At a glance
- Access
- Long zigzag staircase down the cliff
- Parking
- Small free car park on the cliff top, hard to find a space in summer
- Facilities
- None on the beach
- Blue Flag
- No
- Best time
- Low tide
Our photos
Praia do Paraíso is a tiny cove about 400 metres west of Carvoeiro's village beach, reached by a long zigzag staircase. There is nothing on the beach, and the sand shrinks fast as the tide comes in, but at low tide or late in the afternoon it is one of the prettiest spots near Carvoeiro.
Paraíso, “paradise”, sits at the bottom of a gap in the cliffs on the western edge of Carvoeiro. From above, the staircase is the first thing you notice: a white line zigzagging down the cliff face to a short walkway just above the sand.
Getting there and parking
Follow Rua do Paraíso west from the centre of Carvoeiro. There is a small free car park on the cliff top. In summer it is often full, so if you are staying in the village, walking is easier.
Getting down to the sand
A long staircase zigzags down the cliff. Going down is easy enough, but allow time and breath for the climb back up. There is no ramp, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
What it is like
A small cove of golden sand enclosed by cliffs, with small caves on both sides. At low tide, rock pools appear at the edges. Because the cove faces south-west, it is a lovely place to watch the late afternoon light on the cliffs.
Tides and safety
The beach is small and the sand narrows a lot at high tide. Visit around low tide and do not settle under the cliffs. The cliffs along this stretch are fragile: in November 2019 a large rockfall at Vale Currais, about 500 metres to the west, took away part of the coastal path. See beach flags and cliff safety.
Facilities
None on the beach: no bar, no toilets and no lifeguard. Bring water and shade, and buy anything else in Carvoeiro before you come.
Questions people ask
How do you get down to Praia do Paraíso?
Sources disagree on the exact number, but it is a long staircase that zigzags down the cliff. There is no ramp, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Does Praia do Paraíso have facilities?
No. There is no bar, no toilets and no lifeguard on the beach. The nearest cafés and shops are in Carvoeiro.
Is Praia do Paraíso good at high tide?
Not really. It is a small cove and the sand shrinks a lot as the tide rises. Go around low tide, when rock pools appear at the edges.