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Praia dos Arrifes Beach Algarve Portugal – Photos – Info – Video

Last updated on August 24, 2017 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Famous for its 3 large rock formations, Praia Dos Arrifes Beach in Algarve Portugal is a stunning little cove to explore. Discover it in Photos and Video.

Information to plan your visit at the end of the article

Praia Dos Arrifes beach algarve Portugal beach

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Praia dos Arrifes Beach Algarve

The cliffs at Praia Dos Arrifes are quite low so access to the beach and its restaurant is easy. I visited late afternoon as the sun was lowering. There would not be enough interesting light at sunset, but at the hour, some of the rocks were turing golden.

Praia Dos Arrifes Algarve Portugal 1

Arrifes Beach is quite small (and really small at low tide). Parasols are available for hire.

Praia Dos Arrifes Algarve Portugal 2

It was actually one of the my favorites to photograph as there were smaller rocks everywhere making the water swirl in every directions:

Praia Dos Arrifes Algarve Portugal 3
Praia Dos Arrifes Algarve Portugal 4

Praia dos Arrifes beach is also called praia dos Tres Penecos (Beach of the triple rocks) because of those 3 isolated large rock formations you can clearly see in the panorama photo below:

Praia Dos Tres penecos

According to Wikipedia, the plants at the top of the rock formations are salt resistant and grow there because the sea stacks are tall enough above water.

Praia dos Arrifes Portugal 1
Praia dos Arrifes Portugal 2

Praia Dos Arrifes Algarve from the cliffs

You can also admire Arrifes Beach from the surrounding cliffs. Just be careful with stability near the edge. 

Arrifes Beach rocks 1

Arrifes beach has several cove better access accessed at low tide. From some angle the 3 rock formations almost look attached as one.

Arrifes Beach rocks 2
Algarve arrifes beach

The Arrifes Sea Stacks

And just for the pleasure, here are a couple more shots of the sea stacks, one has a big hole at the top.

Praia dos Arrifes Beach Algarve Portugal 1
Praia dos Arrifes Beach Algarve Portugal 2

Praia Da Vigia

As you walk on the cliffs west from Arrifes Beach, you can see the smaller neighboring beach called Praia da Vigia. At high tide, it almost disappears.

Praia Da Vigia Algarve pORtugal

From the cliffs in the distance (towards the East) you can also spot the colorful Praia da Falesia, my favorite beach in Portugal. As the sun set, the colors stand out even more!

View of Praia da Falesia

Praia Dos Arrifes Beach Video

Below is a short video with the waves around Arrifes Beach.


Praia dos Arrifes at low tide

I only visited the beach at high tide, but as you can see below is it better to explore at low tide for access to the rocks and all the coves.

Arrifes beach

Photo embedded from Flickr - Photo by JJO_TEO


INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Praia dos Arrifes algarve

TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS

How to get to Praia dos Arrifes Algarve

  • ​South of Portugal on the Algarve Coast
  • Just West of Albufeira and East of the famous Sao Rafael Beach
  • Last 200 m to the parking are not paved

This location with its GPS coordinates and planning info is included in the eBooks - Road Trip Guide Portugal and Road Trip Guide: Lisbon/Sintra/Algarve

Visiting Arrifes Beach

  • Wooden steps to access the beach but not many as the cliffs are low
  • Restaurant A Sardinha
  • Parasol and chairs for hire
  • Better at low tide
  • Small and near Albufeira, so very crowded in summer
  • I don't know if it was allowed, but many motorhome had settled on the land near the parking
Parking Praia Dos Arrifes
Motorhome at Praia dos arriges Algarve pORtugal

Want to see more of PORTUGAL?

Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Portugal Destination Guide.

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Portugal Travel Guide - Portugal destinations

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Hi! I’m Claire

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I am the Travel Planning Geek behind the ZigZag Travel Guides. My goal is to provide you with clear and practical information to help you plan unforgettable trips! Read more

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