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The Thousand and One Beaches in Albufeira

What can we say about the more than 100 beaches that have registered the Algarve on the tourist map? Certainly nothing that its most ardent connoisseurs do not already know. But being a fan of the Algarve sands means even more: it is recognizing that they, like no others, are the most desirable for summer vacations and for winter walks in alternative to the countryside. It's recognizing that few pleasures surpass that of living on the beach among us. This article will allow you to discover the beaches you've never been to (or maybe have already been), repeat the trip to the ones you liked the most and create a top of your favorites after having spread the towel on all of them.

And it's for all these reasons that we present you our top 5 favorite beaches:

1. Oura Beach

The stretch of sand is stunning (almost 1 km of sea front) and very diverse. The beach  become more natural and progressively quieter as long as you go. The access to the west side of the beach is through the village, crossing streets and small squares where sunny esplanades are frequent, and the visitor is faced with a sandy beach framed by modest but aesthetically jagged cliffs. The eastern section also has pedestrian access through the center of the village, descending a wooden staircase that runs along a ravine flanked by dense and fresh patches of pinetrees. The surroundings are characterized by the warm colors of the sand and cliffs, only softened by the deep green of the pinetrees.

2. St. Eulalia Beach

In St.ª Eulália, the blue sea and the luminous tones of the sand are harmoniously elaborated by the green and fresh atmosphere of the pinetrees nearby. The pinetrees form a dense forest and appear suspended in a precarious balance on the edge of small cliff. In the sand, the cliff is polished and worn by the action of waves and a stream of water that flows into the sand in the wet season, around which a dense reed is formed. The beach is wide, with many nice corners drawn by the rock formations. By walking to the east, you reach sections of great tranquility. A line of tall palm trees flanks a small pedestrian promenade on the central stretch of beach. To the east, the continuous line of white and red cliffs of Praia da Falésia can be seen.

3. Galé Beach

Praia da Galé forms the eastern end of the wide sandy bay of Armação de Pêra. On this beach, the rock formations characteristic of the western Algarve emerge once again from the sands, providing nooks and crannies for bathers, especially in the eastern section, with the western sector they are more exposed. These carbonate rocks wich are very rich in marine fossils, also called shellfish, testify a past time when the sea level was more inland. Currently, the result is very sculpted by rainwater and polished by the sea, covered with plants. In areas where sand accumulates, mainly in the west sector, you can still see the typical plants of the dunes, especially the slack, the sand clove and the aromatic perpetual sand, in the continuity of the dune system of Salgados and from Praia Grande. To the east, rock formations dominate and an area of ​​pine trees crowns the orange cliff.

4. Rocha Baixinha Beach

Doing justice to the name of the beach, the red cliffs of Praia da Falésia decrease, gradually giving way to dune ridges where typical sand plants grow, such as sea thistle, beach lucerne and sand daffodil. The tourist developments also temporarily give way to the agricultural fields of the Ribeira de Quarteira floodplain, which has already earned Rocha Baixinha the suggestive name of Praia dos Tomates. The path to the beach leads through cultivated fields, greenhouses and pastures, as well as older traces of agricultural use in the valley, such as the water-wheels. Between the beach and the broad valley there are still very ravine ocher rock formations, where dense patches of pine forest mix with dryland orchards. The animals are abundant in these woods, rabbits, foxes and many birds, find food and shelter there. The beach is wide and to the east you can already see the breakwaters of Vilamoura marina.

      5. Coelha Beach

The path to the beach is pedestrianized and goes along agricultural fields where you can see olive and carob trees with a centuries-old appearance. Close to the sea, lush coastal bushes emerge, with juniper, kermes oak, mastic trees and dwarf palm (the only native palm tree in Europe), which involve a resting area about 100 m from the beach. Once on the beach, the visitor finds a small cove protected by high rock walls, with Alto da Coelha to the east. On the warm colored cliffs, marine fossils are visible, as well as caves and galleries resulting from the erosion of fresh and salt water on the limestone rock. Once again you feel like walking on the top of the cliffs, the beach surroundings retain the rich original vegetation and the rock formations sculpted by time and the elements fascinate you. A wooden staircase departs from the beach support and gives access to the cliffs to the west of the beach, however, it is recommended to be cautious and keep a safe distance to the edge of the cliffs.

And there are so many others just as beautiful!