Orange cliffs
Carved limestone.
erikccooper from Chicago, United Stats — CC BY 2.0 · erikccooper from Chicago, United Stats — CC BY 2.0 · Emmanuel Eragne from Athens, Greece — CC BY 2.0 · erikccooper from Chicago, United Stats — CC BY 2.0 · MartinD — CC BY-SA 4.0
Marinha Beach is one of Portugal's most famous beaches, on the Atlantic coast near the hamlet of Caramujeira in the Lagoa municipality of the Algarve, about 44 km west of Faro in a straight line. Its Portuguese name, Praia da Marinha, means Navy Beach. The Michelin Guide has named it one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Europe, and in 1998 the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment gave it the Golden Beach award for its natural qualities. In 2018 CNN picked it as one of the 20 most beautiful cliff beaches in the world, and its pictures have long appeared in guidebooks and advertising around the world. The beach itself is small and sandy, framed by orange limestone cliffs that the sea has carved into arches and rock stacks standing in the water. The water is clear and turquoise and is known for its quality. Paths run along the clifftops above, looking down over coves and rocks. Visitors reach the sand by a path that drops steeply from the car park at the top of the cliff, so comfortable shoes help. Many swim and explore the rocks in summer, while others walk the clifftop path to see the arches from above.
Carved limestone.
Standing in the sea.
Views from above.
Caramujeira, Lagoa municipality, Algarve, Portugal
The path is steep; wear comfortable shoes.
Late spring to autumn.
