Here are three “insider tips” for exploring the west coast of the Algarve.
- Don’t try to fit too much in
You cannot “do the west coast” in a day, so if you only have limited time it’s best to choose just one or two beaches to fully explore. While beaches may look close together on a map, accessing them often involves long drives down dirt tracks, and you won’t be able to relax and enjoy their wild beauty if you’re in a hurry to rush off to the next one.
- Take provisions
Part of the appeal of the Algarve’s west coast is that it remains undeveloped and natural, but the flipside to this is that you can find yourself on vast beaches with no facilities whatsoever!
Outside of the main summer season, it’s not unusual to drive miles to a beach, only to find that the one snack bar is closed, even on warm and sunny days. The solution is to make sure you have plenty of food and drink!
- Prepare for isolation!
As we just mentioned, these stunning west coast beaches can be far off the beaten track with no facilities. This is really the whole idea of visiting them, but unless you want to have to rush away too soon, you should plan some toilet stops en route and not expect public conveniences on arrival!
If you’ve never visited the West coast before, a few great beaches to key into your sat-nav include Praia do Castelejo, Bordeira and Odeceixe. At the latter, you will find a safe river beach for children too.
