Castelejo Beach is a picturesque coastal destination nestled in the vicinity of the town of Vila do Bispo e Raposeira, in the Faro District of Portugal. It is situated within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, less than 5 km from Vila do Bispo.
The beach is renowned for its dramatic natural features. It is an Atlantic beach encircled by towering black rock cliffs, composed of schist, graywacke, and quartz. At the heart of the beach is a distinctive isolated rock that bears a resemblance to a castle, a feature that has given the beach its name. It is blessed with white sands that stretch approximately 500 meters in length and 40 meters in width. The beach is also known for its wild ocean, with waves in full force and a high tide over two meters, and a cooling wind that carries the scent of salt.
Castelejo Beach is a popular spot for a variety of oceanic and leisure activities. It attracts surfers, hikers, and sunbathers, and is an ideal place to enjoy the sunset. The beach also has a historic significance, preserving remains of a dense accumulation of shells from the Mesolithic-Neolithic period, a testament to human presence dating back 8,700-6,450 years.
Accessible by a paved road, the beach has stairs and a ramp for pedestrians. It offers two parking areas, one located at the top of the beach requiring a 2km walk to reach the sands, and another located closer to the beach, accessible via a narrow asphalt road. The parking areas can accommodate around 100 vehicles. Despite its beauty and amenities, Castelejo Beach is often not crowded, particularly in the morning or evening.
The beach is equipped with a café-restaurant that provides restroom facilities. The bathing season runs from June 1st to September 30th, during which the beach is regularly monitored by the Maritime Authority and lifeguards. It should be noted that there are no surf rentals available during the off-season.
On the eastern side of the beach, there is a viewpoint known as Miradouro do Castelejo, where local shellfish gatherers observe the sea conditions. The beach is frequented by fishermen and shellfish gatherers from Vila do Bispo, who collect the highly prized local seafood, Percebe.
