Praia de Vale Centeanes: the #1 guide
Praia de Vale Centeanes is a beach east of Carvoeiro, in the municipality of Lagoa. It is a great place to discover the surroundings, as there is a hidden world underwater as well as several caves to explore on the beach. Moreover, this beach is a popular spot for snorkelling and it is an amazing place to watch the sunset. Let’s discover this beach.
Watch it in HD
Would you like to see Praia de Vale Centeanes and its surroundings? Then check out the following drone video.
The beach
Praia de Vale Centeanes is a relatively long beach, backed by impressive gold-coloured cliffs. These cliffs offer shelter from the wind, which is why Vale Centeanes is not very windy. The cliffs are also heavily eroded and there are many hidden areas in the cliffs. For example, on the west side of the beach there is a small cave in the cliffs.
The sand on the beach is clean and yellow, and the water here is transparent. Usually the sea is quite calm, but on some days it can be a bit rougher. In general, Praia de Vale Centeanes is a good beach for swimming. The water gets deep very quickly though, so watch out with young children in the sea. Also watch out for some rocks in the water, especially on the left side of the beach. You can easily spot the rocks though, since they are darker than the water itself.
The water here is also perfect for snorkelling and diving. There is a whole underwater world you can discover here, with plenty of sea life. In addition, you can enjoy several water sports or cave tours by boat from Vale Centeanes. There is even a boat ride that starts on this beach and takes you along the most beautiful part of the coastline of the Algarve.
Praia de Vale Centeanes can be a bit crowded in summer, but you will usually be able to find a spot. Especially during high tide it feels more crowded, as the beach almost disappears. Praia de Vale Centeanes is a nice alternative to the popular Praia do Carvoeiro, which is 2 kilometres west of Vale Centeanes. If you want, you could walk to the town of Carvoeiro in about 25 minutes. No wonder that Praia de Vale Centeanes is popular among tourists who stay in the area of Carvoeiro. Between Carvoeiro and Vale Centeanes you can find the small beach of Praia de Vale Covo, which is just west of Vale Centeanes.
Praia de Vale Centeanes is a good beach for walking. For example, there are some fabulous cliff walks nearby. From the eastern cliff you also have a spectacular view over the beach.
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Cliff walk
From Praia de Vale Centeanes you can do one of the most beautiful walks in the entire Algarve. It is the walk from Praia de Vale Centeanes all the way towards Praia da Marinha, which is one of the best beaches of the Algarve. This walking trail is called Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos (Seven Hanging Valleys Walk). In fact, this route was elected as one of the best hikes in Europe by European Best Destinations.
The total trail (round trip) is about 12 kilometres and takes 4-6 hours to complete. It is signposted and relatively easy to do. Along the way, you will pass the Alfanzina lighthouse, as well as the beaches of Praia de Benagil and Praia do Carvalho. During the walk you will see some of the most beautiful scenery you can find in the Algarve.
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. When driving on the N125 national road, take exit M1154 in the direction of Caramujeira. You will then see signs indicating various beaches in the area. Follow the signs towards Vale Centeanes. It is free to park your car near the beach. However, there is not a lot of parking space and it can become quite busy in summer. Make sure to arrive early in order to increase your chances of finding a parking spot. Otherwise, you can park a bit further and walk to the beach. Another option is to walk from the town of Carvoeiro, which takes about 25 minutes. Access to Vale Centeanes beach is via a long staircase.
Restaurants
There is a restaurant near the entrance of the beach, called O Stop. It is actually more like a café on the beach than a proper restaurant, even though you can have lunch here. They do offer several fish and seafood dishes, as well as salads. The view from the restaurant over the beach is spectacular. It is not the best place if you prefer a fancy lunch or want the best quality food. However, it is a good place for a refreshment or a quick lunch.
Hotels
If you would like to stay near the beach, we recommend any of the following hotels:
- Pestana Palm Gardens. This four star resort consists of several comfortable townhouses, which are very colourful. There is a big garden, a pool bar, a gym and even a tennis court on-site. All so that you can make the most of your stay here.
- Hotel Baia Cristal Beach & Spa Resort. This four star resort has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, as well as several wellness facilities. For example, there is a hammam and they offer various massages. Some rooms have sea view.
- Tivoli Carvoeiro. Certainly this is the most luxurious option nearby. This five star hotel conforms to the highest standards. All rooms are very well designed, the service is great and they have everything to give you a five star treatment. Highly rated as well.
Another option is to quickly check the availability of nearby hotels. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near the beach. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
The region around Lagoa is known for beautiful beaches and amazing sights. To fully appreciate the area, we recommend to go on an excursion. For example, make sure to see the coastline of the Algarve by boat and to see the cave of Benagil. Some of these excursions can already be booked online. You can see our favourite excursions below.
Facilities
Praia de Vale Centeanes is a blue flag beach and it has good facilities. There are lifeguards overlooking the beach and there are toilet and shower facilities. In addition, there is a restaurant on the beach. Furthermore, the beach is accessible by wheelchair.
Facilities in Praia de Vale Centeanes:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue flag beach: yes
