A trail through one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve
The Falésia beach trail is AWESOME! And what to say about Falésia beach!? It is a trail above the living cliffs of sandstones and displeased materials on the cliffs of Falésia beach.
by Filipe Pereira
Portuguese Local Guide
Since an early age, Algarve has been a mandatory stop for me at least twice per year.
Get to know this region through insider tips, and discover it like a local!
HOW TO GET TO THE BEACH OF FALESIA
To get to Praia da Falésia you have to decide which area of Falésia you want to reach. Falésia beach is large and can approach it from different locations. To make the trail of Falésia beach, the ideal is to head to the east end of Falésia beach, close to Tomatoes beach and start there to walk the top of the cliffs, towards Praia do Barranco das Belharucas, at the other end of Falésia beach.
THE FALESIA BEACH – UNIQUE SETTING
The cliff trail at Praia da Falésia runs from Praia dos Tomates to Praia do Barranco das Belharucas, for a total of about 6 km, one way (for a round trip 12 km).
Praia da Falésia is one of my favorites in the Algarve. I still remembered it in the same way, the same color, with the same brilliance and charm. The formations of marine sands and meso-cenozoic sandstones on Falésia beach give the landscape unique characteristics. It was in these formations that rivers and streams carved their route. But 18,000 years ago, the average sea level was 140 meters below the current level, as we lived in a ice age. At that time, the rivers had a much greater erosive capacity and transported their river sediments over these marine formations, filling them with rolled pebbles. With the end of the ice age and climate change, our average sea level rose, the streams lost erosive capacity and river sediments were in a culminating position.
Today, these rolled pebbles are at the top of the cliffs of Falésia beach, some in positions that seem to defy the laws of gravity, and grant this beach an unusual and extraordinary beauty to Falésia beach.
The Falésia beach trail winds the orange cliffs of Falésia beach from Tomates beach to Barrancos das Belharucas beach above the cliff. The trail of Praia da Falésia is not marked but just follow the route that is very visible on the ground. There is nothing to deceive, it is the beach of Falésia.
On the way back, the ideal is to come through the beach of Praia da Falésia, in order to avoid making the route exactly the same, taking the opportunity to go beach and enjoy a beautiful summer day. This is one of our favorite beaches in the Algarve and is wonderful for bathing.
