Cabo de Santa Maria

Faro, Portugal, Portugal

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Cabo de Santa Maria, in the municipality of Faro, is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal, located on a long sandy beach that forms part of the island of Barreta, also known as Ilha Deserta, within the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

It lies on the Atlantic side of this barrier island, opposite the town of Faro, and is marked by a smooth curve of wide, soft sand and calm, shallow waters that are popular with visitors who take boats across the lagoon from Faro. The cape is famous more for its geographical significance and sweeping seascape than for facilities, and most people reach it by ferry or private boat, then walk along the sand toward the tip of the island.

Nearby, on the neighboring island of Culatra, stands the Farol de Santa Maria, an 19th‑century lighthouse that adds to the area’s coastal charm and maritime atmosphere.