Praia da Marinha

Praia da Marinha is one of the most beautiful and emblematic beaches of the Algarve coast, as well as one of the 5 Portugal’s most beautiful beaches and one of the world’s 10 best beaches.

Thanks to its beauty, it soon became the perfect location for photo shoots and reportages. This small beach is boarded by cliffs eroded by the passing of the years, giving birth to a variety of rocky formations such as arches, caves, or natural springs. The most impressive one is 50 meters high, while all the smaller ones seem to be dancing around it. The contrast between the blue crystal colours of the sea and the golden shades of the rocks is just so beautiful.

The rocky walls of Praia da Marinha are home to the sea diversity of the area including anemones, sea urchins, sea stars, shrimps, sea weeds, octopuses, and cuttlefishes. This corner of untouched and well preserved nature is very popular among scuba divers, because here it is possible to dive and observe the natural underwater beauty of the Algarve.

The beach

Once you have reached the beach, head towards the furthest cave. Usually the third one is less crowded, but sometimes you need to cross the water in order to reach it. Pay attention to high tides. The first cave is the only featuring a bar and various services.

Usually there are very long lines to purchase drinks – which are usually very expensive. We recommend to purchase food and drink before arriving and have a picnic on the beach.

If possible, avoid visiting Praia da Marinha on August, due to the elevate number of tourists around. This beach is famous both nationally and internationally, and for this reason it gets crowded at any time of the day. It is better to reach it early in the morning and avoid Saturdays and Sundays.

To avoid the crowd we recommend to go on a boat tour. Before reaching the beach you will find a kiosk selling boat tours to fully enjoy the beauty of all cliffs and bays in the area. Also in this case, we recommend to avoid traveling in August.

High tides

Take advantage of the low tide to visit the beach and easily explore the coves around it. If you prefer visiting the area by boat, choose a high tide day.

Useful tips

To make the most out of a day at Praia da Marinha remember to bring a pair of non-slip shoes as well as an underwater camera, water, drinks, sun ombrella, and some food to spend most of the day at the beach.

Considering that the beach is pretty isolated and that there are few available services, don’t forget to bring swimming googles, a beach towel, and sea sick pills if you planning to go on a boat tour.

Getting to Praia da Marinha

The beach is located halfway between Portimao and Albufeira, and it can be easily reached by rented car. There are some clear directions on how to reach the large parking area.

It is also possible to purchase a full package including transport, guide, and lunch at a very competitive price at one of the many kiosks around the city, at the port, or tourist offices.

Once you have parked your car – and before going down the steps – we recommend to walk along the upper side of the cliff. Here there is a path from where you can admire the beautiful cliffs and enjoy a breathtaking view over the landscape, especially on clear days.

The 100 steps stair that takes down to Praia da Marinha is easy yet dangerous at the same time. We recommend to use a proper pair of trekking shoes.