Salema: The closest beach to Villa Santa Maria
Salema is one of the last remaining fishing villages in the Western Algarve. It has a lively yet inviting family beach. Salema is about a mile away (5 minutes drive or 20 minutes walk) and there's plenty of free parking available. You can hire sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach and has all of the usual water sports available such as windsurfing, snorkelling & scuba diving. There’s also plenty of good restaurants and cafes on offer. Salema is the perfect compliment to what Villa Santa Maria has to offer.
Boca do Rio
In contrast to Salema, this beach is quiet and tucked away with no cafes or shops. To find it, turn off the EN125 at Budens. It's also signposted on the back road between Praia da Luz, Bureaux and Salema. It's popular with scuba divers & snorkers who explore the remains of a French man-of-war lying on the bed 300m offshore. You can walk there from the villa in about 35 minues or drive there in about 5 minutes. Parking is free.
Zavial & Ingrina:
Zavial is a surfers paradise and Ingrina is a cove much used by scuba divers & snorkelers. To get there turn left off the EN125 at Raposeira, before Vila do Bispo. The road forks left to Zavial and right to Ingrina.
Dona Ana:
The most popular village in Lagos accessed by steeps steps near the Golfinho hotel. It is backed and flanked north and south by cliffs, and because it faces east the sand is nicely sheltered from westerly winds.
Praia da Batata:
The beach is named 'potato beach' after it's potato like rocks on the beach and off shore. The closest beach to Lagos town centre by the little fort at the entrance to the harbour. A few steps lead down to the sand.
Praia da Rocha:
A beautiful mile-long stretch of sand and clear water backed bysandstone cliffs and striking rock formations. Praia da Rocha is a great spot for sunbathing, swimming and offers plenty of well-organised watersport action. There are also several bars and resturants.
Tonel & Martinhal:
These beaches is on the other side of the Sagres headland from Mareta so exposed to westerly wind and Atlantic breakers making them ideal for surfing and windsurfing. Martinhal is signposted on the left shortly before entering Sagres.
Beliche:
It's somewhat secluded as you have to climb down a cliff path to get to this beach at the base of the tall cliffs about three quarters of the way along the 6km road from Sagres to the Cape St. Vincent lighthouse. Parking is on the cliff top.