvoeiro
The beach is the centre of the village, so has lots of activity and interest
Caneiros
Great beach for swimming, and a super restaurant in which to watch the sun go down.
Be sure to reserve a table!
Praia de Pintadhino
Sandwiched between the lighthouse on Ponte do Alter and the harbour wall of Portimao.
Good beach bar.
Praia Grande-Ferragudo
Actually inside the harbour wall of Portimao so there are no waves and it is very safe for children.
Walk any further and you’ll fall into the river Arade, as over the water are the bright lights of Portimao.
We have walked those cliffs many times (not all in one day!) and never tire of the scenery. Like Ford Prefect in "The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy", we never travel without a towel because, as each crescent of golden sand appears, the temptation to run into the sea is just too great.
Good luck with your site!
Best Regards
Phil
Philip Goodwill - 17th August 2005
Many thanks, Phil. It was great of you to share... especially to give us all a flavour of the Algarve we could have enjoyed - if only we'd known about it back then!
