Praia do Beliche – the complete guide
Praia do Beliche is a beautiful beach near Sagres. The beach attracts many surfers, who like to spend their holidays here.
Watch it in HD
To get an idea of Praia do Beliche, watch the short video below.
The beach
Praia do Beliche is surrounded by impressive 40 metres tall cliffs on both sides, forming a wonderful small bay. The beach actually consists of two small bays. Praia do Beliche has a feeling of remoteness and unspoiled nature. Its scenery is really magnificent.
The sand on Praia do Beliche is nice and gold-coloured. It feels very nice to walk here.
The water has a beautiful colour, but can be quite cold. Still, it can be very refreshing to swim here on a warm day. Actually, swimming on this beach means jumping into the waves. The waves here can be quite rough and big. This can be fun for teenagers in particular. However, be careful when swimming. The current can be strong here, so only swim if the conditions are right and you feel confident about it. Also, don’t let small children go near the water alone. Fortunately, there are no rocks in the water.
The spectacular cliffs protect the beach from the wind. Especially winds from the north and east are blocked by the cliffs. Praia do Beliche is very well sheltered, which is nice because Sagres is very windy. However, you can sometimes still feel the wind, but much less than in other parts of Sagres. There are also some small caves in the rocks, which can be fun to explore.
It is best to stay in the middle section of this beach. Don’t stay underneath the cliffs. Always keep a safe distance from them, since there is the danger of rockfall. There are various warning signs. Also, don’t stay too close to the water. The water rises very quickly on this beach, which might surprise you. After all, you don’t want to wet your towel and belongings.
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Away from the crowds
From all the beaches facing south in the Algarve, this one is the westernmost of all. It is the last beach before the lighthouse of Sagres, which was long considered to be the end of the world. Praia do Beliche is close enough to Sagres that it is easily accessible, but still far enough from the main tourism hubs to not be too crowded. Once you are on the beach, the town somehow feels very far away. This is why the beach is not as crowded as most of the beaches that are located near the big cities of the Algarve. There are rarely big crowds here, even in the summer. It is very easy to find a good spot on the beach. Out of the peak touristic season, the beach is almost deserted. This makes Praia do Beliche a great place if you seek to quietly enjoy a beach in the Algarve.
Usually there are quite a few Spanish people visiting the beach as well. They drove all across the Algarve to end up on this beach, which confirms the uniqueness of this beach.
Stairway to the beach
To access the beach, you have to go down a long man-made stairway made out of stone. There are about 100 steps, some of which can be quite steep. However, the walk is well worth the effort. Going back up the stairs can be tough, especially with a surfboard.
From the stairway you have an amazing view over the beach.
Surfing
Praia do Beliche is an excellent beach for surfing. The waves on this beach can be rough, and the conditions on this beach are perfect for riding these waves.
There is a surf school nearby, which is perfect if you don’t have a lot of surfing experience. When you are not surfing yourself, it can be entertaining to just watch the surfers have fun. In addition to surfing, bodyboarding is also popular here.
Watch the video below to get an idea of the surfing culture on the beach.
Nudism
The western section of the beach is an unofficial nude beach. It is the second cove of the beach, which is the part that is the furthest from the entrance. This part is enjoyed by naturists who like to tan everywhere.
Travelling to the Algarve this year? Dont’ forget to bring the Marco Polo Travel Guide.
Restaurants
There is a restaurant right on the beach. They have a barbeque. When you are walking by, the smell of the barbeque is very inviting. You could for example order chicken piri piri or fresh fish from the restaurant, which can be great if you are hungry. Also you could go here for just a drink or a snack, while enjoying the Reggae music in the background. The restaurant has a nice view over the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. They also do takeaway, which means that you can enjoy your food on the beach.
Another option is the restaurant Terra. This restaurant is situated just across the parking area behind the beach. It is one of the best restaurants in Sagres. The food is excellent and the service is great. When you are looking for a good meal, this place is highly recommended. During summer, it can be busy, which is why it is recommended to make a reservation.
Hotels
Our favourite hotels in this area are the following:
- Mareta View – Boutique Bed & Breakfast. This 4 star bed & breakfast has all the modern facilities you need. They also have a nice tropical garden and a hot tub. Particularly liked by couples.
- Tonel Apartamentos Turisticos. These apartments have their own kitchen, so you can prepare your own meals if you want to. Very colourful furniture, which gives the place a nice feel.
- Cercas Velhas. These rooms are the most highly rated in the area. Clean rooms, each with a private bathroom. You can rent a bike or car from this property.
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 Sagres. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Fortaleza de Beliche
Not far from Praia do Beliche you can find the fortress of Beliche (Fortaleza de Beliche). From the beach, it is only a 2 minute drive. The fortress was destroyed by Francis Drake in the 16th century, and later damaged by the earthquake of 1755. Nowdays, this fortress is closed to the public due to safety reasons. There is a possibility that the cliff on which the fortress stands, will collapse.
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. From the village of Sagres, the beach is a 5 minute drive by car. The beach is located on the EN268 road, which goes from Sagres to the Cape of Saint Vincent. The beach is very well signposted, so it should not be that hard to find. You can park your car next to the road. Parking is free and there is plenty of parking space near the beach. It is also possible to walk to the beach. From the town of Sagres it is about a 35 minute walk to Praia do Beliche.
Excursions
There are many reasons to stay in Sagres. However, there are also many reasons to explore other parts of the Algarve. There are so many things to see in the region. Exploring the region can be even better with a guide, who can tell you all about the background of the cities and places you are visiting. Below you can see our favourite tours in the area.
Praia do Beliche – Facilities
To get to Beliche beach, you have to walk down a long stairs. Some of the steps are actually quite steep. This makes Praia do Beliche not accessible by wheelchair, but can also be annoying when you have to carry your surfboard. There are lifeguards on duty and you can rent sunbeds here. It is also possible to hire a canoe or a stand-up paddle board. The only public toilet is on top of the cliffs, but it is not very clean.
Facilities in Praia do Beliche:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes, on top of the cliff
- Shower: no
- Water sports: yes, especially surfing
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue flag beach: yes
