Praia da Cordoama – the #1 guide
Praia da Cordoama is a beautiful beach on the west coast of the Algarve. It is a big beach and is surrounded by several impressive cliffs. The beach is part of the Costa Vicentina natural park and the landscape around the beach is absolutely stunning. Because of the big waves on the beach, Praia da Cordoama is a great place for surfing. If you like remote, rough and wild beaches, you have come to the right place. Discover why this beach is well worth visiting.
Watch it in HD
Check out Cordoama beach and its surroundings in the short video below.
The beach
Praia da Cordoama is a very long beach, stretching for well over a kilometre. In fact, it is one of the longest beaches on the west coast of the Algarve. When standing on the beach, it stretches for as far as you can see. This makes the beach great for a long beach walk.
Praia da Cordoama is backed by large black cliffs. The surroundings make this a wonderful, unspoiled beach. When you arrive in the morning, you sometimes see a white misty, foggy atmosphere. This gives the beach a magical sensation.
The sand on this beach has quite some pebbles, so watch out when walking. There are also many rocks in the water, so be extra careful in there. In general, the water here is very cold. It is best to wear a wetsuit when going in the water.
The waves can also be very rough on this beach. This is more a beach for surfing than for swimming.
Usually, there are not a lot of people on this beach. This is because of its remote location. Because of the size of Praia da Cordoama, it is always easy to find a spot on this beach. There is always more than enough space. Most of the people visiting this beach are surfers, who come here for the awesome waves.
Praia da Cordoama is bordered by Praia do Castelejo in the south. The border between these two beaches is a series of rock formations that includes one unique rock that is known as Pedra da Laje.
In the north, Cordoama beach is bordered by Praia da Barriga. During low tide, you can actually walk to both of these beaches. This way the already big strip of sand is extended even further. On the other hand, Praia da Cordoama becomes quite narrow during high tide.
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Miradouro do Castelejo viewpoint
There is actually a viewpoint behind the beach called Miradouro do Castelejo. From there you have a breathtaking view over the beach and the sea. You can reach it by car. It is highly recommended to admire the view from here.
Surfing
Praia da Cordoama is a popular spot for surfing. This is because of the consistent waves, which have quite some power. Depending on the swell, the beach break ranges from beginner friendly to only for professional surfers. However, watch out for the rocks underwater. They can be found across big parts of the beach. Also beware that the current can be quite strong here. It is best to go with a local surf school, who knows the beach and can tell you where to avoid the underwater rocks. There is actually a surf school right on the beach, called Freeride Surf School. Here you can also rent surf equipment if you need to. When it comes to surfing, this beach is usually a bit more quiet than the nearby Praia do Amado.
Paragliding
Cordoama Beach is a famous spot for paragliding. This is because the conditions here are very good for it. For example, some of the cliffs here are over 100 metres in height. Sometimes you can see people paragliding from the top of the cliffs all the way down to the beach.
If you would like to see how it is to paraglide here, check out the video below.
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. The beach is easy to reach by car. When coming from Lagos, drive on the N125 towards Vila do Bispo. Then continue on the M1265 and follow the signs towards the beach. The journey through the hills to get to Praia da Cordoama is actually an experience in itself. It is well worth the drive. There is a small parking area behind the beach, but it fills up quite quickly. If you really want to park there, make sure to come early. Otherwise, you can park your car on the side of the road and walk towards the beach.
Beach bar/restaurant
There is a beach bar right on the beach. It is called Bar da Praia. Here you can get some food, snacks and refreshments. They mainly serve Portuguese food and fresh fish. It is the only restaurant near the beach.
Hotels
If you wish to stay near Praia da Cordoama, we recommend any of the following hotels:
- Abrigo das Nortadas. This country house offers cheap but comfortable accommodation. If you are travelling on a budget, this place is highly recommended. Great buffet breakfast included.
- Pure Flor de Esteva – Bed & Breakfast. This highly rated bed and breakfast offers nice room with a garden view. There is a shared kitchen, so you can cook your own meals if you want to. Nice terrace outside as well.
- Good Feeling. This hostel is sure to live up to its name and will make you feel good. From hammocks in the garden to video games inside: this place will make sure you have a good time in the Algarve.
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 Cordoama beach. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Facilities
On Praia da Cordoama you can only find the most basic facilities. There are lifeguards overlooking the beach during summer. You can find a restaurant on the beach to get refreshments. This is a Blue Flag beach.
Facilities in Praia da Cordoama:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: no
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: no
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes
