Page 464 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

sand is winningly set at a a Moorish feel. A collec- to add to the pictur-
rivermouth and flanked tion of cottages winds esqueness, it also sports
by imposing schist cliffs down the hill below a ru- an offshore pinnacle and
(try saying that with a ined 10th-century hilltop a petite traditional fish-
mouthful of porridge...). castle (h24hr). Aljezur is ing harbour. The beach
It’s a particularly good close to some fantastic is wildly popular with
option for families, as beaches, edged by black surfers of all abilities
smaller children can rocks that reach into the and there are several
paddle on the peaceful white-tipped, bracing surf schools in the area.
river side of the strand sea – surfing hot spots. The beach break is reli-
while older kids tackle The handsomest beach able, but there’s also a
the waves on the ocean in the Aljezur area, on right-hand reef break
side. The beach is 3.5km the north side of the pic- that can offer some of
from Odeceixe itself along turesque rivermouth and the Algarve’s best surf-
a charming country road. backed by wild dunes, ing when there’s a big
At the beach, a small is Praia da Amoreira. swell. There’s a small,
village has eating and It’s 9km by road from very popular beachside
surfing options. The Rota Aljezur, signposted off restaurant, and clifftop
Vicentina, a long-distance the main road north of eateries near the ruined
walking path that leads town. fortress up above, which
right to the southwestern The Drive » A couple of offers breathtaking vis-
tip of Portugal, passes kilometres south of Aljezur, tas. Good diving is also
through Odeceixe, and the beaches of Monte Clérigo possible here.
there are great day walks and Arrifana are signposted off The Drive » Praia de Vale
in the vicinity. to the right. At the top of the Figueira is reached by a rough
PORTUGAL 33 ALENTEjO & ALGARVE BEACHES
hill, head right (towards Monte
The Drive » It’s an easy 15km Clérigo) for the full coastal road that runs some 5km
down the N120 to Aljezur, through panorama before winding your from the main road at a point
woodland and open shrubland way south to Arrifana. 10km south of Aljezur. Before
patched with heather and gorse. reaching the turnoff, you must
turn right off the N120 on to
the N268
TRIP HIGHLIGHT 5 Praia da Arrifana
4 Aljezur Arrifana is a seductive
The old part of Aljezur is fingernail-shaped cove 6 Praia de
an attractive village with embraced by cliffs. Just Vale Figueira
One of the remoter west
coast beaches, this is a
long, wide and mag-
TOP TIP: nificent stretch of whitish
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS sand with an ethereal
beauty, backed by strati-
This central section of the Algarve coast is great fied cliffs hazy in the
for families, with numerous water parks and other ocean spray. It’s reached
attractions in the area. Two of the most popular are by a rough, partly paved
Slide & Splash (%282 340 800; www.slidesplash.com; road. The beach, which
Estrada Nacional 125; adult/child 5-10yr €26/19; h10am- has no facilities, faces
5pm, 6pm or 6.30pm daily May-Sep, Mon-Sat Apr & Oct) and due west and has pretty
Aqualand (%282 320 230; www.aqualand.pt; N125, Sítio reliable surf, especially
das Areias, Alcantarilha; adult/child €22.50/16.50; h10am- when a southeaster is
6pm Jul & Aug, to 5pm late Jun & early Sep). blowing. It’s one of those
lonely, romantic beaches

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