Praia da Amoreira – the complete guide
Praia da Amoreira is a wonderful beach in the municipality of Aljezur. It is part of the Costa Vicentina natural park and is one of the most beautiful beaches in this part of the Algarve. The beach is popular among surfers and families. In this article you can read why this beach is so unique and worth visiting.
Watch it in HD
If you would like to see a sneak preview of Praia da Amoreira, then watch the video below.
The beach
Praia da Amoreira is a big beach and stretches for about 580 metres. This makes it one of the largest beaches around Aljezur. The beach is also quite wide and goes far inland.
Praia da Amoreira is backed by large sand dunes. On both sides of the beach, there are cliffs and rock formations. According to locals, the black rock formation on the northern side of the beach looks like a giant lying down. The smaller rock on the left side is the head of the giant (with a pointy nose) and the big cliff to the right is its belly.
The sand on the beach is soft and feels great to walk on. Praia da Amoreira itself is unspoiled and very peaceful. Usually there are only a few people on the beach, mostly families and surfers. It never gets really crowded here. Praia da Amoreira is a great beach if you want to escape mass tourism.
When the tide is low, there is a shallow lagoon on the beach. This lagoon is popular with kids and very safe to play in.
You can see that this lagoon covers a big part of the beach during low tide.
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Aljezur River
The southern end of Praia da Amoreira is the mouth of the Aljezur River. This is one of the most unique characteristics of the beach. The Aljezur River (in Portuguese Ribeira de Aljezur) runs for almost 10 kilometres, from the village of Aljezur to the southern end of Praia da Amoreira.
This means that you can swim both in the river and in the sea. In general, the water of the sea here is quite cold and the water in the river is warmer. Moreover, there can be strong currents and rocks in the sea, especially on the northern part of the beach. The current can also be strong near the mouth of the river, especially at high tide. That is why it is best to swim a bit further in the river instead of the sea. There is a great beach area along the banks of the river. Also, there are no waves in the river, which makes it a perfect place to play with children. The beach alongside the river goes quite far inland and it is very safe here.
The blue river winding through the green valley behind the beach is truly a beautiful sight. You can also see some animals living in this area, like otters and beautiful birds. If you like birdwatching, you will love this area. Make sure to bring your binoculars though.
Surfing
Praia da Amoreira is a good spot for surfing. There are good waves here, especially at high tide. In general, the beach is exposed to the swells and the winds. Surfing here is suitable for all skill levels.
There is a surf school right on the beach called Atlantic Riders. Here you can learn how to surf or just rent surf equipment.
Southern viewpoint
On the cliffs on the southern side is a viewpoint. From here you have a beautiful view over the beach. This point is only a 15 minute walk from Praia de Monte Clérigo. However, you cannot easily reach Praia da Amoreira from here. The only way is to walk through the river, which is not recommended during high tide.
Hiking
If you like hiking, there is a part of the Rota Vicentina trail in this area. It is called the Fishermen’s trail. It takes you through beautiful nature, as well as spectacular viewpoints. If you want, you can walk all the way towards Praia da Carriagem, which is the first beach north of Amoreira. Along the way you might even see some fishermen on top of the cliffs. This is quite dangerous, because the cliffs are very high.
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. Praia da Amoreira is quite easy to reach. Take the EN120 towards Aljezur. Then go towards Rogil and just follow the signs to Praia da Amoreira. There is a car park on top of the cliffs, on the northern side of the beach. The car park is not that big. In case it is full, you can park your car on the side of the road. From the car park you can access the beach via a wooden boardwalk. There is also a car park near the viewpoint on the southern cliff, but it is harder to reach Praia da Amoreira from there.
Restaurants
Right on the beach you can find the restaurant of Paraíso do Mar. However, the restaurant receives mixed reviews. On the cliffs on the left side of the beach, you can find another restaurant, Taberna do Gabriel, but this one also receives mixed reviews. Moreover, this restaurant is located on the other side of the river, and is thus easiest to reach from the other side. So while Taberna do Gabriel overlooks Praia da Amoreira, it is not easy to reach the restaurant directly from the beach. If you are willing to drive a bit, it might be worthwhile to drive to Aljezur or Rogil, where you have more choice. For example, Pizza Pasta & Compagnia or Onda Natural Vegetariano are highly rated places.
Hotels
If you wish to stay near Praia da Amoreira, we recommend any of the following hotels:
- Hotel Alcatruz. This hotel offers colourful rooms and a lovely garden. Some of the rooms have a balcony or a terrace. The staff is friendly and especially the breakfast is amazing.
- Casa do Sol. This holiday home offers comfortable rooms and a kitchen to cook your own meals if you want to. There is a garden with barbecue facilities. Good hotel if you are with a group or family.
- Quinta da Bunheira. This home in the countryside is simple, but at the same time it has all you need to enjoy your holiday. The surroundings are calm and quiet. Great place to relax and enjoy your holiday.
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 Amoreira beach. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Facilities
Praia da Amoreira has the most important facilities on-site. You can find toilet facilities in the Paraíso do Mar restaurant on the beach. The beach is also patrolled by lifeguards during the Summer. Moreover, this is a blue flag beach.
Facilities in Praia da Amoreira:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: no
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue flag beach: yes
