Praia da Marinha, Atlantic beach in Lagoa, Portugal
Praia da Marinha is a beach on the Algarve coast, framed by tall limestone cliffs shaped by wind and sea. Several freestanding rock towers rise from the sand and shallow water, forming small passages and caves along the shoreline.
The environment ministry awarded this stretch of coast a distinction for its natural quality in the late 1990s. The rock walls show traces of erosion over thousands of years, since the sea exposed this limestone formation.
The bay takes its name from fishermen who once sheltered their boats here and used the sea as their marina. Today visitors come mainly to snorkel between the rocks, where calm water offers good visibility to the bottom.
A wooden stairway leads down from the parking area above to the sand, with the descent taking a few minutes and tiring in heat. Lifeguards are present during summer, but outside this period swimmers should be cautious as currents between the rocks can become strong.
The rock arches form natural frames at low tide through which you can see the open sea, while at high tide water fills small lagoons between the stones. Some visitors climb through the openings at low water and discover hidden sandy coves on the other side.
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