Praia dos Salgados

Set around a kilometre east of the resort of Armação de Pêra is the Praia dos Salgados. It is really just one section of a massive crescent of beach that stretches from the resort, halfway to Albufeira.

Unlike the coast further east, towards Albufeira, with its cliffs and rock formations, Praia dos Salgados is backed by low sand dunes. These are criss-crossed with wooden boardwalks to keep this important conservation area intact.

Beyond the sand dunes lies the Salgados Lagoon. This provides an important habitat for many migrating birds which use the wetlands as a stopover and nest among the reeds and rushes. Species of interest include curlews, red herons and blue-black grassquits.

Although the lack of cliffs makes the beach at Salgados less sheltered than those further along it does mean this can be a good spot for kitesurfing and other watersports.