Praia da Amoreira

Amoreira gives you two beaches in one. The Ribeira de Aljezur reaches the sea here between cliffs and dunes [1], and at low tide it spreads into a shallow lagoon with no waves, which AlgarveTips describes as very safe for children to play in [4]. A few metres away is the open Atlantic with surfable waves [4].

With kids. Time the visit around low tide: as the tide rises the lagoon grows, and at high tide it disappears completely [4]. The river water is warmer than the sea. Two cautions from the same guide: the current can be strong near the river mouth, especially as the tide moves, and there are rocks in the sea at the northern end [4]. Lifeguards cover the sea beach (Amoreira-Mar) 1 June–30 September 2026; the river bathing water (Amoreira-Rio) is listed without a lifeguarded bathing area [2]. Amoreira-Mar holds a 2026 Blue Flag [3].

Surf. Exposed to swell and wind, surf for all levels, with a school on the beach that also rents boards [4].

Who it suits. Families with small children above all; also anyone who wants to surf in the morning and float in the lagoon in the afternoon. It rarely feels busy [4]. Walkers can join the Fishermen’s Trail here, and a viewpoint on the southern cliffs is about 15 minutes on foot from Monte Clérigo — though crossing to Amoreira from there means wading through the river, not advisable at high tide [4].

Check before you go: the tide table; whether the beach restaurant is open out of season.

Coordinates (research)

• Used: OSM way 1242019126 “Praia da Amoreira” (centroid, Nominatim) — 37.3506041, -8.8447837. [OSM via the Nominatim query listed in sources, 2 Oct 2026]
• pt-Wikipedia: 37.35138889, -8.84444444 — ≈ 92 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [pt-Wikipedia]
• ABAE registered point (Amoreira-Mar): 37.350694, -8.845137 — ≈ 33 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [ABAE registered point]
• APA classification list (Amoreira-Mar): 37.35213, -8.84501 — ≈ 171 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [APA classification list]
• APA 2026 sampling point (Amoreira-Mar): 37.3521, -8.845 — ≈ 167 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [APA 2026 sampling point]
• CM Aljezur GPS 37°21’6.80”N 8°50’40.37”W: 37.35189, -8.84455 — ≈ 144 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [CM Aljezur GPS 37°21’6.80”N 8°50’40.37”W]

What the sources say (research)

• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Beach with restricted use associated with sensitive natural systems. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): PNSACV + Natura 2000. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Golden sand with cliffs and dunes near the mouth of the Aljezur river. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Frontage 110 m. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Tide 3.4–3.5 m. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Mean wave 1 m. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Wind N/NW. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): Season 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Official profile (Amoreira-Mar): 0 restricted days 2025. [APA profile PTCT9P, v1/2026]
• Two designated bathing waters: Amoreira-Mar (PTCT9P, coastal) and Amoreira-Rio (PTCD3F, transitional), both with season 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026. [APA ARH do Algarve list 2026]
• Water quality: Amoreira-Mar Excellent 2011–2025; Amoreira-Rio Excellent 2011–2023, Good 2024 and 2025. [APA classification 2011–2025]
• Blue Flag 2026 awardee (Amoreira-Mar, Aljezur); bathing season 01/06–30/09/2026; Blue Flag period 01/07–30/09/2026. [ABAE 2026 list; ABAE Aljezur page]
• Qualified as “praia de banhos” for 2026 — bathing water Amoreira-Mar (PTCT9P), praia de banhos “Amoreira-Mar”, época balnear 1 de junho a 30 de setembro; the annex footnote (*) states that waters without a listed praia de banhos are those where, at publication, surveillance of bathers is not assured (art. 2.º n.º 5 likewise). [Portaria 204-A/2026/1, anexo I (DR 1.ª série n.º 84, supl., 30 Apr 2026)]
• Same annex: the river water Amoreira-Rio (PTCD3F) has “—” in the praia de banhos column, i.e. no assured lifeguard assistance in 2026. [Portaria 204-A/2026/1, anexo I (DR 1.ª série n.º 84, supl., 30 Apr 2026)]
• AMN “Praias Vigiadas” list (linked as “Praias Vigiadas 2025” from AMN’s landing page; no year printed on the list itself): Praia da Amoreira (Mar) and Praia da Amoreira (Rio) — both 1 de junho a 30 de setembro. [AMN Praias Vigiadas; AMN Época Balnear landing page]
• Municipality (concelho): Aljezur, next to the parish of Aljezur; in the PNSACV. [pt-Wikipedia rev. 19 Jun 2022]
• CM Aljezur: sea beach plus the mouth of the Ribeira de Aljezur forming an estuary-lagoon system; at low tide rock formations and extensive lagoons on the sand; dune field “medos da Amoreira” inland, then saltmarsh. [CM Aljezur beach page, modified 8 May 2019]
• CM Aljezur: Access “easy (stairs and wooden boardwalk)”. [CM Aljezur beach page, 2019]
• CM Aljezur: Facilities: restaurant/bar, recreational support, phone, car park. [CM Aljezur beach page, 2019]
• CM Aljezur: Lifeguarded in the bathing season. [CM Aljezur beach page, 2019]
• CM Aljezur: Rota Vicentina “Circuito Praia da Amoreira”. [CM Aljezur beach page, 2019]
• Length: APA frontage 110 m [APA profile 2026]; guiadepraias 1.5 km [guiadepraias.pt].

Open questions