Praia do Paraíso: the #1 guide
Praia do Paraíso is a small beach in the municipality of Lagoa, about 400 metres west of the popular Praia do Carvoeiro. Even though Carvoeiro can be very crowded in summer, Praia do Paraíso is usually quite empty. This is because the beach is relatively hidden and unknown. Let’s discover this beach.
Watch it in HD
Would you like to see Praia do Paraíso and the surrounding area of Carvoeiro? Then check out the video below.
The beach
Praia do Paraíso is a very small beach located in a small cove. Literally, the name means Paradise Beach. When visiting the beach, you will understand the name. It looks like a small paradise between the tall cliffs. These cliffs protect the beach against the wind, which is nice. Praia do Paraíso is also known as Praia do Monte Carvoeiro, referring to the area of Monte Carvoeiro, which is the luxurious area in the village of Carvoeiro behind this beach.
Praia do Paraíso consists of a small strip of sand. During high tide, the beach pretty much disappears. That is why it is best to visit the beach at low tide. Moreover, during low tide you can also find some rock pools. Behind the strip of sand, there is a raised rocky platform, where you can put your towel without the risk of it getting wet.
Even though there are no facilities on the beach itself, Praia do Paraíso is still good for sunbathing and relaxing. You can also explore some caves on either side of the beach.
Praia do Paraíso is relatively hidden and unknown. Many people visiting Carvoeiro don’t know about this beach, even though it is only about 400 metres west of the popular Praia do Carvoeiro. That is one reason why the beach is usually quite empty. Another reason is that it takes some effort to reach Praia do Paraíso. Access is by a steep staircase, which might be difficult for people with mobility issues. However, the visit is well worth the effort. Praia do Paraíso is thus a great beach to avoid the large groups of people you find in Carvoeiro. The beach is particularly popular among couples who prefer some privacy and want to get away from the crowded Carvoeiro, without driving very far.
Make sure to stay for the sunset as well. The sunset is especially beautiful from the cliffs on top of the beach.
In general it is great to walk around on top of the cliffs here. The cliff views over Carvoeiro are stunning as well.
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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 EN125, take the exit near Lagoa and continue on the M1272 in the direction of Carvoeiro. You will see the signs indicating Carvoeiro beach. When in Carvoeiro, go west up the hill on Rua do Paraíso, towards Monte Carvoeiro. Praia do Paraíso is about 400 metres west of Praia do Carvoeiro. There is a small parking area on top of the cliff. However, parking here is very difficult during summer. You might have to park a bit further. Access to the beach is via a long staircase, consisting of a few hundred steps. Beware that the descent is pretty steep, which makes the trip back up the stairs quite hard.
Restaurants
There is a restaurant on top of the cliffs, called Mar d’Fora. This is a very good restaurant, serving mainly fish and seafood dishes. However, the best thing about this restaurant is the sunset view. It is well worth visiting the restaurant just to see the sunset.
Hotels
Praia do Paraíso is relatively close to Praia do Carvoeiro. Thus we recommend the same hotels as you can find in the article about Praia do Carvoeiro.
Another option is to quickly check the availability of nearby hotels. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near Carvoeiro. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
Would you like to explore the Algarve? Then we highly recommend to go on an excursion. Fortunately, there are many excursions available in the area. Some of them you can book online beforehand. Below you can find our favourite excursions nearby.
Facilities
There are no facilities on Praia do Paraíso. For example, there are no lifeguards and there is no toilet. We recommend to bring your own food and drinks. The nearest facilities are in the restaurant on top of the cliff, but from the beach you have to walk back up many stairs to get there.
Facilities in Praia do Paraíso:
- Restaurant: on top of the cliff
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: no
- Shower: no
- Water sports: no
- Sunbeds: no
- Parking: yes, near the restaurant
- Lifeguards: no
- Blue flag beach: no
