Located on a small cove in the central Algarve is the picturesque resort town of Carvoeiro. It’s situated on a small but glorious beach which is a stunning break on the dramatic coastline of the Algar Seco. An area of natural beauty made up of cliffs, rock formations and stunning views.
Carvoeiro is a great destination if you’re seeking a more relaxed holiday experience, with the full resort facilities but little of the drama that comes with nearby much larger resort towns. The ambience of Carvoeiro is a town of small restaurants and cafes, alfresco dining, and a family friendly beach.
What to See and Do in Carvoeiro?
Most visitors to Carvoeiro are seeking a traditional resort holiday in the Algarve – a great beach, great weather, and great dining. Carvoeiro offers all of this and more! However, that’s not all there is to the town and wider area. Despite being small you’ll still find exciting trips and activities to pack your day with, as well as access to the wider Algarve region! Traditional towns, hiking, water parks, and boat trips are all within easy reach!
Praia de Carvoeiro – Carvoeiro Beach
Carvoeiro’s town opens on to one of the most beautiful beaches of the region along this coastline. An enticing stretch of golden sands surrounded by the ochre sandstone cliffs of the Algarve. It’s not vast by any means but has more than enough space to offer two sections, one concessioned with sunbed and parasol rental, and a large free area for anyone to place their towels.
Praia de Carvoeiro’s Beach Facilities
- Lifeguards, during the bathing season (June – September)
- Toilets and changing rooms
- Cafés, Restaurants and Bars – There’s a couple of beach bars, and as its so close to the town there’s lots of variety.
- Watersports and activities like Kayak / SUP rental
- Tours and tickets, various operators offer boat trips and tours to the surrounding region
- Wheelchair accessible – ramps directly from the town
As it’s so close to the town, you get the full benefits of the town like being able to buy anything you might have forgotten to bring, and refreshments from local supermarkets.
Does Carvoeiro have other beaches?
Carvoeiro has one other beach within a reasonable distance from the town – Praia do Paraíso. It’s walking distance for active people, following the road west out of town and up the steep hill will lead you to it. From its small car park is a steep set of stairs so this is not an accessible beach either. However, if you’re looking for something a little less busy, and much less commercial it’s a great beach. Just be aware that during hightide the beach can all but disappear. There are no facilities either so it’s not recommended as beach for families or long durations!
In the opposite direction, is Praia do Vale de Centeanes. It’s around 2km by road, or a similar distance by adventurous hike along the beautiful cliffs. Praia do Vale de Centeanes is another stunning beach surrounded by cliffs. The viewpoints of the beach make the walk worth it alone, and at the base of the cliffs you’ll find a bar that’s perfect for refreshments – O Stop. It’s a lovely beach, but if you’re based in Carvoeiro, it’s not the ideal destination for long days on the beach due to the effort involved to get there.
Boat Tours from Carvoeiro
One of the most popular things to do in Carvoeiro is a boat tour along the coast. Carvoeiro is the departing point for many of the major trips that head along the coastline, making their way through stacks, arches and large sea caves. The most famous being Benagil, but if you take a boat trip you’ll find many many others to discover.
The benefits of departing on a tour from Carvoeiro is that the boats located in Carvoeiro are much smaller – there’s no commercial harbour unlike Portimão or Albufeira. These boats offer tours that get much closer to the caves and sea stacks and really enhance the experience. However, they don’t offer the same level of service – dining, drinks, and sometimes music.
Looking further out to sea and not directly at the coastline, you’ll also be able to find dolphin watching tours. The waters along the coastline here are on a migratory route for dolphins heading to and from the Strait of Gibraltar and the warm Mediterranean waters. There are near guaranteed sightings of dolphins and Carvoeiro is a great place to depart from!
Here’s a quick list of our favourite tours from Carvoeiro!
- From Carvoeiro: Benagil Caves and Praia da Marinha Boat Trip
- Algarve: Carvoerio and Benagil Walking Tour and Cruise
Top Tip: When browsing various tour websites looking for boat tours and trips in the region, it’s really important to make sure to check the departure point is Carvoeiro. The bigger ports of Albufeira and Portimão generally have a much wider variety, and sometimes cheaper selection of tours, but these will rely on you traveling to the marinas yourself.
Forte de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação – Carvoeiro’s Fortress
From the beach, if you head up the steep western road, you’ll soon make your way to Carvoeiro’s fortress. Despite the fortress name, there’s not much of the fortress remaining and from the front it also looks more distinctly like a chapel. Originally the chapel would have been surrounded by the thick walls of a 17th century fort, built to deter any would be raiders from attacking the town.
What remains is a small part of the exterior wall and one of the main portals. It’s a unique focal point, but don’t be fooled by its name, or the sign posts directing you to a ‘fortress’. If you’re interested in visiting fortresses that are much more complete, then nearby Fortaleza de Santa Catarina is a much more complete example open to visitors in Praia da Rocha. From behind the chapel, you’ll also find the start of the Carvoeiro Boardwalk.
Carvoeiro Boardwalk and Algar Seco
The boardwalk officially called the Passadiços do Carvoeiro, is a short but stunning boardwalk along the cliffs of the Algar Seco. It’s here that the Algar Seco is suitable for all ages, and at 570m long it’s a quick and easy walk. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to the flora and fauna of this part of the Algarve through detailed signposts in sections covering the cliff tops, shrubbery, cliffs, and lastly the sea itself.
Algar Seco
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also take the optional detours to the cliffs and almost the waterfront. This area is called the Algar Seco and it is absolutely stunning! Through several steep sets of staircases, you’ll make your way down to the miradouros. From here you can take the winding paths and explore multiple caves and sea stacks and get an upfront view that’s simply not possible on any of the boat trips and tours.
Top tip: There is no shade so your usual sun essentials should be brought with you. If you intend to visit the accessible caves and grottos, then good footwear is also advised. There’s an element of scrambling along rocky pathways to access some of the most beautiful areas.
Day Trips from Carvoeiro
Looking away from the coastline and more inland, Carvoeiro is a great place to explore a more authentic side of the Algarve. Silves is a short drive inland and puts the history of the Algarve front and centre with its imposing castle. Perhaps, you’re more interested in seeing another fishing village like the picturesque Ferragudo with its rows of fisherman’s houses. Alternatively, for those that want to see a more hectic version of the Algarve, the beach resort of Praia da Rocha, it’s bars, clubs and casino are just a short drive away!
How to Get to Carvoeiro
Carvoeiro is around 65km east of Faro Airport, and Faro airport is the main route for the majority of visitors looking to visit the Algarve. Now for the tricky bit, despite its popularity Carvoeiro is under-served when it comes to public transport.
Can you Take a Train to Carvoeiro?
The nearest train station is Estombar-Lagoa, which is on the regional line of the Algarve railway system. This regional line connects you to Faro and all major cities in the Algarve. However, Estombar-Lagoa is still 7km from Carvoeiro, and you’ll need to rely on local buses or taxis to get you into Carvoeiro.
Getting the Bus to Carvoeiro
The local bus is the 107 that runs from Portimão to Praia do Carvalho, full timetables should be looked up on the Vamus Algarve website. Before making any firm plans based on public transport, we really recommend looking fully at all the latest times and schedules. The combination of bus and train can be used to get to Carvoeiro from pretty much any major town or city in the Algarve or further away.
Alternatively, hire cars and private transfers are available at Faro Airport. If you plan on renting a car, you should read our guide that covers the ins and outs of car rental in the Algarve first!
Somewhere to Stay in Carvoeiro?
Despite the size of Carvoeiro, it caters for almost every budget, offering local and competitively priced bed and breakfasts, to 5-star resorts.
For a supreme luxury stay then one of the best option’s is Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort. The hotel is 1km from the town centre and feels like it’s located on its own exclusive section of the cliffs. With a stunning pool, and near private beach, it’s one of the best luxury resorts in the Algarve. If you’re looking for a little exclusivity and luxury, it’s a great choice. If you want to be in the heart of Carvoeiro then the 3 Star Hotel Carvoeiro Plaza is also great – it’s less than 25m from the beach! For the full list of hotels check this list here.
Should you Visit Carvoeiro?
Carvoeiro is a great destination that combines everything you could want from a small holiday resort, while being close to some amazing scenery and the wider Algarve. As a resort town it offers a great selection of bars, restaurants, and accommodation, and caters to nearly all types of travellers. If you’re looking for a more authentic, or say Portuguese experience, then we’d recommend you take a look at other towns in the Algarve. However, if you’re looking for a small resort town, with a great beach – Carvoeiro is perfect for you!
If there’s anything else, you think should be added to our guide to Carvoeiro, let us know in the comments!
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can you tell me if carvoeiro similar in size to tavaria an is it more livelier ?
It’s much smaller than Tavira, but it is known for being more of a holiday resort. If you’re looking for somewhere livelier perhaps take a look at Lagos?
We’re getting the train from Lisbon, planning on going to Portimao and getting a taxi from there, does that sound sensible? We are traveling with two kids aged 10 and 6, thanks
Hi Hollie, yeah that’s a great way of doing it. For the best price/flexibility you may want to look at Uber! It works great in the Algarve!