Praia São Rafael and Praia dos Arrifes

Today is Sunday, and we are also taking a break. The rain has eased, but the clouds continue to drift across the sky. It is still windy, so the clouds occasionally let the sun shine through.

Like many others, we are using the day to take a walk, with the difference that we head to the beach and enjoy pleasant temperatures around 20 degrees.

Our first destination is the nearby Praia Sao Rafael.

Praia de São Rafael beach is one of many beautiful beaches on the Algarve and is characterized by its impressive natural backdrop and usually clear, turquoise waters. Today, however, it was wild and murky. 

A windy and cloudy day at Praia de São Rafael gives the beach a special, almost magical atmosphere that is very different from the typical sunny days.

The imposing rock formations appear even more dramatic under the gray sky. Their rough, ochre-colored surface sharply contrasts with the dark clouds that drift by in the sky.

The wind whistling through the rocks carries the salty scent of the sea with it and makes the plants on the cliffs dance. The waves crash more powerfully than usual against the shore rocks, and the roar of the sea fills the air with an intense energy.

The water, which shimmers turquoise on sunny days, appears in deeper, mysterious shades of blue and gray on such days. The spray from the waves is swept away by the wind, creating a fine, shimmering mist that makes the beach seem like a bewitched place.

The beach is framed by spectacular limestone cliffs, shaped over millennia by wind and water. Some of these rocks have whimsical shapes and are a major attraction. 

The few people who visit the beach in this weather are wrapped in their coats despite the feels-like 20-degree temperature. It is a moment of peace and strength, where nature shows its wild, untamed side, bathing the beach in an almost melancholic but beautiful light, revealing the mystical side of the beach.

Next, we drove to Praia dos Arrifes. Praia dos Arrifes and Praia de São Rafael are located in the same coastal region near Albufeira, but they have different characteristics that make them charming. 

Praia Dos Arrifes is a small, hidden cove surrounded by rugged cliffs, conveying an untouched, wild atmosphere. The beach is lined with natural rock formations, scattered both on land and in the water, giving the place a fascinating, almost mysterious backdrop.

In the water, some rocks protrude from the waves - they look like small islands shaped by time and tides. Some of them are covered with algae and shells, giving them a rustic, original charm. The water around these rocks is often clear, allowing you to see the structures below the surface; today, the sea is turbulent. 

These rocks give Praia dos Arrifes a mystical beauty, especially in cloudy skies and rougher weather. The breaking waves crashing against the rocks create an impressive spectacle, and the roaring sound of the sea enhances the lonely, powerful atmosphere of the beach.

Praia dos Arrifes is a place where the raw power of nature becomes visible – with its rugged charm and the rocks that adorn the sea like natural artworks.

The atmosphere on a cloudy, windy day like today makes the beaches especially mystical. The secluded location, combined with the sound of the sea and the wind, gives the feeling of being in an untouched, almost secret world. 

Praia de São Rafael and Praia dos Arrifes are a must for anyone visiting the Algarve. But one could probably say that about any beach in the Algarve.

In the evening, we were once again treated to a beautiful sunset. That is the beauty of the Algarve.