Praia do Amado

Portugal, Portugal

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Praia do Amado is a famous surfing beach on Portugal’s Algarve coast, located near the village of Carrapateira in the municipality of Aljezur within the protected Costa Vicentina Natural Park.

The beach stretches about one kilometer along the Atlantic Ocean, with golden sand backed by dramatic reddish and ochre-colored cliffs and valleys that provide some natural wind protection. It is considered one of Portugal’s best surfing beaches due to its consistent, powerful waves year-round, hosting national and international surf competitions even in winter, and it offers surf schools and equipment rentals for both beginners and experienced surfers.

During the bathing season there are lifeguards on duty, bathrooms, parking above the beach, and a seasonal bar with food and drinks, though there is no public transportation so you need to drive about 25 minutes from Aljezur or 5 minutes from Carrapateira. While it can get relatively crowded on summer weekends with many surfers in the water and Portuguese families sunbathing on the sand, the beach’s long stretch still lets visitors find space, and wooden staircases from the cliffs offer panoramic views of the ocean and coastline.