Praia do Carvalho

Worth a detour.

The hang

A hidden cove you enter through a hand-carved tunnel in the cliff — like the beach is a secret you have to earn. Small, ringed by golden rock, with a single clap of sand that vanishes at high tide. Once you're through the tunnel you feel like you've discovered something. You haven't — the Romans knew — but the feeling is the point.

The real intel

Best months: May–Jun, Sept. In July–Aug the tunnel queues and the beach disappears under bodies.
Getting there: Between Carvoeiro and Marinha. Park on the road (N124-3), follow the path, find the tunnel. It's signposted-ish.
Where to stay: Carvoeiro (10 min). Or Lagoa.
Cost reality: Free. No sunbeds, no services. Bring everything.
The catch nobody tells you: Tiny. At high tide the sand is gone and you're sitting on rock. Check tide tables. The tunnel is low — tall people will learn to duck.