Carvoeiro is a coastal village in the municipality of Lagoa, known for its beaches and its fishing and maritime tradition.
The Largo da Praia do Carvoeiro, the village centre, has a promenade with restaurants and small shops beside the beach, where yellow cliffs frame the white houses.
Beaches in Carvoeiro
- Praia do Carvoeiro: village beach below yellow cliffs.
- Praia do Paraíso: small beach reached by a road along the western cliff.
- Praia de Vale Covo: small beach east of the village.
- Praia do Vale Centeanes: small cove with caves, at the start of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.
- Praia do Vale Espinhaço: small sheltered beach near the Alfanzina lighthouse.
- Praia do Carvalho: beach reached through a tunnel in the cliff, on the way to Benagil.
- Praia de Benagil: fishing village beach and departure point for boats to the sea cave.
- Praia da Corredoura: beach framed by limestone arches.
- Praia da Marinha: white sand, calm water and sculpted cliffs, reached by a long staircase.
- Praia do Pau, Praia da Malhada do Baraço, Praia do Barranquinho and Praia da Estaquinha: small beaches towards Armação de Pêra.
- Praia da Albandeira, Praia das Fontainhas and Praia do Pontal: small coves before Armação de Pêra.
Monuments in Carvoeiro
- Forte de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação: 17th-century fort built against corsair and pirate attacks, east of the beach.
- Farol de Alfanzina: lighthouse from the early 20th century on a rocky headland.
Nature in Carvoeiro
- Algar Seco: rock formations and caves reached by the Carvoeiro boardwalk, or by boat, kayak or paddleboard.
- Olhos da Boneca: the best-known cave of Algar Seco, with two openings that look out to sea.
- Miradouro da Falésia do Carvoeiro: clifftop viewpoint on the boardwalk.
- Seven Hanging Valleys Trail: trail of about 6 kilometres along the clifftops from Vale Centeanes to Praia da Marinha, past secluded beaches, coloured cliffs, caves and shafts.
- Benagil sea cave: sea cave with openings to the sea and the sky, one of the most visited places in the Algarve, inside the Pedra do Valado marine park. Since August 2024 it can only be seen from the water: landing on its beach and swimming in are banned, motorboats enter from the west for up to two minutes, and kayaks and paddleboards enter from the east in guided groups of six for up to eight minutes.
- Algar dos Capitães and Arco da Albandeira: rock formations near Albandeira.
Places to visit in the Algarve
Barlavento, the windward Algarve
Golden Triangle
Sotavento, the leeward Algarve