Costa da Caparica

Cova da Vapor

North of Costa da Caparica the Tejo (Tagus) joins the Atlantic. Here is the working fishing village of Cova da Vapor and a broad expansive beach. A long jetty juts out into the sea and helps to temper Atlantic swells however does little to ease the sea breezes. The effect of the warmer river flowing into the cooler waters of the Atlantic creates a great feeding ground for fish which supports the village's industry, yet the currents can be perilous for swimmers – be mindful to swim between the red and yellow flags. The water conditions attract surfers; kite surfers and windsurfers alike. There are surf camps here that offer lessons and board hire. The village itself comprises of fisherman bungalows, some brightly coloured. There's some great beach bars, clubs and restaurants here. One feels you have stumbled across the locals secret hideaway places but of cause service here is as friendly as anywhere else in Portugal. 38° 39' 46.2" N | 09° 15' 28.2" W | 171

The coastal town of Costa da Caparica (Caprica means cloak filled with riches) is quite a lively resort loved by Lisboetas who flock here on weekends and public holidays. Relatively unknown by international visitors prices here remain cheaper than in Cascais or Estoril. The coastline has a wonderful rugged beauty, the large swell, lines of dunes, clean golden sands and fresh sea air. Costa da Caparica town stretches from Praia de Santo António in the North 38° 38' 50.6" N | 09° 14' 37.2" W to the Praia Fonte da Telha 38° 34' 18.9" N | 09° 11' 45.9" W in the south and encompass some of the best beaches in the Lisbon area. A mini train ( May – September; Daily every 30min, 09h00 – 15h30 | €3.80 return ) traffics people along the coast although the promenade and boardwalks are pleasant to traverse. The buildings are a hodgepodge of new high-rises and traditional townhouses. The accommodation varies too from luxury hotels to self-catering apartments. In the Praça da Liberdade you’ll find the municipal market, supermarkets and banks. The Rua dos Pescadores is pedestrianised and sits in the heart of the commercial area and is full of cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops and inexpensive guesthouses.

Vestiges of the towns fishing heritage can be found by the odd colourful boat landed on the beaches and brightly painted fisherman huts. There's an abundance of places to eat and drink, both on the sands and inland. It's not uncommon for beach parties to erupt during summer evenings. The further south from the centre of Costa da Caparica the less developed and crowded it comes. Away from the family orientated centre the beaches here attract more surfers and located north of Pesca fonte da Telha is the Praia 19, Portugal's oldest naturist beach. 38° 35' 06.9" N | 09° 12' 14.8" W. At Pesca fonte da Telha there's a long stretch of beach with a number of beach bars and restaurants. 38° 34' 04.0" N | 09° 11' 36.4" W | 129, 130, 139, 163.

Lagoa de Albufeira

Just south of the Arriba Fóssil da Costa de Caparica nature reserve is over a thousand hectares of rugged cliffs containing fossils dating back over 15 million years. Beyond the Arriba Fóssil da Costa de Caparica the Costa da Caparica coastline opens up into a beautiful lagoon. The lagoon system is fed by three small rivers and provides refuge for many species of waterfowl, fauna and flora. The calmer waters of the lagoon provide tame bathing conditions for young families and windsurfers. A sand bar where the lagoon meets the ocean, the Praia da Boca Velha 38° 30' 46.6" N | 09° 10' 58.1" W, offers great conditions for sunbathing. The Praia da Lagoa de Albufeira-Mar faces the Atlantic and is separated from the lagoon by large dunes. 38° 30' 25.2" N | 09° 10 '57.1" W | 240.