Between Ferragudo and Carvoeiro, the Caminho dos Promontório follows the Algarve coast for around six kilometers, on a route marked by cliffs, caves, caves and small hidden beaches. Starting at Praia do Molhe and ending at Praia do Paraíso, this trail always follows the seafront and reveals one of the most expressive coastal landscapes in the Algarve. According to Expresso, it is part of the selection of “Trails and walkways to explore the landscape”, from the “Portugal Autêntico” collection.
Before starting the walk, it is worth passing by the Ferragudo pier and the village, where the connection with the Arade river and fishing activity is still very present. From Praia do Molhe, the route progresses along the coast and allows you to see Ponta do Altar, a promontory that delimits the mouth of the Arade to the east. From then on, the sea accompanies almost every step, while the path skirts cliffs and coves opened by erosion.
A path between cliffs, caves and ancient memory
Along the route, there are many points and recesses that hide small beaches between the cliffs. The landscape was shaped in a massive Miocene limestone, where the action of fresh and salt waters opened caves, sinkholes and other karst forms. It is this irregular geology that gives the Caminho dos Promontório part of its character, with sections where the coast appears to extend into the sea.
Human occupation of this area is ancient. According to Expresso, the place has been used since prehistoric times in pagan rites, among caves and natural cavities that help explain the symbolic importance of this coastline. Later, in 1893, the Ponta do Altar Lighthouse was built, a visual reference that still marks this stretch of the Algarve coast.
The richness of the route also lies in its natural life. Leixão da Gaivota, classified as a special protection zone, stands out among the rocks and functions as a dormitory and breeding site for seabirds. Among the species that can be seen in this area are the snowy egret, the cattle heron, the rock pigeon, the yellow-legged gull, the common kestrel and the peregrine falcon.
Along the way, interpretive panels help you understand the geology, ecosystems and ancient human presence on this coastal strip. More than a walk by the sea, the Caminho dos Promontório is a way of getting to know an Algarve of jagged cliffs, caves opened by the water, small protected beaches and landscapes that end, literally, in Paradise.
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