West of Albufeira, past São Rafael, the coast breaks into sculpted ochre rock, and Ponta Grande is one of the small coves in that run: pockets of sand between carved headlands, stacks and windows in the stone. It shares the geology that makes this stretch photogenic, with a fraction of the foot traffic of the named beaches on either side.
The cliffs here are soft and actively crumbling. Keep clear of overhangs, and know that there’s no supervision at the quieter accesses. Low tide opens up more sand and lets you move between formations that high water closes off.
Who it’s for: photographers working the São Rafael to Sesmarias rock gardens who want a quieter cove; swimmers happy to trade facilities for space.
About This Spot
-
General AreaNear Sesmarias, Albufeira
-
Coverage BadgeArchive
-
Difficulty2 Moderate
Getting There & Access
-
Access TermsFree Public
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.