In Alvor, Algarve you really are spoiled for beaches. There are different styles of beaches depending on what you want. On one hand you have the beautiful and interesting coves of the Três Irmãos. All the way down to the more settled recreational area of the Ria Alvor Estuary. With these different beaches come a whole variety of activities you can undertake, whether it being sunbathing, exploring, watching wildlife or adrenaline stimulating water-sports.
Here are the beaches of Alvor and the things you can find to do on them…
1. Praia dos Três Irmãos
Starting firstly at the most easterly point nestled in the wonderful red rocks of the Algarve cliffs is the Beach ‘Praia dos Três Irmãos'. This literally means beach of the three brothers.
This beach is famous for its stunning rock formations and the many hidden caves that can be explored. These beaches are very popular with photographers, influencers and people just wanting some amazing photos for Instagram. Keep an eye on the high and low tides as this affects how many of the caves you can reach. The beaches here are sheltered and perfect for sunbathing. The beach bar and restaurant Caniço is impressively built into the cliff walls. If you climb the cliffs above Caniço you can see a gorgeous sunset over Alvor Bay.
2. Praia da Torralta
This beach is vast and reaches from the cove at Praia dos Três Irmãos to the Dunas Restaurant. There is over 1.5km of safe beach with crystal-clear water, fine golden sand that flies the Blue Flag every year. The beach is very accessible and in the high season there are plenty of lifeguards on duty. The tide strength varies but suitable for body boarding or beginner surfing. If this isn't your bag, during the high season there is a water activity centre where you can hire pedalos, jet skis or head out on a banana boat for some fun with friends. There are plenty of sun loungers for hire along the stretch of beach and plenty of fantastic restaurants offering freshly caught fish.
3. Praia de Alvor
Next along is the section considered Praia de Alvor, stretching from Restaurante Restinga to the lighthouse at the point Foz Da Ribeira De Odiaxere. The large car park set back off the beach gives you great access to the boardwalk and then you can choose where to set up. As you move further away from the car park and restaurants the beach gets less populated and peaceful. This is another expansive, sandy stretch backed by sand dunes and the fantastic wooden boardwalk that has made this area more accessible and a real feature of Alvor.
4. Ria de Alvor
Many might not consider this area as a beach of such but it's a great place to set up for the day as long as you consider the tide. Being a vast estuary the tide can really change however it's fantastic for kayaking or paddle boarding around the still waters and fishing boats. This area is full of dune pathways, salt marshes and wetlands, with migratory birds visiting the area. Perfect for lovers of nature, also from here you can see the busy hub of activity that is the fishermans village. This area is also a hotspot for kite-surfing and you can wander along to the far end to watch the kite surfers in the estuary. If you aren't feeling the need for the beach the paths and boardwalks here make the perfect location for a walk, jog or bike ride.
Whatever sort of beach you fancy, the beaches of Alvor cater for all your beach day needs!
Até breve!
