Ponta da Piedade was one of my first loves in the Algarve in southern Portugal. Tall, rugged, golden cliffs towering above the gleaming Atlantic Ocean below.
Quite a common sight on the southern Portuguese coast. Yet, Ponta da Piedade truly captured my heart.
Visiting Ponta da Piedade now is quite different than what it was the first time I went, but it’s still stunning!
It’s only a 10-minute drive from Lagos and one of the most popular day trips from Lagos together with Sagres. But also one of the most beautiful where I’ve returned time after time to soak in the rugged surface overlooking boats beaming across the glittering water below.
Kayaks and paddleboards flock around unique rock formations, paddle through natural arches, and tourists march up and down the stairs to the bottom like working ants. There’s no secret that Ponta da Piedade is a popular tourist attraction.
Even so, there is something about this place that leaves you breathless. Here is everything you need to know to explore Ponta da Piedade.
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⭐MY TOP PICKS TO PONTA DA PIEDADE:
👉Kayak tour from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade
👉Boat trip from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade
Table of Contents
How to get to Ponta da Piedade
By car/Taxi/Uber
Ponta da Piedade is near one of the most popular towns in Algarve, Lagos. If you have a car you can get there in 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can get an Uber or a taxi.
There used to be a parking lot right next to the rock formations and the lighthouse in the past. This has now closed and it’s not allowed to drive all the way in anymore.
However, there is a parking area shortly after you pass Camilo Beach. It is only a few minutes walk from Ponta da Piedade.
Hiking
It is about a 1.5-hour hike (there and back) from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade along the Ponta da Piedade Boardwalk.
The path is about 3 kilometers each way (6km in total) and is mostly flat, which makes it doable even in the summer. But make sure you bring a hat/caps and plenty of water as the entire walk is exposed to the sun.
It’s a scenic path past some of the most beautiful Algarve beaches, Dona Ana Beach, and Camilo Beach. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful hikes in Algarve.
We love to stop for a swim or two along the way, so make sure you bring swimwear and a towel if you think you might want to do the same.
By boat
Some of the best boat trips from Lagos also include Ponta da Piedade, so if you don’t want to walk and don’t have a vehicle, a great option is to explore this natural wonder from the water.
It’s a fantastic way to see the rock formations from the water and give a completely different perspective than from land.
I highly recommend this boat trip from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade. I had a fantastic experience and the guides were superb giving information as we passed different beaches and rock formations and answered any questions with knowledge.
By kayak
Finally, my favorite way of going to Ponta da Piedade is by kayak as it gives a more close-up experience. Back in the day, it was possible to rent a kayak and go on your own, but due to tourist accidents, it’s now mandatory to go on a guided kayak tour.
I highly recommend this kayak tour from Lagos Marina. It takes you in a catamaran to Ponta da Piedade where you’ll kayak around the rock formations with a guide.
They also had a swimming stop, which I absolutely loved! Make sure you take a waterproof bag for your phone so you can take pictures during your experience.
When is the best time to visit Ponta da Piedade?
The summer months from mid-June to the end of August are without a doubt the hottest and most busy months. If you have the chance to avoid this period, I would recommend it.
Not only to have a better experience but also to put less pressure on an area suffering from overtourism in the summer.
In the shoulder seasons of May to mid-June and September, it is still high temperatures but fewer tourists. If you want to combine your trip to Ponta da Piedade with swimming at one of the nearby beaches, September and most years even October are great.
In the Algarve winter, between November and April, the temperatures are milder, even though you can encounter warm sunny days with temperatures in the high 20s (Celsius).
However, this time of year is more pleasant for anything that does not involve water activities and is my favorite time for an Algarve road trip.
Ponta da Piedade
Ponta da Piedade is a cluster of rock formations towering up to 20 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, creating natural arches, caves, and towers attracting thousands of tourists. The views of this place will take your breath away.
It used to be quite sketchy walking on top of the rocks to get the best views. But they have built boardwalks and lookout points in the area so it’s a lot safer now.
That said, I saw heaps of people walking outside the boardwalks to get better photo angles. There is a reason why the wooden decks are built and it’s all about safety.
The limestone rocks erode and can be loose and break off at the edges. This makes it extremely dangerous to step on the edges, so I highly advice against getting off the boardwalks.
The views from Ponta da Piedade are breathtaking nonetheless and span all the way from Carvoeiro in the east to Sagres in the west.
There is also a set of nearly 200 stairs that take you down to the bottom for a different perspective. From there, you can take a boat trip with a local fishing boat to explore the caves and arches close up. I’ve never taken a boat from there before, but it seems like a great option if you haven’t already taken a boat trip from Lagos.
Fishermen have named many of the rock formations and are usually more than willing to point out figures like “The elephant”, “The kissing couple”, and “The camel head”. Bring your imagination and you will have a lot of fun.
From Ponta da Piedade there is a beautiful boardwalk that takes you all the way to Canavial Beach (not the one from Lagos, but the other way, so if you walk from Lagos, you can extend your hike by continuing on the boardwalk past Ponta da Piedade.) The boardwalk is incredible to walk during sunset.
If you ask me, Ponta da Piedade should be on any southern Portugal itinerary.
See Ponta da Piedade the responsible way
Ponta da Piedade is one of the most popular spots on the Algarve coast, so there are a few things you can do to put less pressure on the destination.
First of all, if you have the chance, travel outside the peak season. This will ease the pressure on the locals as well as on nature.
Second, make sure you leave no waste behind. There are rubbish bins you can use but if you see they are full, take it with you back to town and throw it there.
To avoid contributing to more plastic waste, bring your own reusable water bottle. There are great metal ones that keep the water cool for up to 24 hours.
Finally, the cliffs are steep and by going too close to the edges you can slip on uneven and loose ground. Also, by staying away from the edges you don’t provoke the erosion of the cliffs. There are signs warning against walking on the edges of the unstable cliffs. Respect them.
So no stupid Insta stunts.
All together, stay on the paths and leave no trace.
Reflections on Ponta da Piedade Algarve
There’s no question, Ponta da Piedade should be on your itinerary even if you only visit Algarve on a weekend trip.
There are many mesmerizing natural wonders in southern Portugal and Ponta da Piedade tops the list together with a few others.
Whether you choose to visit the site by land or by sea, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. Especially off-season when there are fewer tourists crowding the area.
Happy travels!
Great post and terrific blog site you have . Pinned and following.
We are going to Portugal in April and will put this place on our list. Thanks!
Thank you so much for your motivating words! I’m sure you will love Portugal, it’s definitely one of my favorite European countries at the moment:) Enjoy your trip!