Praia da Falésia

Praia da Falésia, between Olhos de Água and Vilamoura, is one of the great beaches of the Algarve: kilometres of sand at the foot of tall cliffs of red and gold earth, crowned by a forest of pines. The colour of the cliffs, the long open beach and the walk along the top make it one of the most memorable landscapes of the southern coast.

The beach

The beach stretches for around six kilometres, from the mouth of the Albufeira stream at Olhos de Água to the marina of Vilamoura, divided in stretches with their own names. Above it, the cliffs — with their tones of ochre, red and white — are sculpted by the sea and crowned by pine woods, with paths and viewpoints along the edge.

What to see

• The red and golden cliffs, and the long beach below them.
• The walk along the top of the cliffs, among the pine trees.
• Olhos de Água and the fishermen’s quarter at the western end.
• The marina of Vilamoura, at the eastern end of the sands.

Visiting

The beach is reached from Albufeira, Olhos de Água and Vilamoura by road, with car parks at the main accesses; in the bathing season it is supervised, and outside it the ocean and the cliffs demand care. The cliffs crumble naturally, so walkers should keep to the paths and never climb the faces; the conditions and services follow the official information of the municipality.

Nearby

The town of Albufeira and the resort of Vilamoura face the beach at either end, between the old town and the marina.

Information: cm-albufeira.pt.

Image credit: Praia da Falésia, by Jose A., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.