Praia do Camilo is one of the most picture-perfect beaches in Lagos, it’s a small sandy bay sandwiched between the typical ochre cliffs of the region. Calm crystal-clear water, and a sheltered, often wind free beach awaits you at the bottom of a wooden staircase! From the cliffs around, it offers incredible views of the dramatic coastline and being right next to both Ponta da Piedade and Praia de Dona Ana, its an incredible place to stop while touring the Lagos coastline.
Praia do Camilo Beach
Praia do Camilo’s beach itself is not a large beach, in fact it’s pretty small compared to several nearby. However, it is bigger than it looks. There are several tunnels in both directions along the coast that can lead you to other beach areas that do feel a bit more exclusive.
At high tide Praia do Camilo gets a lot more busy as the space gets restricted. It’s perhaps one of the biggest complaints about Praia do Camilo. People arriving in the afternoon often get to look down on a very packed out beach from the top of the stairs. If you’re planning a beach day, and not just sightseeing we do recommend visiting early!
Praia do Camilo – Swimming, Water Sports, and Activities
As pretty much nearly every travel guide to the Algarve states, the seawater of Praia do Camilo is as bright blue and crystal clear as everyone says! Due to the tall cliffs, and rock formations in the water, the waves are calm on most days and there’s very little wind. This makes it a great beach for swimming, snorkelling, and paddle sports. Additionally, the beach is life guarded during the summer bathing season, making this a safe beach for paddling and swimming for all the family!
The one thing to remember though, despite the Mediterranean climate, these waters are still firmly in the Atlantic and depending on what you are used to at home can be pretty cold. Average summer water temperatures range between 19-22 °C, which can be quite a surprise to most people jumping in for the first time!
Water Activities on Camilo Beach
The rock formations and clear shallow water create great conditions for snorkelling and it’s a popular activity. The cliffs that surround the beach have also led to a very sheltered bay for underwater explorers. As well as this, snorkellers will be rewarded with access to several much more secretive beaches – these beaches have no external access from the cliff top!
Within the waters you’ll find typical local marine life; anemones, octopus and lots of fish. From above the water, you can kayak and stand-up paddle board, once again those rock formations make great focal points. You can also kayak or standup paddle board along the coast to Ponta da Piedade, and Praia Dona Ana
Bars and Restaurants near Praia do Camilo Beach
At the top of the staircase, and by the car park is one restaurant – Restaurante Camilo. It’s a restaurant that specialises in seafood although you’ll still find a few basics and Portuguese favourites. It’s not your typical beach bar and is definitely a premium restaurant. For people looking for more casual snacks and refreshments you’ll need to head back towards Lagos. A 15 minute or 1km walk will lead you to Praia de Dona Ana, which has both a beach bar, car park quiosque and several fast food restaurants within the hotel complexes!
Praia do Camilo’s Facilities
Praia do Camilo is a small beach and is completely devoid of manmade facilities other than the staircase accessing the beach. There are no toilets, changing rooms, or places to get a drink. In many cases this really isn’t a classic place to take your family. You’ll need to carry everything to the beach and back again!
- Parking – Yes
- Dogs – not allowed during the bathing season
- Restaurant and bars: One restaurant at the top of the stairs
- Toilet: Not Avaialble
- Shower: Not Available
- Sunbed and Parasol Rental: Not Available
- Lifeguards: During the bathing season
Top Activities and Tours Near Praia do Camilo
Although none of these tours depart the Praia do Camilo itself, there are lots of ways of seeing and experiencing the coastline from Lagos. Here’s a list of our favourite tours:
- Lagos: Ponta da Piedade Cave and Coastal Tour – One of the simplest and quickest tours, a two hour trip by boat that takes you along the coast to Ponta da Piedade. Offering incredible views of the rock formations, Praia Dona Ana, and Praia do Camilo from the sea.
- From Lagos: Benagil Caves Speedboat Adventure – Explore the sea caves by boat from Lagos on a 2hr cruise past the beautiful beaches of Lagos. See how to visit the caves by kayak or SUP.
- Dolphin watching tour and Cave tour – The waters along the Lagos coastline are on a n important migratory route for dolphins heading to and from the Strait of Gibraltar. This tour will take you in search of dolphins before stopping at one of the most impressive caves in the region – Benagil.
- Lagos: Guided Kayak Tour – If you’re feeling active and adventurous, then you can take a guided kayak tour from Lagos all the way along the coast to Ponta da Piedade. You can take in incredible views of Praia Dona Ana, and Praia do Camilo on the way!
Explore the Cliff Paths and Ponta da Piedade
If you’ve chosen to use the main car park at Praia do Camilo, you may be best off leaving the car there to explore the other areas around Camilo beach. Heading north along the cliffs you’ll find a hiking trail that leads you to Praia Dona Ana and several incredible viewpoints (Miradouros). If you’re heading towards Dona Ana beach, it’s more built up and you’ll find several cafés and bars for refreshments.
In the other direction, roughly south from Camilo you’ll find the secluded Praia dos Pinheiros, and Miradouro do Abismo before reaching the stunning Ponta da Piedade. There are no beaches here, but many rock formations, caves and blow holes. There’s a steep staircase that will lead you down to the water, or several pathways leading you around the lighthouse to views along the western coast. Visiting Ponta da Piedade is one of the top activities in the area!
The main car park has an exceptional miradouro (viewpoint) which will introduce you to the incredible coastline and natural beauty of the cliffs and coastline in this area. It’s also the starting point of several footpaths that will take you to several other impressive viewpoints, and also to several other beaches. The first major beach being the Instagram hotspot of Praia do Camilo, further along is the more hidden Praia dos Pinheiros. Continue along the cliffs will lead you to Ponta da Piedade.
How to Get to Praia do Camilo Beach
Praia do Camilo is around 3km from Lagos itself, which gives you multiple ways including simply walking to get to the beach! Uber or the local Bolt is an affordable way of visiting too!
Walking to Praia do Camilo Beach From Lagos
Praia do Camilo Beach can easily be reached by walking from Lagos. It takes around 30 minutes and there are several routes either through the town, or along the main road which will take you alongside multiple other miradouros and beaches! If you’re walking, make sure to stop at Praia de Dona Ana, it’s another amazing beach in the region!
Driving to Praia do Camilo Beach From Lagos
There is parking for around 20 cars at the main car park. Additional parking is informally along the road. During the summer the car park and access road fills up fast, so it’s best to arrive early if you plan to use it.
Bus to Praia do Camilo from Lagos
There’s a regular bus service from Lagos to Praia de Dona Ana, which you can then walk to Praia do Camilo from. The bus operates from 7am to around 8pm so it’s an easy way to get there if you don’t want to worry about parking, and you don’t fancy the full walk from the town!
It’s the Blue Line 2 (Linha 2, Onda Azul) operated by the municipal operator Onda, full timetables can be found online. The same bus line also stops at Lagos’s main train station, town centre, and Meia Praia – another of Lagos’ stunning beaches. A single ticket is €1.20 making this a very cost-effective option!
The Lagos Tourist Train – A fun way to get to Praia do Camilo Beach from Lagos
Like many towns in the Algarve, Lagos operates a small tourist train. It operates in the typical hop on hop off fashion around the town, its major attractions and the beaches. The one thing to remember is that there is not a stop at Praia do Camilo, you’ll need to get off at either Praia de Dona Ana, or Ponta da Piedade and walk from there. It costs €4 for a single ticket, or €5.50 for a full day ticket. The full schedule and stops can be found on the official website.
Should you Visit Praia do Camilo Beach?
Praia do Camilo is a picture-perfect beach and Instagram hotspot, but it’s not a beach for everyone. If you plan on spending a full day on the beach and will need facilities, then you should probably head towards Praia de Dona Ana – it’s a more complete beach experience. However, if you’re looking for one of the most scenic beaches in the region to spend a couple of hours on, it’s a fantastic beach!
Anything we’ve missed in the guide to Praia do Camilo? As always, let us know in the comments!
