Marinha beach

The Algarve is known for being one of the most popular beach settings in all of Europe, and Praia da Marinha helps to make up this paradise of wonderful little beaches.

Being an important beach for Portuguese culture, with advertising commercials and tourist guides highlighting Praia da Marinha as a protagonist among the beaches of the Algarve, it has already been among the 10 most beautiful European beaches and even lists among the 100 best beaches in the world according to the prestigious Michelin Guide! CNN itself has already placed Praia da Marinha among the highlights of the region, and all this only confirms what those who know it know very well: this place is simply wonderful!

Describing Praia da Marinha

It may seem cliché to talk about the cliffs on the beaches of the Algarve, but you really can’t help but notice the beautiful cliffs, half orange, half red, contrasting with the wonderful sea at Praia da Marinha.

But anyone who thinks that the cliffs of Praia da Marinha are just decorative is wrong. In addition to being a great viewpoint for those on the top of the terrain, the cliffs fulfill a very useful function for those who want to enjoy a little beach there: it protects tourists from the wind! Do you know how good this can be for the coldest days?

The geological formation of the Praia da Marinha terrain also favors calm water, in addition to providing good temperatures for bathers. Therefore, it is a wonderful beach to visit with the whole family, without being afraid to let the children play in the sea.

It is also worth highlighting the importance of the tides when visiting Praia da Marinha, since the place has several parts where accessibility depends entirely on the low tide. Otherwise, to access some parts, the tourist has to swim through the submerged section, or climb some stones along the way: two options that are not recommended because they are risky.

Rocha M or Cathedral of Praia da Marinha

One of the parts that is restricted when the tide rises is Rocha M, also known as the Cathedral. This rock is simply a magnificent natural monument, which makes clear all the strength and power of nature. Imperious, it is a gigantic stone about 20 meters high, with two open passages of about 6 meters through which tourists can swim or stand-up. Boat trips also pass through the spans of the M formed by this incredible geological formation.

Praia da Marinha sea

One thing to be aware of is the potential hostility of the sea at Praia da Marinha, something to watch out for with children and people who are not good swimmers. This is because, depending on the tide and how rough the sea is, the stones and rocks that make up the landscape can end up hurting bathers.

Where is Praia da Marinha?

We are talking about a beach located in the Algarve region of Portugal. This beach, specifically, is located on the Atlantic Coast of the country, in Caramujeira. The municipality where Praia da Marinha is located is Lagoa, and it is close to the municipalities of Carvoeiro and Armação de Pera.

To get to Praia da Marinha, tourists can walk to Benagil beach, which is a 30-minute walk away. For those who are driving, the most popular tourist cities in the Algarve are 30 minutes away – in this case, Portimão and Albufeira.

How to get to Praia da Marinha

The Capital of the Algarve, Faro, is the only city in the region that has an airport. Therefore, to get to Praia da Marinha by plane, you would necessarily need to get off at Faro, or leave from another city in the south of Portugal by bus or otherwise by land.

Anyway, being in the Algarve region, you have several options to access Praia da Marinha.

How to get to Praia da Marinha by car

Of course, the easiest way to get to Praia da Marinha is by car, especially considering that you can visit the other beaches in the Algarve region at your leisure. Therefore, we recommend that, if it fits in your budget, you rent a car for the period you are going to travel around the Algarve.

On your own, you can leave Albufeira to go to Praia da Marinha using the N395 and A22. You can also reach Praia da Marinha from Portimão, with just 18 kilometers separating the two locations. The route includes the N125 as the main route.

Leaving Lagos, the tourist needs to travel 43 kilometers, a slightly longer distance than in the previous cases. The road is the M535-1 and then the A22. Another city close to Praia da Marinha that is very easy to reach is Faro, located 60 kilometers away. This is the capital of the Algarve, the city where the airport is located.

How to get to Praia da Marinha by Bus

The bus network in Portugal is super efficient, as in most western European countries. Therefore, just go to a bus station closer to where you are and ask for a ticket to the Lagoa Bus Terminal. Once you get there, you buy another ticket to Praia da Marinha.

How to get to Praia da Marinha by Train

The same about the extension of the bus network, we can say about the rail transport network in Portugal, being super easy to get to Praia da Marinha by train. First, you get off at Estombar-Lagoa station, then take a bus to Albufeira to the bus station.

Bus number 77 ends the route to Praia da Marinha.

How to get to Praia da Marinha on foot

The nearby beaches that can be reached on foot are Benagil and Carvoeiro, which are 30 minutes and 45 minutes from Praia da Marinha. Therefore, if you are staying at one of these two beaches, we strongly recommend that you take a day to walk to Praia da Marinha and explore a completely new landscape.

Best times to visit Praia da Marinha

Of course, every month of the year is great for visiting the Algarve region, which is super receptive to tourists and is full of incredible programs, even when the weather is colder and rainy. However, there is always a better time to visit a beach in Europe.

In the case of Praia da Marinha, the best season is certainly summer, particularly in the months of June or September. That’s because it’s the least hot and least full of summer months. In any case, it is not as crowded as other beaches in the Algarve, and at any time of the year you should be guaranteed peace and quiet.

What to do in Praia da Marinha

As we already said: there is no shortage of good things to do on the beaches of the Algarve region, and it would be no different at Praia da Marinha! Check out the tips and wonderful things that we have separated for you to enjoy in this paradise between cliffs:

Dive in the crystal clear sea of the Algarve

Praia da Marinha is well known for its crystal clear sea and the virtually intact biodiversity of its waters and sands. There are some people who are sometimes renting snorkels and diving equipment, but it is not official and not permanent. Therefore, if you want to guarantee that you will have a snorkeling experience in Praia da Marinha, it is better to be cautious and bring your own equipment.

Admire the incredible view from the cliffs

It’s impossible not to be blown away by such beauty. Praia da Marinha is simply wonderful, and the protagonists of this unique and incredible view are its absurdly large cliffs with dazzling colors. No wonder Praia da Marinha was considered part of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and consequently in the Algarve as a whole. The coolest thing is that all angles of Praia da Marinha are a guarantee of pure beauty, so you can admire the incredible view from the comfort of your beach chair while sunbathing, just as you can do it from the top of one of the cliffs.

Rent a Stand Up or Kayak

Unlike Snorkeling equipment, Stand Up Paddle and Kayak are guaranteed even for unsuspecting tourists who go there without any of this equipment. That’s because there are official and well-established places in Praia da Marinha that offer the rental of these two options of maritime transport – or two options of fun, better said. The possibilities for having fun Stand Up and kayaking are really many, with the possibility of exploring caves and caves, as well as other smaller beaches in the region. Algar de Benagil is one of the 10 coolest caves in the world and we highly recommend you visit it using one of these options.

visit other beaches

Whether by kayak, stand up, on foot or by car, you always have the option of going to other beaches close to Praia da Marinha. Praia da Marinha itself has a secret beach in the left corner of the place. We are talking about Praia do Buraco, which is accessible only through a tunnel formed by two cliffs. In addition, you can visit Praia do Pau, Praia de Albandeira, Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, and other nearby beaches in the Algarve.

Jump off the cliffs

One of the most incredible diversions at Praia da Marinha is jumping from the top of some smaller cliffs straight into the water. This, however, requires some intimacy with jumping from high places, and must always be done safely in known places, as there are no rocks nearby, and with known people nearby so that no unforeseen events happen.

make trails

What’s not lacking in the region of Praia da Marinha are great trail options for you to have fun alone, in a group, as a couple or even with the family. Several different difficulties and skins can be found on local trails. The seaside walks are the easiest and most peaceful to go with the family, and it is possible to walk the stretch between Praia da Marinaha and Praia do Vale dos Centeanes on foot without too many problems. We’re talking about 2 hours to walk a distance of 5.7km. In two legs, of course, one to go and one to come back.

Trail of the 7 hanging valleys

This trail is not exactly at Praia da Marinha… in fact, it’s a trail that goes through it, but also through several other beaches. In 2019, it was chosen as the best hike to do in Europe! It is precisely this trail that we mentioned above, which runs between Praia da Marinha and Vale Centianes.

All the signage and infrastructure of the trail is very show, with everything very well signposted and full of information panels for tourists. It is also a wonderful place to watch birds and other smaller wild animals.

Admire the unique rock formations

The cliffs of Praia da Marinha are not the only incredible thing that tourists can admire, as the rocks that emerge from the water are also wonderful! One of them is even known as the

Curiosities that make Praia da Marinha amazing

We separate some curiosities about Praia da Marinha that make this place one of the most incredible of the entire European continent:

• Praia da Marinha is part of the Trail of the 7 hanging valleys, chosen by the public as the best hike in Europe
• The Michelin Guide included Praia da Marinha among the 10 most beautiful on the continent
• Praia da Marinha has a rock formation that emerges from the sea in an M shape, known as the “M” of Marinha
• In conjunction with this rock formation of the “M”, from a certain angle, the cliff in front forms a heart and many tourists take pictures of this scenario
• At the end of the 90s, it received from the Portuguese government, more specifically from the Ministry of the Environment, the title of Praia Dourada, due to its great biodiversity
• A nearby village full of history and tourist attractions is Carvoeiro
• In Carvoeiro, the Hotel Tivoli Carvoeiro is one of the best and largest accommodation options in the region, with 30 years and almost 250 rooms almost always full of tourists from all over the world
• Hotels and Resorts in Praia da Marinha
• As it is a highly protected place and away from civilization, there are practically no accommodation options in Praia da Marinha itself. For this reason, we have brought suggestions for nearby places to stay.

navy site

Being one of the only accommodation options in Praia da Marinha, we couldn’t expect less from this place than a wonderful oasis of comfort and infrastructure amidst the wild nature of the cliffs and the biodiversity of Praia da Marinha.
We are talking about an inn with only 5 rooms available, that is, a place where exclusivity is guaranteed. With private bathrooms in each room, full kitchens and free internet service, the inn also offers snorkel, canoe and horseback rental services.

Rocha Brava Village Resort

Located on Praia de Carvoeiro, this resort is simply breathtaking. Despite having the resort in the name, it provides a more intimate environment, with personalized service and comfortable and very cozy apartments.

The cozy atmosphere is not restricted to the rooms, with swimming pools, wifi in the leisure areas, a bar inside the pool, live music every night and great options for meals in the restaurants.

For those looking for complete peace of mind with everything included and a resort with safety and comfort for the whole family, Rocha Brava Village Resort is all the best!

Tivoli Carvoeiro

It has been in existence for 30 years and has 248 rooms for tourists from all over the world to enjoy the best service and tradition of the Tivoli brand. The hotel is wonderful for those who want to get to know Praia da Marinha while staying in Carvoeiro, the nearest town.
It offers a rooftop bar called the Sky Bar. The One restaurant is another gastronomic attraction of the place, with options for fresh fish, seafood and the best cuisine from the Algarve and Portugal. Breakfast, needless to say, is ma-ra-vi-lho.

Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Review

Map

Weather Forecast

Tags

Share this page