If you read us from time to time, you probably already know that neither Benoit nor I are big fans of beaches. But then again, you have to admit that some beaches, like Praia de Falesia, do make us pretty tempted to check them out. Plus, for those who are allergic to sunbeds like us, this beach is actually quite ideal because you can even take a really beautiful hike there. 😉
Anyhow, in this article, we’re not really going to give you feedback on how to get the best tan or go for a swim (to be honest, we didn’t even bring our swimsuits haha), but rather give you a little overview of the beautiful panoramas in the area. And who knows, maybe it’ll make you want to come explore the area.
Praia de Falesia – Between Vilamoura and Albufeira
It’s funny because when we were preparing for our road trip to Algarve, many people told us, “Ugh… you won’t like the south,” or “It’s way too touristy.” Admittedly, that initially gave us a few concerns… And well, when you read articles like the one from The Telegraph ranking Albufeira as one of the ugliest seaside resorts in Europe, that doesn’t exactly help. 😉 In reality, this former fishing village has taken quite a hit from the tourism boom and, over the years, has somewhat, despite itself, become a go-to destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties for the British… Along with that come bars serving drinks in buckets and an unimaginable number of nightclubs.
Vilamoura has a completely different vibe (still not quite ours). Here, it’s more of a Saint-Tropez kind of atmosphere, with a large marina and luxury sailboats. The small town is surrounded by 5-star resorts and what seemed to be one of the largest concentrations of golf courses I’ve ever seen.
P.S.: I did some research afterward, and in Vilamoura itself, there are even 6 courses with 18/27 holes (which is pretty crazy for a small town of 20,000 residents!). And if you include the surrounding areas (through which we passed to get there), there are 12 golf courses in Vilamoura and within a 20-minute drive. No wonder we found this southern Portugal region surprisingly “green.”
Basically, at first, we were definitely planning to cross this area of the Algarve off our itinerary. But in the end, the photos of Praia de Falesia and our desire to take a little “coastal” walk led us here. And honestly, we don’t regret it at all!
Starting from Praia dos Tomates
In short, let’s get back to our main topic, or rather, our walk! To explore Praia de Falesia, we parked at Praia dos Tomates (Tomatoes Beach, as you correctly understood). So, no tomatoes in sight, but a huge parking lot (free in September) and, above all, an ideal starting point for a walk along the cliffs.
Let’s put everyone at ease right away—while the cliffs are indeed “impressive” when viewed from the beach, it’s not really that difficult to climb up them. A well-maintained path starts from the beach restaurant and easily takes us up 20 meters.
Once on the cliffs, you’ll see there aren’t many options. A lovely path runs along the beach, offering numerous stunning views of the Algarve coast.
The cliffs of Praia da Falésia are primarily composed of sands, clays, and ferruginous sandstone from the Tertiary period (about 5 to 10 million years ago). And if you’re wondering about the distinctive color in this area: the explanation comes from the iron naturally present in the sand here, which oxidizes when in contact with air and water.
But you have to be careful because the rock is fragile, so the cliffs erode quickly. Informational signs remind us several times not to get too close to the edge. Umbrella pines and plants suited to sandy soil grow at the top, but the trails near the edge are monitored because collapses can occur after heavy rains. In fact, it is strictly forbidden to drive vehicles on the paths at the top of the cliffs.
We hiked up to the Alfamar beach bar (with a little Pastei de nata as a mandatory hike snack). At this spot, we also noticed that quite a few buildings seemed abandoned in this area… we’re not entirely sure what happened, but it’s quite strange to see such structures left empty just two steps from the beach (and in such a touristy spot). After some research, it turns out they are former 4-star hotels that closed during COVID and, due to a lack of serious buyers or administrative delays, never reopened.
Useful information – Praia de Falesia
To do this walk, we really recommend starting on the East side. Actually, I mainly say this for parking reasons. If you’re staying in Albufeira or Vilamoura, of course, you can do everything on foot (which will add a few kilometers depending on where your hotel is), but if, like us, you’re coming by car, we advise against venturing into these two touristy towns. Parking can be really difficult there.
Following Google Maps blindly, we actually ended up on a Vilamoura parking lot that was completely packed, and our van didn’t stand a chance (and Dahu isn’t exactly small). Anyway, don’t make the same mistake as us—go directly to Praia dos Tomates. There, a huge parking lot is available! For vans and campervans, it’s even possible to stay overnight. I read online that the parking cost €2.50 per day and €5 for 24 hours during peak season, but by the end of September, everything was free. Access to the parking is through a wide dirt/sand track, which is very easy to navigate for all types of cars and vans.
When to visit Praia de Falesia ?
I include this point simply because before coming, we had some major doubts… After reading a few reviews online, we were a bit worried that the place would be absolutely crowded! Yes, the beach is very long, but it’s literally “wedged” between two of the most touristy destinations in the Algarve: Albufeira and Vilamoura.
Admittedly, the weather wasn’t “perfect” during our visit, but as you can see in the photos, we weren’t too bothered by the crowds in late September. 😉 Moreover, given the number of parking spots and some pictures we’ve seen online, it seems that in July or August, you might have to elbow your way in to lay your towel down (which seems crazy to say when you see how empty it was at the end of September).
Getting a drink or eat something on the was
So here too, it will depend on the season. When we visited, the bar/restaurant at Praia dos Tomates seemed closed, but the small beach bar at Alfamar (midway) was open.
Otherwise, there are more bar options at the “Praia da Rocha Baixinha” beach, which is about 500 meters further east towards Vilamoura.
Hiking map Praia de Falesia
The walk described above is a round trip along the cliffs (the upper part). Of course, it’s possible to go out along the cliffs and return via the beach (if you don’t have a dog—because yes, dogs are forbidden on most beaches in Portugal, including this one. 😉 ).
But keep in mind that walking on sand will be much more tiring than on the trail up high.
- Starting point : Praia dos Tomates
- Distance : 5.6 km (return trip)
- Hiking time : About 1h30 if you take it easy
- Difficulty : Very easy, with several opportunities to stop for a drink or go down to the beach along the way.
That’s all for today. We hope you enjoyed this article, and to see our full road trip itinerary in the Algarve as well as our other related articles about the destination, click here.
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