Four specific names help you find your way around Vale Do Garrão: Praia do Garrão Nascente, Praia do Garrão Poente, Lagoa do Garrão and Lagoa das Dunas Douradas. They represent different coastal and nature themes. If you’re looking for holiday rentals for a stay in Vale Do Garrão, you can first consider whether beaches, wetlands, birdwatching or occasional surfing are your priorities. Keep the two lagoons distinct: their names refer to different places and offer different opportunities for observation.
Two beaches, different coastal landscapes
Praia do Garrão Nascente lies within the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a protected area. At Praia do Garrão Poente, the landscape is shaped by golden sand and cliffs that give way to extensive dune fields covered in characteristic vegetation; the dunes stretch in the direction of Ria Formosa. The beach is located at the Dunas Douradas holiday complex and is surrounded by a large dune area that is being restored. This gives the beaches clearly distinct landscape features: Nascente is associated with the protected area, while Poente brings together sand, cliffs and dunes. The extent of the dune fields towards Ria Formosa and the restoration status of the area by the beach are two separate aspects of the landscape.
Wetlands and birdwatching
Lagoa do Garrão lies in the eastern of the two valleys in the area of the Garrão beaches. As a freshwater wetland, it attracts waterbirds and offers a different natural setting from the beach and dunes. A footpath along Lagoa das Dunas Douradas is also of interest for birdwatching: it is suitable for observing birds such as coots, mallards and purple swamphens. The two names refer to different places: Lagoa do Garrão is the freshwater wetland in the eastern valley; the observation path runs along Lagoa das Dunas Douradas. If you’d like to combine a visit with birdwatching, you can choose between a wetland habitat and a specific footpath.
Surfing and access
Praia do Garrão Nascente occasionally offers good surfing conditions. As these depend on the weather and sea conditions, check them before your visit if surfing is an important part of your plans. From Escanxinas, you can reach Praia do Garrão Poente via a paved road off the road between Quarteira and Almancil; the route runs for about 6 km in the direction of Vale Do Garrão.
Choosing a focus for your search
In the coastal area of the Freguesia de Almancil, Garrão beach is one of the attractions. When looking for holiday rentals in Vale Do Garrão, you can weigh up the different highlights: golden sand and dunes shape the landscape at Poente, the two lagoon locations offer different natural features and observation opportunities, and surfing at Nascente depends on the conditions. These differences give you a concrete starting point for your choice.
Discover more destinations: Vale De Lobo.
Return to the main travel overview: Almancil.
