Most people come to this bit of coast for the arch: the freestanding limestone bow of Albandeira, a short walk along the clifftop and a spot we list on its own. The beach below is what they discover afterwards: a pair of small coves in the golden rock near Porches, joined along the sand at low tide and reached by a stairway down from the cliff.
It’s a modest, likeable place rather than a headline one. The water in the coves runs glassy-clear over rock and sand (some of the better casual snorkelling on this stretch), and the enclosing cliffs keep it sheltered when the coast is breezy. It’s also small, and small means finite: on August afternoons the sand simply runs out, and a rising tide can pinch the two coves apart again.
When to go: low tide, when the coves connect and the rock platforms open up; mornings and shoulder season for space. If the arch is your reason for coming, shoot it from the clifftop and then come down here to swim; the two make a natural pairing.
Who it’s for: snorkellers and swimmers who like enclosed, clear water; photographers ticking off the arch who’d rather not share Benagil’s queues; couples happy with a small beach that does one or two things well.
About This Spot
-
General AreaNear Porches, Lagoa
-
Coverage BadgeArchive
-
Difficulty2 Moderate
Getting There & Access
-
Getting ThereSigned down lanes from Porches, off the EN125.
-
Access TermsFree Public
-
ParkingInformal parking above the cove.
Visitor photos
Location
Log in free to see the exact pin and directions.
Leave a Reply
Been here? Add your shots.
Photos you add appear on this page with your name on them, next to the community gallery. Tell the next photographer what you found: the light, the crowds, whether it was worth the trip.
A free account also unlocks the exact pin, how to get there and the best time of day, on every spot.