Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro: what the photos don't tell you
Short answer: Sand beach facing south. Mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 08:35 (2 h 07 after sunrise) to 18:50, 2 h 06 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 10 h 15 of sun in all.
Also called Benagil. Algarve.
Thu 15 July 2027
Sun on the sand 08:35–18:50
Direct sun on the sand from 08:35 (2 h 07 after sunrise) to 18:50, 2 h 06 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 10 h 15 of sun in all. Sunset at sea level: 20:55.
Each block is half an hour from 05:00 to 22:00. sun on the beach · sun up but behind the cliffs or hills · sun down.
Reality check
- Surface
- Sand (OpenStreetMap)
- Water shoes
- Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins. (From the surface)
- Climb back up
- No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat. (Elevation model + OpenStreetMap)
- Beach clubs and free sand
- No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds. (OpenStreetMap)
- Natural shade
- Cliffs rise 26° above the beach behind you: deep shade comes early (see the sun times above). No trees or shade otherwise; bring an umbrella for midday. (Calculated from the terrain)
- Water depth
- Deepens steadily: out of your depth within a few tens of metres. 200 m out about 6 m deep, 400 m out about 8 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.) (EMODnet Bathymetry)
- Toilets and showers
- None mapped within 400 m. (OpenStreetMap)
- Sea temperature
- August: 20 °C on average. Warmest August (20 °C). (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020 average)
Plan it
Arrive before the sun reaches the sand to get a spot, or come for the last hours of sun when the day crowds leave. A boat trip reaches coves with no road access.
Through the year
Times on the 15th of each month, local time.
| Month | Sun on the sand | Lost to cliffs | Sea | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:30–15:55 | 2 h 29 | 16 °C | — |
| February | 08:25–16:30 | 2 h 46 | 15 °C | — |
| March | 08:10–16:55 | 3 h 10 | 15 °C | — |
| April | 08:45–18:15 | 3 h 38 | 16 °C | — |
| May | 08:30–18:35 | 4 h 04 | 17 °C | — |
| June | 08:25–18:45 | 4 h 22 | 19 °C | — |
| July | 08:35–18:50 | 4 h 13 | 20 °C | — |
| August | 08:45–18:30 | 3 h 51 | 20 °C | — |
| September | 08:45–17:55 | 3 h 16 | 20 °C | — |
| October | 08:50–17:15 | 2 h 51 | 20 °C | — |
| November | 08:00–15:40 | 2 h 32 | 18 °C | — |
| December | 08:20–15:30 | 2 h 28 | 17 °C | — |
Questions
What time does the sun leave Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro?
In mid-July: Direct sun on the sand from 08:35 (2 h 07 after sunrise) to 18:50, 2 h 06 before sunset, when the sun drops behind the cliffs: 10 h 15 of sun in all. Pick any date above for that day's times.
Is Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro sand or pebbles?
Sand. Water shoes: Not needed for the sand itself. Rocks at either end may have sea urchins.
How far is the walk from parking to Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro?
No car park or bus stop mapped within 700 m: expect a walk or a boat.
Is the water deep at Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro?
Deepens steadily: out of your depth within a few tens of metres. 200 m out about 6 m deep, 400 m out about 8 m deep. (Seabed model with about 100 m detail: the first metres from the shore are not resolved.)
How warm is the sea at Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro?
Jan 16 °C, Feb 15 °C, Mar 15 °C, Apr 16 °C, May 17 °C, Jun 19 °C, Jul 20 °C, Aug 20 °C, Sep 20 °C, Oct 20 °C, Nov 18 °C, Dec 17 °C (1991–2020 averages).
Is there free beach at Praia de Benagil, Lagoa e Carvoeiro or only beach clubs?
No beach clubs are mapped on this beach. That usually means free sand, but clubs are not always mapped: check recent photos for rows of sunbeds.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikipedia · map record. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information.