Praia de São Rafael

Beach

Praia de São Rafael

Flag

Symbol

Country

State

Region

District

Municipality

Location

Sesmarias

- coordinates

PT 37°4′29.03″N 8°16′53.41″W / 37.0747306°N 8.2815028°WCoordinates: PT 37°4′29.03″N 8°16′53.41″W / 37.0747306°N 8.2815028°W

Material

Golden fine sand,
rock formations with cliffs to the rear

Location of Praia de São Rafael

Praia de São Rafael is a beach on the Atlantic south coast of the Algarve, close to the village resort of Sesmarias which is within the Municipality of Albufeira, Portugal.^[1] This beach is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) by road to the west of Albufeira old town centre and is 29.7 miles (47.8 km) west of the regions capital of Faro.^[2]^[3] This beach is one of sixty nine^[4] blue flag beaches^[5] (2012) in the Algarve and is accredited with good facilities for the disabled.

Description

This small beach has fine gold sand and crystal clear water and is backed by golden limestone cliffs. On the beach itself there are many limestone rock formations^[6] which have been eroded over a long period of time to form interesting formations and shapes many of which have names such as Ninho das Andorinhas or the Swallow’s Nest and Ponte Pequena or the Small Bridge.^[7] The main beach can get very crowded during the peak summer period but there are some quieter spots around the beach amongst the rock formations a short distance from the main sandy areas. The beach has good facilities with toilets and public showers. During the summer season the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. There are Loungers, parasols and Pedalo's which can be hired. The beach has good access for the disabled having boardwalks and paved slopes running down to the beach from the car park to the rear of the beach.

Car Park

To the back of the beach there is a car park of which some places there are allocated parking bays for disabled drivers displaying a European blue badge. Parking can prove very difficult during the busy summer months as numbers are restricted so as not to weaken the cliffs.^[7] From the car park there are paths and boardwalk down to, and along the beach which provides easy access for wheelchair users.

Gallery

Praia de São Rafael
Beach and the Bar - restaurant on the right of the photograph.
Board walk around the restaurant
The access slope down to the beach.

References

↑ Portuguese civilian survey: Sheet 52B Albufeira. Publishers: Instituto Geográfico Português (Portugal Civilian Survey). Scale:1:50,000. ISBN 972-8867-11-5
↑ "Spain & Portugal 2012, Tourist and Motoring Atlas. Pub:Michelin, 2011, ISBN 978 2067174153
↑ "Tours around the Algarve – ROTAS." (PDF). page 67(Page 34 in PDF format), references to beaches between Albufeira and gale. Turismo de Portugal-Algarve. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
↑ "General information for the Algarve, Portugal – Blue Flag Beaches". Information of details and number of blue flag beaches in the Algarve. Algarve Retreats – The Algarve Specialists. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
↑ AA Algarve – Spiral Guide.Author: Murphy, paul. Publisher:AA Publishing, 2003 edition. Work: Page 82, Six of the Best beaches around Albufeira. ISBN 0 7495 3209 2

Beaches of the Algarve

Algarve (West to East)	Praia de Odeceixe Mar Praia das Adegas Praia da Baía dos Tiros Praia da Quebrada Praia de Samouqueira Praia do Vale dos Homens Praia da Carreagem Praia da Amoreira Praia de Monte Clérigo Praia da Pipa Praia da Arrifana Praia do Penedo Praia do Canal Praia de Vale Figueira Praia da Bordeira Praia do Amado Praia da Murracão Praia da Mirouca Praia de Mouranitos Praia da Barriga Praia da Cordoama Praia do Castelejo Praia da Ponta Ruiva Praia do Telheiro Praia de Beliche Enseada do Beliche Praia do Tonel Praia da Mareta Praia da Baleeira Praia do Martinhal Praia da Torre Praia da Ingrina Praia do Zavial Praia das Furnas Praia da Figueira Praia da Salema Praia da Boca do Rio Praia de Almadena Praia do Burgau Praia da Luz Praia de Porto de Mós Praia do Canavial Praia da Balanca Praia da Boneca Praia Camilo Praia Dona Ana Praia do Pinhão Praia dos Estudantes Praia da Batata Meia Praia Praia dos Três Irmãos (Prainha) Praia do Barranco das Canas Praia do Vau Praia dos Coreanos Praia do Amado Praia Três Castelos Praia da Rocha Praia Grande Praia do Molhe Praia do Pintadinho Praia do Vale da Azinhaga Praia dos Carneiros Praia do Carvoeiro Praia de Vale Centeanes Praia do Carvalho Praia de Benagil Praia da Marinha Praia de Albandeira Praia Nova Praia da Senhora da Rocha Praia da Cova Redonda Praia de Vale do Olival Praia de Armação de Pêra Praia Grande (Albufeira) Praia dos Salgados Praia da Galé Praia de Manuel Lourenço Praia do Evaristo Praia do Castelo Praia da Coelha Praia de São Rafael Praia dos Arrifes Praia do Túnel (Peneco) Praia dos Pescadores Praia do Inatel Praia dos Alemães Praia dos Aveiros Praia da Oura Praia Santa Eulália Praia da Balaia Praia Maria Luísa Praia dos Olhos de Água Praia das Belharucas Praia da Falésia Praia da Rocha Baixinha Praia de Vilamoura Praia de Quarteira Praia do Almargem Praia de Loulé Velho Praia do Trafel Praia de Vale do Lobo Praia Garrão Poente (Duno) Praia Garrão (Nascente) Praia do Ancão Praia da Quinta do Lago Praia de Faro (Mar) Praia de Faro (Ria) Praia da Barreta Praia do Farol Praia de Angares Praia da Ilha da Culatra Praia da Ilha da Armona Praia da Fuseta (Mar) Praia da Fuseta (Ria) Praia do Homem Nu Praia do Barril Praia da Terra Estreita Praia da Ilha de Tavira Praia de Cabanas de Tavira Praia do Lacém Praia de Cacela Velha Praia da Manta Rota Praia da Lota Praia da Alagoa Praia Verde Praia do Cabeço Praia de Monte Gordo Praia de Santo António Pego Fundo (interior)

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