Cabanas Island, or Ilha de Cabanas is a stunning island in the Algarve with an incredible beach. It’s just a few minutes from Cabanas de Tavira and is one of my favourite beaches in the Algarve.
Cabanas de Tavira is a charming fishing village just 6km (4 miles) to the east of Tavira. It’s mostly a holiday resort these days, but is well known as the access point for one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve – Cabanas Beach.
Cabanas de Tavira
In the town, most facilities are along Avenida Ria Formosa. A long waterfront road that as the name suggests stretches along the Ria Formosa. On one side of the road is an elevated pedestrianised boardwalk, and the other a long line of restaurants, cafes, and bars. These restaurants are of course well known for fresh seafood and grilled fish and are perfect for an afternoon or evening meal after a day on the beach.
How to Get to Praia de Cabanas?
The simplest method to get to Praia de Cabanas is to hop on the boats that depart Cabanas de Tavira every 15 minutes.
You’ll find the main pier on Avenida Ria Formosa in the centre of town. It costs just €1.50 for a return trip for an adult, and €1 for a child. It only takes around 5 minutes each way to make the short trip across the water to the island! There are several departure points, but the main one is Cais de Cabanas.
Depending on the month, they usually start departing from around 8am until around 8pm. During the peak summer months, the hours are earlier in the morning and later in the evening. Out of season, they are much more irregular.
Top Tip: Always check the latest return departure, it’s a costly mistake to book a private water taxi back!
Praia de Cabanas – Cabanas Island’s Beach
The boat takes around 5 minutes to make the short trip across the Ria Formosa to its destination Cais da Praia de Cabanas de Tavira. From there it’s a short 5-minute walk along a pretty boardwalk to get to the stunning beach of Praia de Cabanas.
Compared to nearby Ilha de Tavira, Cabanas Island does not get anywhere near the numbers of visitors. Probably due to the much smaller town, and the smaller boats bringing visitors to the island. This means the beach is usually pretty quiet and even in the peak summer season, there’s more than enough space for everyone.
The beach is made up of several concessioned areas, where you can rent sun loungers and parasols, and areas that are ‘free’. Well, most of the beach is free, and when you arrive you’ll see the stunning sand stretches as far as you can see!
Facilities on Cabanas Beach
Once you get to the beach at the boardwalk, you’ll pass a restaurant that also houses public toilets, showers, and changing rooms. On the beach there’s a much smaller bar, that also handles the sunbed and parasol rental. Outside of the summer season, only the bar is open.
- Lifeguards, during the bathing season (June – September)
- Toilets, changing rooms, and showers
- Restaurants and a Bar – there is one restaurant and bar on the beach but no other facilities.
- Watersports and activities like Kayak / SUP rental
Nearby Beaches
Ilha de Tavira – Ilha de Tavira is the next ‘island’ to the west of Cabanas, it offers another incredible stretch of sand and views. You’ll need to head to Tavira to get to it though.
Praia da Cecela Velha – The stunning village of Cacela Velha has one of the best views of the Ria Formosa. At low tide you can walk to the main beach, but at high tide you’ll need a boat.
Will you be visiting Cabanas Island soon?
