Discover Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Algarve

Ponta da Piedade is probably the main attraction of Lagos along with the beaches. I was living in Lagos for a month and I know the area first hand. I will tell you everything in detail, the kayaking tour, the hiking route, the beaches, the cliffs and so on.

How to get from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade

There are several ways to get to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos. You can go by a walking path, by car, or by the sea (kayak or boat).

My personal advice is to go by walk. The ride is enjoyable by the views, and you can also stop at different beaches and viewpoints. In this case there are two options:

1. Start the route from Pinhão Beach : along the cliffs and continue to Praia de Dona Ana where you will find a wooden walkway. This route takes approximately 45 minutes.
2. Start the route from Dona Ana beach: In this case you will skip the first part of the trail. It will take you approximately 30 minutes.

This wooden walkway is very comfortable to walk and there are several viewpoints along the way. In the next section I will tell you about these two routes, their beaches and viewpoints.

If you drive from Lagos, it will take you 7 minutes to arrive. This is the fastest option. What you can do is to arrive a little earlier before sunset to walk along the wooden walkway and see the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade without having to go all the way from Praia de Dona Ana.

The boat, paddle surf or kayak option to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos is only recommended if you go in the morning. At sunset it is not worth it. Just after sunset it gets dark very quickly and it takes a long time to get back.

You will know you reached the end of the road when you see the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse. Right next to the lighthouse you will find parking lots if you go by car. Also, the wooden walkway continues a few more kilometers after Ponta da Piedade.

Ponta da Piedade Route and Viewpoints

There are two paths to walk to Ponta da Piedade:

The first route starts from Lagos. This is my favorite because here you see everything. In this case you will have to walk about 5 minutes from the Old Town of Lagos to the Lagos Fire Station. Once there, you will start the route by Pinhão Beach. This is where the route along the cliffs begins. This cliff path will end at Praia Dona Ana, where the wooden walkway starts. The path will take you directly from Praia Dona Ana to Ponta da Piedade.

The second option is to skip the start of the route in Lagos, and walk or drive directly to Praia de Dona Ana. You start the path directly from the wooden walkway located in the Praia Dona Ana parking lot.

The wooden walkway is comfortable and safe to walk on. You can stop at different beaches and viewpoints. Also, on the way you will find the restaurant O Camilo, in front of Praia do Camilo.

Update June 2024: Currently the wooden promenade runs all the way from Praia do Pinhão to the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse, so it will not be necessary to walk along any cliffs.

Viewpoints and Beaches in Ponta da Piedade

On the way to Ponta da Piedade you will encounter most of the beaches and viewpoints in Lagos. Here is a list of the best ones:

Praia Dona Ana: It is one of the most photographed beaches in the Algarve. Although it is not very big, the beach offers shade in the afternoon and is good for snorkeling. The sand is not very soft due to a reconstruction in 2015. The beach is close to the old town of Lagos, which means it can be very crowded, specially in summer.

Praia Do Camilo: This beach is accessible through a long wooden staircase. It is small, and it is connected to another beach through a tunnel. It is very touristy, I would recommend going early. There is a restaurant at the top of the stairs, O Camilo, but there is no sun lounger rental on the beach.

Praia da Balança: This beach is quiet and unsually not very crowded. It is located in a small cove surrounded by high cliffs and rock formations. There are no support facilities or lifeguards on the beach. It is popular for swimming in the sea and admiring the scenery, but be aware of the tide, the beach can be completely covered during high tide. Access is difficult, from the cliff or by boat or kayak, but very worthwhile.

Miradouro da Ponta da Piedade: This viewpoint provides panoramic views of the rock formations and caves of Ponta da Piedade. It is an emblematic place and very popular with visitors for its stunning natural scenery. The area is accessible on foot and is an ideal place for photography.

Boat Trip and Kayak in Ponta da Piedade

Kayak Tour

I recommend that you do the kayak tour to Ponta da Piedade. It is totally different from seeing Ponta da Piedade from the cliffs. You will go through all caves and grottoes of Ponta da Piedade. The one I always book is the Kayak tour of 35€/person and 2 hours of duration that departs from Praia Batata in lagos. In addition, there are lockers and they will lend you a waterproof bags so that your belongings do not get wet.

You will most likely meet the owners, David and Thiago, they are very nice. The guides are also good, and at the end of the tour on arrival at the lighthouse, if you are tired, you can be towed by tying the kayak to the boat. It is a totally different and fun experience to do as a couple or with friends. You don't need to know how to paddle, the guides will explain the basics.

I leave you here the link to book the tour with Kayak Tour, the company I told you about:

Another option is rent a kayak, but it will cost you the same price. I would not recommend this option if you are not experienced in these waters. If the sea is a bit rough you probably won't get much out of it.

Paddle Surf

This option is another one of my favorites, when I lived in Lagos for a month I always escaped to go paddle surfing. The cost is 30€/table for 2 hours. The best thing to do is to share the board with your partner or friends. Rent it at Praia de Dona Ana, halfway to Ponta da Piedade and with plenty of grottoes around.

Boat Ride

I would only recommend the boat ride if you don't really want to go kayaking or paddle surfing. The boat ride is faster, you go through the caves anyway, but you don't have the fun experience that you have when you go kayaking or paddle surfing. It is also more expensive.

If you like this kind of activities I have a whole other article talking about the surfing in Algarve.

Sunset at Ponta da Piedade

The sunset at Ponta da Piedade is something you should not miss if you are staying in Lagos. I would recommend you to see the sunrise at Praia Batata and in the afternoon make the route to Ponta da Piedade for the sunset.

The route is about 45 minutes walk from Lagos, but you will be entertained by the viewpoints and stops. What I mean is that you have to leave with enough time to make sure you make it to the sunset. I recommend an hour and a half in advance. In addition, if you arrive just in time, you won't have much room to sit, because it will be more crowded.

Another fact to keep in mind is that in Portugal it is legal to drink alcohol in the street. You can drink along the way or at the Ponta da Piedade viewpoint without any problem. I would recommend to buy a port wine before starting the route. There are no stores in the area. It is a perfect place to have a date with your partner.

Please note that the return trip will be at night, you might want to call an Uber. You will not see anything along the cliff road and it will take you longer. You can also choose to walk along the road, and it will take you about 25 minutes to get to Lagos.

My experience at Ponta da Piedade

I have done the route about 6 times since I got to know Lagos. I am personally fascinated by the caves and grottoes. It is a very nice and simple route. The last time I went, they were extending the wooden walkway. The only thing I don't like about Lagos and the whole coast of Portugal is the wind. The wind makes it cold even if it is sunny, so whenever you go to the Algarve bring some winter clothes.

Otherwise, Ponta da Piedade is a perfect spot to take pictures and watch the sunset. You can go for a run along the wooden promenade or even pass the lighthouse and continue to Praia da Luz.