Castelejo Beach
Praia do Castelejo is a wild Atlantic beach on the west coast of the Algarve tucked away inside the Costa Vicentina Natural Park. The beach faces straight out to the west, so the sun sets over the open ocean creating amazing light. At golden hour the dark cliffs that back the sand turn warm and the wet beach picks up the colour of the sky. The cliffs surround the beach, some of the highest on the Algarve coast, and the almost black rock sits against pale golden sand creating amazing contrast in every frame. At low tide the water pulls back to open up a wide stretch of wet sand that mirrors the cliffs and sky, The Atlantic here can be rugged so bring an ND filter and a tripod to smooth the waves into long exposures, and make sure to keep your gear back from the water's edge since the currents are strong. For a different perspective there are two clifftop viewpoints or you can walk north along the shoreline to explore the neighbouring Praia da Cordoama. The beach is accessible along winding narrow road with a small parking lot plus there is a seasonal restaurant overlooking the area. (Vila do Bispo, Algarve, Portugal)
