Praia da Marinha

Praia da Marinha, between Lagoa and Carvoeiro, is the great rock beach of the Algarve: golden cliffs carved by the sea in arches, stacks and caves, with the sand beneath in a curve open to the ocean. The colours of the rock and the shapes of the stone have made the beach one of the most photographed places of the Algarve — the essence of the coast of the barrocal between Carvoeiro and Benagil.

The beach

The beach opens at the foot of high cliffs of ochre and gold, in a bay that the sea has carved for millennia — the same geological world of the cave of Benagil nearby. Above the sand, the clifftop paths lead along the coast, with viewpoints over the arches and the stacks of rock; the walks between Marinha and Benagil, along the edge of the cliffs, are some of the most beautiful of the Algarve.

What to see

• The beach beneath the golden cliffs.
• The arches and stacks of rock by the sea.
• The clifftop paths between Marinha and the neighbouring coves.
• The changes of light through the day, on the stone and the water.

Visiting

The beach is reached from the road between Lagoa and Carvoeiro, with a car park above the bay and stairs down to the sand; the ocean has strong currents and the cliffs crumble naturally, so bathers and walkers should follow the flags, keep to the paths and never climb the faces. The conditions and services follow the official information of the municipality.

Nearby

O Gruta de Benagil and the town of Loulé are the anchors of the coast around Marinha.

Information: cm-lagoa.pt.

Image credit: Praia da Marinha, by Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.