Praia dos Caneiros – the #1 guide
Praia dos Caneiros is a small beach south of the town of Ferragudo and belongs to the municipality of Lagoa. This beach is most characterized by the presence of a big rock in the water in front of the beach, as well as the sight of a lighthouse just west of the beach. There is even a hidden beach between Praia dos Caneiros and the lighthouse, known as Praia do Vale da Azinhaga. There is a nice vibe on Praia dos Caneiros and in summer you can even enjoy some parties here. Let’s discover this beach.
Watch it in HD
Would you like to see Praia dos Caneiros and its surroundings? Then check out the following video.
The beach
Praia dos Caneiros is a relatively small beach, stretching for about 200 metres in length. The beach is backed by high cliffs, which are lower near the entrance of the beach. You will see that the cliffs in this area are heavily eroded. Praia dos Caneiros forms a small cove. In the past this beach was known as Praia de João Belbut, since the land surrounding the beach belonged to a man named João Belbut. The most characteristic features of the beach are a big isolated rock in front of the beach and a view over the lighthouse on the right side.
The sand is fine and yellow, which is great to walk on. The sea is relatively calm and the waves are usually small. In addition, the quality of the water here is good, which makes it a good place for swimming, snorkelling and diving. However, beware that the temperature of the water can be a bit cold. Also you can rent kayaks and paddle boats on the beach, which is nice to explore the nearby area. For example, there are some caves in the cliffs nearby.
On the eastern part of the beach you can see many rocks on the beach and in the water. This was caused by a landslide. Beware that you should not sit right underneath the cliffs, since the danger of a landslide still exists here.
Praia dos Caneiros can become a bit crowded, especially in summer. In the morning the beach is popular among families with kids and in the afternoon it attracts more younger people. By the way, it is also nice to watch the sunset from the restaurant or the cliffs on top of the beach.
Praia do Vale da Azinhaga
Just west of Praia dos Caneiros you can find another beach, called Praia do Vale da Azinhaga. It is also known as Praia do Torrado. It is located right east of the Ponta do Altar lighthouse. Praia do Vale da Azinhaga separated from Caneiros by a small promontory. In the picture below you can see Vale da Azinhaga in the front and Praia dos Caneiros in the back.
The beach of Vale da Azinhaga is surrounded by tall cliffs, which slowly decline towards the centre of the beach. Thus they form sort of a suspended valley.
As you can see, there is a another big rock in the water, just in front of Praia do Vale da Azinhaga.
The only way to reach Praia do Vale da Azinhaga is by walking west from Praia dos Caneiros. The beach is only accessible during low tide. Thus it is much more quiet on Praia do Vale da Azinhaga than on Caneiros. It is kind of a private beach and also attracts some naturists, even though this is not an official nude beach. There are no facilities on Praia do Vale da Azinhaga and the beach is not supervised by lifeguards.
When standing on the beach, you can see the rock of Leixão da Gaivota on the left. When looking on the right side, you can see the smaller rock in front of Vale da Azinhaga and the Ponta da Altar lighthouse.
Leixão da Gaivota
Praia dos Caneiros is easy to recognize because there is a big isolated rock about 200 metres in front of the beach. This rock is called Leixão da Gaivota, which translates as seagull’s rock. On the picture below you can clearly see that this is a different rock than the rock in front of Praia do Vale da Azinhaga.
This rock is actually an environmentally protected zone, because there are many sea birds living on it. Usually you can see plenty of birds near Leixão da Gaivota. Furthermore, many birds use this rock as a sleeping spot in the winter.
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Ponta do Altar
When standing on Praia dos Caneiros, you can see a lighthouse on the right side. This lighthouse is called Ponta do Altar. The lighthouse of Ponta do Altar was built in 1893 and the structure is about 10 metres tall. However, the lighthouse itself is closed to the public.
Still, it is nice to walk on these cliffs. From here you also have a great view over the beaches of Caneiros and Vale do Azinhaga.
From these cliffs you can also see the town of Portimão.
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, take the exit near Lagoa and continue on the M1272 towards Sesmarias. Continue on the road and you will see signs indicating the beach. Another option, when coming from Ferragudo, is to just drive south on the M530 and follow the signs. There is a small car park next to the beach. Parking is free. However, during summer the car park can become quite crowded. If there is no parking space, you will have to park a bit further and walk to the beach. The high cliffs almost hide the beach from the view, until you are there. There is a wooden staircase down to the beach, which takes you past the beach restaurant Rei das Praias.
Beach restaurant
There is a restaurant right near the entrance of Praia dos Caneiros. It is called Rei das Praias (translated: King of the Beaches) and it is the only restaurant on the beach. The restaurant specializes in fresh fish and seafood and they also have a nice wine list. The food is very good here. They also have a lounge bar and an outside terrace. In general, the restaurant is a bit upscale and relatively expensive compared to other restaurants in Ferragudo. However, the view and the service make up for it. They are quite popular in summer, so it is best to book beforehand before going to this restaurant. Moreover, the restaurant also hosts beach parties with guest DJ’s during summer, which attract plenty of party people.
Hotels
If you would like to stay in the area, we recommend any of the following hotels:
- Caneiros Luxury House & Suites. This hotel near Praia dos Caneiros is one of the best choices in the area. It has everything you need to make the most of your holiday in the Algarve. Great rooms, good service and delicious breakfast. Highly rated.
- Vale D’oliveiras Quinta Resort And Spa. This five star resort breathes luxury and offers an outdoor pool with a big outside garden full of palm trees. There are several wellness facilities available, including a gym, a spa and several massages. There is a children’s playground as well. Located in the countryside.
- Hotel Casabela. This four star hotel has a very big garden, where you can relax on sunbeds. There is a tennis court on-site as well. The rooms are very comfortable and have either sea view or garden view.
Another option is to quickly check the availability of nearby hotels. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near Ferragudo. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
Even though Ferragudo is a lovely fishing town, there is a lot more to see in the Algarve. If you want to make the most of your holiday, we recommend to go on an excursion. For example, you can take a boat tour to explore the coastline of the Algarve. Below you can find our favourite excursions in the area.
Facilities
Praia dos Caneiros is a blue flag beach and has good facilities. Most facilities are located near the beach restaurant Rei das Praias. For example, you can rent sunbeds in front of the restaurant. By the way, the restaurant also serves drinks and cocktails right to these sunbeds. Furthermore, you can enjoy a massage on the beach during summer. And of course there are lifeguards overlooking the beach.
Facilities in Praia dos Caneiros:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue flag beach: yes
