Rocha beach

Why is Praia da Rocha so special?

The first thing you should know about Rocha beach is that all Portuguese people have a past story there. Or because they spent their childhood in the Algarve with their parents and Praia da Rocha was the daily destination for sunbathing, swimming and playing. Or because they made their first trips with friends to Portimão and Rocha beach served as the stage for the first romances of their lives. Or because they simply like to spend a few days in the summer at a familiar and comfortable beach where the fun never ends.

The Algarve and Portimão

Rocha beach is the largest beach in the city of Portimão, the largest city in the Western Algarve. Barlavento designates the western area of the Algarve region and includes municipalities such as Portimão, Lagoa, Lagos and Aljezur. The eastern part of the region is called Sotavento, where cities like Faro, Loulé, Vila Real de Santo António or Tavira can be found. Normally people from the land use these terms to refer to the area of the Algarve to which they belong. Barlavento has always been more touristic and appealing to the masses, but nowadays Sotavento fights for the podium of the most interesting places to visit or vacation.

With a privileged location in southern Europe, which serves as a connection point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Portimão is a place with an excellent climate and a lot of natural beauty. It is a city with around 55,000 inhabitants, placing it on the list of the largest and most populated cities in the entire region. Despite its size, it is a city that manages to maintain a serene pace, except perhaps for the peak of summer when there is a large influx of foreign tourists and visitors from other parts of the country. Overall, it’s a quiet and peaceful city.

Description of Praia da Rocha

When talking about Praia da Rocha, one of the first features that stands out is its extensive beach. The locals swear up and down that the sea stole space from the sand and that a few decades ago the beach was even bigger but the truth is that anyone visiting it for the first time will be amazed by the golden paradise of this beach that extends for more of 1 km.

Praia da Rocha, as the name implies, is protected by large rocks and cliffs in warm tones, sculpted by time, salt and sun. It has a long wooden walkway that runs along the beach next to the cliffs and beach restaurants.

On this walkway we see people taking their daily walks, young people riding bicycles or skateboarding and many people simply strolling. If you walk along the walkway at one end of the beach and continue to the area of Farol da Praia da Rocha, where you will find the sea on one side and the River Arade on the other, you will achieve an excellent goal of cardiovascular exercise for your day.

To the east you will find a sports area where major international competitions in footvolley and beach soccer take place every year. The walkway ends at the small Praia da Marina, a small stretch of sand next to the mouth of the River Arade and the Marina of Portimão. Travelers with reduced mobility will find excellent conditions to move around the beach, but the accessibility of Praia da Marina is especially good. In addition to these favorable infrastructures, in this area it is also possible to find restaurants, bars, ice cream parlors and water sports centres.

Along the walkway you will see that, on the same beach, the atmosphere can change. Next to Praia dos 3 Irmãos you will find more young people and tourists; next to the Marina, the turnout is lower and you will find more families. The important thing to remember is that there is room for everyone, taking into account the large extension of the area. Don’t forget to alternate the moments of your walk with a dip in the sea to cool off, as the Algarve sun can be intense.

Infrastructure, conditions and water quality

Rocha beach has clean and crystalline waters. The water quality is excellent, a fact confirmed by its Blue Flag. The Blue Flag is the European symbol of compliance with criteria such as environmental information and education, water quality, environmental management and available and present equipment, as well as safety and services. Here, during the bathing season, there are resources such as a lifeguard, a first-aid post, beach support, bathrooms, showers, a Nautical Centre.

The beaches of Portimão have flown the Blue Flag since 1987, giving great security to all those who spend their holidays in this location.

The surrounding area of Praia da Rocha

When we talk about Rocha beach, we don’t always talk about the beach itself, but what happens on top of the cliffs, more specifically Avenida Tomás Cabreira, which runs along the sea front. The locals simply call it «Rocha» and all the bohemian life takes place there. Hotels, bars, terraces with snacks or live music, clubs and a casino inside a 5-star hotel make this area very popular with everyone looking for entertainment and fun.

At the top of Rocha beach, there are two must-see viewpoints:

– The Três Castelos Viewpoint to the west, on top of the beach bordering Rocha, which offers an unforgettable panoramic view and which will allow you to see the enormous size of Praia da Rocha;
– The viewpoint of Forte de Catarina, or simply «Fortaleza» as the locals call it, where you will have a privileged view over the Marina and the coastline between Ponta João d’Arens and Ponta do Altar. This fort was built in 1621 and aimed to defend the territory of Portimão and the estuary of the River Arade from pirates and the Moors.

At both viewpoints, be dazzled by the white sand, the water in different shades of blue and the imposing rocks, in a landscape that you will keep with you forever.

Best time to visit

The Algarve in general has a long high season. Officially, summer starts on June 21st and ends on September 22nd. However, the weather starts to warm up in the middle of spring and only really cools down from November onwards. This way, if you’re lucky with the weather, you can enjoy the beach, with everything you’re entitled to (bathing in the sea, sun and heat) from March until the end of October.

Don’t forget that the bathing season officially only starts in June, so beach services and the presence of lifeguards only exist in that season.

Hotels right by the beach

There is no shortage of accommodation solutions in Praia da Rocha. From modest studios to apartments with pool and concierge, to hotels of all classifications, including luxury, you will always be well served. Here are some suggestions for you:

Bela Vista Hotel

This is the most luxurious hotel on this short list. Built at the end of the 19th century and recently renovated with decoration by the famous Graça and Gracinha Viterbo, this 5-star hotel frequently appears on lists of the most beautiful hotels in Europe. Decorated This hotel’s eclectic and intimate charm sets it apart from the competition.

Hotel Jupiter

It is a 4 star hotel with sea view. It has a large, slightly heated swimming pool and offers excellent conditions to its guests: musical entertainment by the pool, SPA with sauna and massages, as well as delicious meals in its restaurant. Excellent price-quality ratio.

oriental hotel

This 4-star hotel overlooks the beach and its huge swimming pool is highly appreciated by the people who visit it. With an architecture and decoration inspired by the Arab style, it is a hotel that stands out for its elegance and exoticism. It has direct access to the beach.

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