Praia do Vale do Olival: the #1 guide
Praia do Vale do Olival is a beach at the eastern end of the municipality of Lagoa. It is quite popular, especially during summer. Many people come here to enjoy the sun and enjoy their holidays. Discover why Praia do Vale do Olival is worth visiting.
Watch it in HD
If you wish to see a preview of this beach, then watch the following video.
The beach
Praia do Vale do Olival is a small sandy beach and is surrounded by beautiful cliffs. The beach is located to the west of Praia de Armação de Pêra, which belongs to the municipality of Silves. From Vale do Olival you can clearly see the seaside resort town of Armação de Pêra. A rock formation marks the border between Vale do Olival and Praia de Armação de Pêra.
The cliffs on this beach are heavily eroded and quite fragile. Always keep a safe distance from the cliffs, since there is the danger of rocks falling. Nevertheless, you can spot some very strange looking rocks on this beach.
The water is good for swimming and shallow at first. The waves are small and there is not a lot of wind. However, watch out for the rocks on the beach and in the water. It is easy to hurt yourself against these rocks.
Praia do Vale do Olival is usually quite crowded. During summer, the hotels and apartments you can see in the background of the beach are always full with tourists. Many tourists are Portuguese, but there are plenty of foreigners as well. Almost all of these tourists visit either Praia do Vale do Olival or its neighbour Praia de Armação de Pêra. The beach is popular among people of all ages, but with families and couples in particular. In general, the beach is good for children as well. Just watch out with the rocks on the beach.
Usually it is possible to find a spot to sit, but in summer you will probably sit close to other people on the beach. On the western side of the beach you can find some quieter spots, even in the height of summer. During low season it is much more quiet on the beach.
Praia do Vale do Olival is great for long beach walks. You can walk via Praia de Armação de Pêra, Praia Grande and Praia dos Salgados all the way towards Praia da Galé in Albufeira. As you walk towards the east, the cliffs gradually become smaller.
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Arch rock formation
On the eastern side of Praia do Vale do Olival there is a big rock formation with an arch. This is one of the easiest ways to recognize this beach.
You can walk underneath the arch during low tide. During high tide this is more difficult.
Walk towards Praia dos Beijinhos
There is a walking trail on top of the cliffs from Praia do Vale do Olival towards Praia dos Beijinhos. Praia dos Beijinhos is quite small and offers a lot of privacy. The only thing you can do on this beach is enjoy the sun and swim in the sea. There are no facilities here. During the cliff walk towards Beijinhos beach you will see spectacular views of the area and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the fragile rocks in this area, do not go near the edge of the cliffs.
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. Take exit 7 on the A22 and go on the N125 towards Alcantarilha. Take the N269-1, continue on the M530-1 and then follow the signs towards the beach. There is plenty of space for parking. Alternatively, you can walk towards Praia do Vale do Olival from Armação de Pêra.
Beach restaurants
There are two restaurants right on the beach:
- Calixtos a Rocha. This restaurant offers good food with a view. They offer a variety of fish, seafood and meat dishes. The service is friendly as well. Great option for lunch. This is our favourite restaurant on the beach.
- Sardinha Assada. This restaurant specializes in grilled fish (especially sardines) and they do it very well. They also have other options though, such as grilled chicken. From the restaurant you have a great view over the beach.
Hotels
There are many hotels near the Vale do Olival beach and in Armação de Pêra. Below you can find our favourite ones:
- By the Sea – Rooftop pools. This luxurious apartment near the beach offers spacious rooms and outdoor swimming pools. They even have barbecue facilities and a children’s playground outside. Highly rated.
- Holiday Inn Algarve. This four star hotel has everything you need to enjoy your stay in the Algarve. They have an outdoor swimming pool, two restaurants and a fitness centre. Good value for money.
After the busy summer season of last year, we recommend to book your hotel now, as it will probably sell out. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels in Armação de Pêra. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
This part of the Algarve has many beautiful things to see. The best way to discover the area is by going on an excursion. For example, take a boat trip towards the Benagil caves and explore the coast by boat. Some of these excursions can already be booked online. Below you can find our favourite excursions in the area.
Facilities
There are plenty of facilities on Praia do Vale do Olival. For example, there are lifeguards on duty and there are sunbeds for hire. The beach is also accessible by wheelchair. This is a blue flag beach.
Facilities in Praia do Vale do Olival:
- Restaurants: yes
- Bar/club: yes
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: no
- Sunbeds: yes
- Free parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue flag beach: yes
