Praia do Evaristo: the #1 guide
Praia do Evaristo is a small rocky beach in the municipality of Albufeira. The abundance of rocks is what makes this a unique beach. There is a lot of marine life surrounding these rocks underwater, which makes this a great beach for snorkelling. Moreover, you can sometimes spot Portuguese celebrities here. Let’s discover this beach.
Watch it in HD
For a quick preview of this beach, check out the video below. Note: the video has no sound.
The beach
Praia do Evaristo is a small beach in a rocky bay. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery, such as low ochre cliffs and pine trees. There are no high cliffs on this beach, in contrast to some other beaches in Albufeira. Praia do Evaristo is named after the restaurant that is situated here, which has been here since 1986.
There are many rocks at Praia do Evaristo, both inside and outside the water. You can see that many of the rocks have been subject to heavy erosion. The many rocks is also what characterizes the beach. At high tide, the waves crash against the rocks, which is a nice sight to admire.
You should definitely explore the unique landscape surrounding the beach. There is a pathway on the eastern cliff to explore. And there is much to discover on the western side as well. For example, you will find many coves which are nice to explore.
The sand on the beach is golden, and the water is very clear. However, Praia do Evaristo is not a great beach for swimming, because of these rocks. At the same time, it is a great beach for snorkelling. There are many rocks underwater, which have plenty of marine life around them. If you go snorkelling, you can see many fishes and other sea creatures. This is a great experience and a lot of fun.
Even though Praia do Evaristo is in Albufeira, it is far enough from the town to escape the masses. This is also why Praia do Evaristo is less crowded than the urban beaches in Albufeira town. The beach is mostly visited by Portuguese people, although you can find some tourists as well. Moreover, in summer Praia do Evaristo attracts some famous Portuguese people. For example, the former president of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, is a regular guest here.
Look around and you will find some natural pools. Kids love to explore these pools and rock formations on the beach.
Cliff walk
You can walk in the surrounding area to nearby beaches. From these cliffs you also have a great view over the area. Nearby beaches are Praia da Balbina in the west and Praia do Castelo in the east.
How to get there
The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. If you don’t have one, make sure to rent a car. To reach Evaristo beach, take exit 9 on the A22 highway. Continue on the N395 in the direction of Albufeira and turn right at the big roundabout towards the M526. Follow this road and you will see signs indicating the beach. There is only one road leading directly to the beach. At the end of this road there is a medium-sized car park.
Beware that parking here can be difficult in summer. From this car park, there is a boardwalk to the beach. Since the beach is not backed by high cliffs, this also means you do not have to go down a long staircase to reach the beach. It is only a short walk. This also makes this beach more accessible than nearby Praia do Castelo.
Beach restaurant
There is one restaurant directly on the beach, called Evaristo. The restaurant opened in 1986 and is quite known in the area. Their specialty is fresh grilled fish and seafood. However, the restaurant has no menu. You can choose from the selection of the catch of the day, and they will provide suggestions. Whatever you choose, it will be fresh and tasty.
In summer, the restaurant is sometimes visited by Portuguese celebrities. Compared to other restaurants in the Algarve, this restaurant is relatively expensive. However, the atmosphere is good, the food is delicious and you have a great sea view from the restaurant. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance.
Hotels
Praia do Evaristo is relatively close to Praia do Castelo. Thus we recommend the same hotels as you can find in the article about Praia do Castelo.
Another option is to quickly check the availability of nearby hotels. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near Sesmarias in Albufeira. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
If you would like to explore the area further, we recommend to go on an excursion. There are plenty of excursions that can be one of the highlights of your holiday in the Algarve. For example, you can visit the cave of Benagil or take a boat ride to explore the coastline of the Algarve. Below you can find our favourite excursions in the area.
Facilities
Praia do Evaristo is a Blue Flag beach. It has the most important facilities. For example, there is a restaurant/bar for food and refreshments. You can also find the toilets and showers near the restaurant. Moreover, the beach is accessible by wheelchair.
Facilities in Praia do Evaristo:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: no
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes