Praia da Ursa

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The hang

Marinha's wilder, uglier, more committed sister. You get there via a dirt path and a rope-assisted scramble down a cliff that redefines "beach access." The reward: a raw, unmanaged cove with sea stacks that look like gods left their chess game half-finished. No sunbeds. No snack bar. No lifeguard. No pretense. This is what every Algarve beach looked like before someone built a road to it.

The real intel

Best months: May–Jun, Sept–Oct. Avoid in winter — the path turns to mud and the sea is hostile.
Getting there: Park at the end of the road past Marinha. Hike ~20 min down a steep, rocky trail with a rope section in places. Wear real shoes, not flip-flops, you lunatic.
Where to stay: Sagres (45 min west) if you want the wild-coast vibe, or Lagoa (20 min) for comfort.
Cost reality: Free. Entirely. There is nothing to buy. Bring water, food, shade — all of it.
The catch nobody tells you: The descent is genuinely dangerous in rain or for anyone with bad knees. The beach disappears at high tide. Check the tide chart or you'll be cliff-hugging like a goat.