Off the beaten track

Portugal has a huge coastline, which also means it has tons of beaches, from North to South. Combine that with a warm climate and a ton of sunny days, and it's easy to imagine how crowded beaches can get, especially in the summertime.

A lot of people favour the lounge chairs and nearby cafes, when choosing their beach destination. Amenities and easy access are also to be considered. In my case... the further away from the crowds, the better! That normally means going a little bit further, and ditching the cool beachside cafes; but it's a small price to pay for being able to be in beautiful uncrowded beaches in the peak beach days, surrounded by nature. Fortunately for me, SW Portugal has tons of these gems!

Praia dos Machados

This beach was near my getaway place for these past days, and although beaches here aren't usually packed, this was one I was yet to explore, so me and my friend decided to pay her a visit, and we weren't disappointed at all. This was what we found, in an afternoon, in the middle of August: a beautiful beach, surrounded by high cliffs, and mostly uncrowded!

After parking the car and walking for a little bit, this is what we found: an opening in the middle of the mediterranean vegetation.

Entering the hole, a tunnel-like passage through the small woods led us further down.

After a short walk, an opening was formed again...

... and there it was, praia dos Machados! (it literelly translates to Axe's beach)

The only way down? Through a narrow path, and a steep incline. Care should be taken, because although it's not a vertical fall if you slip, it's still a very steep fall!

The sea? Rough, as is the norm in this part of the country; but decent surf conditions, if that's your thing. No lifeguards or support structures, nor any kind of commerce: this is a wild beach! The views and nature all around are its strong spots.

Being able to have a beach almost to yourself in the Summer peak, and with this natural beauty, is a blessing. A perfect place to unwind, forget your problems, enjoy the sun and the cold water... and stay until the sun goes down, to witness the beautiful colours of the golden hour.

The slightly difficult access almost guarantees that this will never be a beach with a lot of confusion, so if wild beaches are your thing and you visit SW Portugal... this one might be worth a visit! ;)

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