Praia do Burgau – the #1 guide
Praia do Burgau is a beach near the village of Burgau. This village is characterized by whitewashed houses and typical streets. Located on the edge of the Costa Vicentina natural park, this beach can be pretty lively during the summer. In this article you can read everything you need to know when visiting Praia do Burgau.
Watch it in HD
If you would like to see the beach and its surroundings, then watch the short video below.
The beach
Praia do Burgau is a medium-sized beach, with a length of about 350 metres and a width of about 30 metres. The beach is surrounded by high cliffs and forms a small cove. This protects the beach from the northern winds. The beach is actually located at the bottom of a steep hill. The surroundings of the beach are very beautiful.
Praia do Burgau has nice and soft sand. The sand slopes gently into the water, which is good if you are visiting with children. The water of the Atlantic Ocean here is deep blue and very clear. However, the water here is very cold though. Usually the water is quite calm. On the western side of the beach there are some waves. Here you can see people enjoying several watersports, such as bodyboarding. You can also hire kayaks and pedal boats from the beach.
At low tide, you can see small pools between the rocks, especially on the eastern side of the beach. Here you can find crabs, starfish and other small fishes. Kids love to explore these pools. During high tide, the beach becomes very small and almost vanishes completely. That is why it is best to visit this beach during low tide.
During high season, Praia do Burgau can be quite crowded. Since it is not a very big beach, it also feels crowded quite quickly. The beach is popular with tourists and families. On the other hand, outside the summer months, the beach is almost deserted.
On the back of the beach, in front of the cliffs, you can see many rocks. In some parts you can also find clay. The clay near the rocks is known for its healing properties. Some people put the clay on their body and face, because they believe it is good for the skin.
The village of Burgau used to be a small fishermen village. Nowadays, Burgau has turned to tourism. You can see several holiday houses, restaurants and hotels nearby. However, the fishing roots of the village are still visible. On the east side of the beach you can see several colourful fishing boats. If you are lucky, you can see fishing boats returning with the catch of the day.
Praia do Burgau is located east of Praia das Cabanas Velhas and west of Praia da Luz. It is actually possible to walk to either Salema or Luz. There are walking paths on top of the cliffs. During the walk you will have a beautiful view over the sea and the area. There is also another small beach west of Praia do Burgau, but you can only access it by boat or canoe.
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Fort of Almádena
About 3,5 kilometres west of Praia do Burgau, you can find a small fort. It is just east of Praia da Boca do Rio. This fort is formally known as Forte de São Luís de Almádena or Forte da Boca do Rio, but is often simply called Fort of Almádena. It was built in 1632, but was damaged by the earthquake of 1755 and completely abandoned in 1849. The fort is pretty much in ruins. Nearby you can also find the ruins of a tower from the 16th century.
Beach bar
There is a restaurant / bar right on the beach, called Beach Bar Burgau. This restaurant is open from 10 AM until 6 PM. On Mondays, they are closed. The food here is very good, and prices are reasonable. They have fresh fish and seafood. In addition, they have great cocktails. Staff is friendly as well. From the restaurant you have a beautiful view over the beach. If you are in the area, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. During peak times it is best to make a reservation in advance.
Hotels
If you would like to stay near the beach, we recommend any of the following hotels:
- Casa Lua Guesthouse. This guest house offers a terrace, kitchen and shared lounge. From some of the rooms you have a view over the surrounding mountains. Great value for money.
- Casa Afonso Henriques. This apartment in Burgau is less than 1 kilometre from the beach. The apartment has a balcony, a kitchen, an outdoor swimming pool and basically everything you need for a great holiday in the Algarve.
- AlmaVerde Village & Spa Resort. This four star resort offers villas with a kitchen, a terrace and an outdoor swimming pool. There are spa facilities, beauty treatments as well as several tennis courts. Great choice for families or couples.
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 near Burgau. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
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. It is quite easy to reach. When coming from Lagos, drive on the N125 towards Sagres. Take the M537 to Rua 25 de Abril and follow the road all the way to the beach. There is a car park near the beach, but it is usually quite full. You can always park your car a bit further up and walk towards the beach. Parking in this area is free. Since the beach is located at the bottom of a steep hill, you just have to walk down the street to reach the beach.
Excursions
While Praia do Burgau is a great beach, there are much more things to do in the area. A great way to discover the area is by going on an excursion. You could for example go dolphin watching or do a boat tour to discover the coastline of the Algarve. Below you can find our favourite excursions in the area.
Facilities
Praia do Burgau has the most important facilities you need. There are lifeguards overlooking the beach and there are sunbeds for rent. There is a restaurant/bar right on the beach, and more restaurants in the village. Moreover, Praia do Burgau is a Blue Flag beach.
Facilities in Praia do Burgau:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes
