Just west of the Praia dos Pescadores beach, famous for its fishing boats, are the remains of a 17th-century fort built to defend the village against North African Barbary pirates. Inside the ramparts is a chapel dedicated to Santo António, dating from the 15th/16th centuries. The fort offers amazing views overlooking Armação de Pêra and beyond. Opposite the fort is a network of cobbled streets that traverses the original fishing village. Here you can find several traditional eateries, interesting shops and bars. The main church in Armação de Pêra is a relatively new addition to the town. The Igreja Matriz de Armação de Pêra dates back to the 1950s, but its design aspires to traditional Algarvian styling.

Praia do Barranco

A mile or so west of Armação de Pêra in the parish of Porches is this narrow cove, sheltered from the sea breeze by high cliffs. The sea that washes up on the beach is calm and ideal for family bathing. After the rain, a small stream empties on the eastern end. | 37º 05' 45.2" N | 08º 23' 32.2" W

Praia Nova

A somewhat long yet narrow strip of sand backed by sandstone cliffs with a rockslide splitting the beach into two halves. Access to the beach down a wooden stairway through a crevice in the cliff. On the eastern side is the promontory cliff on which the pretty Capela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha chapel sits. A tunnel hewn into this promontory links Praia Nova with Praia da Senhora do Rocha on the other side.
37º 05' 46.7" N | 08º 23' 15.9" W

Praia da Senhora da Rocha

The beauty of this spot has made this smallish cove a popular location for tourists. The profusion of hotels and apartments nearby means this is one of the busiest beaches in the area. The golden sandstone cliffs that flank Praia da Senhora da Rocha offer local fishermen protection for their boats. Today, some of these boats offer trips and are available for rent. The tunnel through the cliff gives access to the Praia Nova beach and is a little less crowded. | 37º 05' 50.1" N | 08º 23' 09.6"

Praia da Cova Redonda

A medium-sized beach with golden sands close to the Vila Lara resort. 30 metres out to sea is a stack that resembles a whale. The waters here are calm, and the cliffs keep the beach relatively protected from offshore breezes. There's a stairway cut out of the rock leading down to the sands. | 37º 05' 55.9" N | 08º 22' 47.0"

Praia dos Tremoços

This 130-metre-long stretch of light-coloured sand is bordered by sandstone cliffs. On top of the cliff is the five-star Vila Vita Parc hotel and access to the beach. There is a guest-only area on the beach, but elsewhere is available to all. The beach used to suffer badly from erosion, but now a 70-metre-long jetty prevents the sand from being washed away. The sea here is good for bathing and during the high season there's a lifeguard at hand. | 37º 05' 59.4" N | 08º 22' 37.7" W

Praia dos Beijinhos

The next beach along is called Praia dos Beijinhos, which translates as the beach of little kisses. It's less frequented than Praia dos Tremoços, maybe because of the large boulders strewn across the beach.
37º 06' 03.4 N | 08º 22' 37.9" W

Praia do Vale do Olival

The proximity of hotels and holiday accommodation near this beach results in Praia do Vale do Olival receiving a lot of visitors. Visitors are well catered for, with three eateries located on the beach where diners can take in the views on their terraces. During the busy season, the beach is a profusion of sunbeds, parasols, beach towels and bronzing bodies with the aroma of sunblock. | 37º 06' 05.8" N | 08º 22' 16.6" W

Praia de Armação de Pêra

Praia de Armação de Pêra is a long continuation of Praia do Vale do Olival and is central to the town. As with the Praia do Vale do Olival, it attracts many visitors, yet the further east out of town, the quieter the beach is. On the promenade above the beach are all the amenities you need for a fun family holiday, including restaurants, bars and shops. There are two water sports operators here who combined offer a wide range of activities. There's a child's play area to stop the little angels from getting bored. The sea here is well suited for bathers, it is clean with few rocks and lifeguards patrol the busiest spots. Access to the beach is via a wooden ramp, suitable for wheelchairs. At the beaches' most eastern point it widens out just before its bars the Ribeira de Alcantarilha estuary. | 37º 06' 01.45" N | 08º 21' 31.35" W

Praia Grande de Pêra

With the white concrete high-rises of Armação de Pêra disappearing over the horizon, this lovely long stretch of the beach remains largely untouched by development. For those who enjoy peace and quiet, with an appreciation for wildlife. The drive to this beach involves travelling inland to the village of Pêra before driving back down again. Although it is possible to walk along the sands. The western part is dominated by dunes traversed by a wooden boardwalk onto the beach with fine light sand. This side of the beach is called Praia Grande Poente. | 37º 05' 50.83" N | 08º 20' 51.60" W

Praia Grande Nascente

As you head on further west, the dunes subside and open up to reveal wetlands and salt marshes. The beach here is quieter still, mostly visited by local families. Known as the Praia Grande Nascente, this beautiful landscape is popular with walkers and bird watchers alike. The dunes and wetlands are accessible with a network of wooden boardwalks which protect the fauna. The Praia Grande Nascente goes on to bar the Lagoa dos Salgados lagoon. | 37º 05' 35.21" N | 08º 20' 16.13" W

Praia dos Salgados

Across the sandbar on the opposite bank of the lagoon, the golden sands continue under the name of Praia dos Salgados. It has a decent-sized car park which overlooks the wetlands from where a footpath leads to the beach. Praia dos Salgados is well served by a pleasant restaurant. Close to the entrance to the beach, you can rent sun loungers, parasols and hire surfboards and pedalos. The beach has Blue Flag status, a recognition of the cleanliness of the water and beach. | 37º 05' 20.85" N | 08º 19' 44.26"