Praia do Camilo
Cliff beach
Praia do Camilo is a small double cove reached by a long wooden staircase of nearly 200 steps that descends the cliff face south of Lagos. The beach sits directly between Dona Ana and Ponta da Piedade, and the views from the top of the steps are among the most striking on the entire Algarve coast. Below, two pockets of sand are connected by a short tunnel cut through the rock, and at low tide a third section of sand is revealed beyond the second cove.
The upper cove is the larger of the two, perhaps fifty metres across, and is the main bathing area. The sand is fine and golden, the water a vivid turquoise that deepens to blue-green further out. The cliffs rise steeply on all sides, creating an enclosed, almost amphitheatre-like setting that traps heat and blocks the wind. In the morning the eastern cliff casts shade across much of the beach, and full sun does not reach the sand until late morning. By afternoon the cove is fully sunlit and can become very warm, the cliffs reflecting heat back onto the narrow strip of sand.
The tunnel to the lower cove is a rough-hewn passage through the limestone, just high enough to walk through upright. Beyond it, the second cove is smaller and more intimate, with rock pools at its margins and a view out through a natural arch to the open sea. Snorkelling here is excellent, with clear water and a rocky seabed that supports a variety of small fish and invertebrates. Octopus are occasionally seen in the crevices, and the underwater rock formations are as dramatic as those above the surface, with boulders, overhangs and narrow channels to explore.
Camilo has a small restaurant at the top of the cliff, O Camilo, which has been operating for decades and is known for its grilled fish, its house wine and its terrace views over the cove and the ocean beyond. The beach has lifeguard cover in summer but no other facilities on the sand itself. The staircase is steep and can be tiring on the return climb, particularly in the afternoon heat, and visitors with mobility issues should be aware that there is no alternative access. There is a small car park at the top, but it fills quickly and most visitors park along the road or walk from Lagos.
The beach's modest size means it reaches capacity quickly in July and August, and by mid-morning there may be little space on the sand. Early mornings and the shoulder months of May, June and September are far more pleasant for a visit. The coastal path from Camilo south to Ponta da Piedade takes about fifteen minutes and passes some of the most spectacular cliff scenery in the Algarve, with sea stacks, blowholes and grottos visible from above. The path is well trodden but unfenced in places, and the drops are severe, so care is needed near the edges. In the early morning, before the day trippers arrive, the light in the upper cove has a particular soft quality, the turquoise water catching the first sun while the cliffs remain in shadow.