Beaches in Armação de Pêra – Algarve – Portugal

Many Algarve beaches are now classified as ‘Accessible Beaches’ meaning that not only do they provide ramps, footpaths and walkways directly to the sand but also meet certain criteria for restaurant tables, bar and counter heights. They also have first aid posts and disabled toilets and should be equipped with wheelchairs, walking aids and other equipment capable of being used in the sea as well as on the beach. We include which beaches have been awarded the ‘Accessible Beach’ flag, although depending on individual abilities you may just want to know that you can park nearby or that there are no steps involved.

We also indicate which beaches have lifeguards during the season (normally April to the end of September) and as a reminder for you: a green flag – swimming permitted; yellow flag – swimming forbidden; red flag – swimming and entering the water forbidden; blue and white chequered flag – beach temporarily unattended.

Praia da Armação de Pêra

Praia da Armação de Pêra is a very long sandy beach with hotels and apartments all along the road behind. The eastern end of the beach seems to go on for miles, but intriguing rocks and caves stop the western end at Nossa Senhora da Rocha. Praia da Armação de Pêra has lots of access points along its length and various cafés and restaurants on and above the beach.

There is a ramp down to the beach, suitable for wheelchairs, by the café just to the left (east) of the Holiday Inn Algarve (formerly “Hotel Garbe”) although there is very little in the way of boarded walkways once you are on the beach. There are sunbeds for hire at several points along the beach and also pedaloes to rent as well as various other water sports to try your hand at.

To the left hand end of the promenade is the whitewashed remains of a 17th century fort, containing a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony. The fort was built at the instigation of a local wealthy boat owner to protect the town from pirates. Further to the left are the fishermen’s huts and all the wonderfully bright coloured fishing boats and usually some of the fishermen going about their daily tasks – repairing their nets and looking after their boats, ready for the next trip.

At this end of the beach are a couple more beach restaurants, serving, of course, locally caught fish- it couldn’t be fresher.

Praia da Armação de Pêra is supervised during the ‘beach season’ and is classed as an ‘Accessible Beach’.

Praia Grande

Praia Grande is the next part of the long sandy stretch that runs from Armação de Pêra all the way to Albufeira with the beaches of Salgados and Galé in between. There is plenty of room for everyone – even in the middle of summer!

Praia Grande can be reached by road from the village of Pêra or by simply strolling along the sands! It is backed by quite a wide area of sand dunes and very little else! An area of it is supervised during the ‘beach season’ and there are sunbeds to hire as well as somewhere for refreshments.