Praia da Manta Rota: the #1 guide
Praia da Manta Rota is a popular beach in the eastern Algarve. It is the beach in front of the town of Manta Rota. The large size of the beach in combination with the warm temperature in this part of the Algarve makes this a great beach to visit. Also, this beach is very family friendly. On this page you can read all about Praia da Manta Rota.
Watch it in HD
If you would like to see more of this beach, then watch the following video.
The beach
Praia da Manta Rota is a huge beach, stretching for more than 1 kilometre. It is quite wide as well, especially during low tide. The beach is backed by low sand dunes, which are quite different than the cliff-backed beaches you can find in other parts of the Algarve. In general, Praia da Manta Rota is located at the eastern end of the Ria Formosa natural park. This is one of the most important ecosystems in the Algarve.
The sand on the beach is soft and the water is transparent. Manta Rota is a great beach for children, since the sea is calm and shallow. The water gets deeper only very slowly. Also, the water here is warmer than in many other parts of the Algarve. In general, the sea in the east of the Algarve is warmer than in the west.
The town of Manta Rota transformed from a traditional fishing village to a popular tourist resort town. Praia de Manta Rota is quite a popular beach, especially among Portuguese families. You will mostly see locals and will encounter some Spanish people as well, who like to come here for their holidays. After all, Spain is not that far away from this beach. Of course there are some tourists from other countries as well. The busiest month on this beach is August, which is when many Portuguese families go on holiday.
Even though it is a popular beach, there is always plenty of space for everyone. The size of the beach ensures that you will never have trouble looking for a spot to sit down. The busiest area of the beach is right in the middle, near the main access points. If you prefer more space with less people, you can go to either end of the beach. It is more quiet there. Even though the beach of Manta Rota is quite lively in general, it is a good place to relax.
The summer in this area of the Algarve is hot and dry. Temperatures often reach over 30 degrees Celsius. That is why it is important to stay cool and hydrated. Most people bring their own sun umbrella to this beach.
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Boardwalk
From the town of Manta Rota and from the car parking area, there are several access points to the beach. These access points consist of a wooden boardwalk, which takes you through the dunes. This preserves the natural habitat, while providing easy beach access at the same time.
Beach walks
Praia de Manta Rota is part of the long strip of sand that stretches from Praia de Santo António all the way to Praia de Cacela Velha. Along this strip of sand you can find many beaches, such as Praia da Lota, Praia da Alagoa, Praia Verde, Praia do Cabeço and Praia de Monte Gordo. This makes the beach of Manta Rota perfect for long beach walks. When standing on Praia da Manta Rota, you can even see the seaside resort of Monte Gordo in the background in the east. If you want to, you can walk all the way towards it.
The direct neighbours of Praia da Manta Rota are Praia de Cacela Velha in the west and Praia da Lota in the east. When you walk west towards Cacela Velha, you will walk along the beautiful natural park of Ria Formosa. Also, there is an unofficial nudist area west of Praia da Manta Rota.
How to get there
Manta Rota is a small town which belongs to the civil parish of Cacela Velha in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António. It is about 11 kilometres west of Vila Real de Santo António and 13 kilometres east of Tavira.
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 you are on the N125, take the exit EM1242 in the direction of Vila Nova de Cacela and then take the EM1248 immediately towards Manta Rota. This road will take you straight to the beach. There is a parking area for normal cars and another area for only campervans. Parking is free. From here, it is about 200 metres to the beach.
Beach restaurants
There are a couple of excellent restaurants near the beach of Manta Rota:
- Chá Com Água Salgada. This beach restaurant specializes in high quality fish and seafood, such as tuna, octopus or clams. The service is very good as well. It is a great place for an extensive lunch.
- Essência na Praia. This beach restaurant offers good fish and seafood dishes, for an affordable price. There are tables both inside and outside and the atmosphere of the place is great.
If you are hungry but don’t want to go to a restaurant, there are a couple of small kiosks behind the beach as well. Here you can buy refreshments.
Hotels
There are several hotels near the beach. Our favourite hotels near Manta Rota are:
- Mantamar Apartamentos. This aparthotel has an awesome location, pretty close to the beach of Manta Rota. They offer nice apartments with a garden, terrace and an outdoor swimming pool. All apartments come with a kitchen, so you can cook your own meals if you want to.
- Manta Guest. This bed & breakfast is about a 7 minute walk from the beach. All rooms are private and have comfortable beds. Some rooms have a sea view, while others have a garden view. Prices are relatively cheap.
Since Covid-19 travel restrictions have been lifted, we recommend to book your hotel now, as it will probably sell out soon. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near Praia da Manta Rota. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
The eastern Algarve is truly wonderful and there is a lot to see. An excursion is an excellent way to discover this area. After all, a guide can tell you much more about the history and traditions of local places. Some of these excursions can already be booked online. Below you can find our favourite excursions in the eastern Algarve.
Facilities
The town of Manta Rota used to be a traditional fishing village. Nowadays it is primarily a tourist resort town. Near the town square you can find many restaurants, shops and a market. On the beach itself you can also find many facilities. After all, this is a Blue Flag beach. For example, there are lifeguards on duty and sunbeds for rent (€ 12 for a day). The beach of Manta Rota is also accessible for disabled people.
Facilities in Praia da Manta Rota:
- Restaurants: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: no
- Sunbeds: yes
- Free parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes
