Help needed re finding a certain beach

[Jadzia]

Hi everyone - haven't posted for a few months but am getting really excited because we are off to Carvoeiro in just over a week - our 4th visit!!!

But if anyone could help us identify a beach we visited the time before last - - may have been around San Rafael (spelling)!!! beach - but we remember particularly for its rock pools. There is a big rocky promontary that half protects the beach from the ocean and then in front of it when the tide is down a lovely load of rockpool formations. We don't think there's a restaurant on it. But blow me we tried to find it last time and couldn't! Its just so great for the younger kids to play in. We even saw it on this website a few months ago but it has gone now and we didn't make a note of it. Anyone recognise this from the description?????? Please help - many thanks Liz and family

[Gambrinus]

San Rafael? Nope, does not ring a bell

If you like rock pools, there is a secluded cove down the front of Carvoeiro Clube (Vale da Lapa). It is quite tough to access and requires some clambering along the rocks but when you get down you have the west side of the beach, which is a long stretch of rock pools with all sorts of crabs, etc. and the east side is a relativley small sandy patch littered with a couple of disconcertingly large boulders.

Maybe worth a visit

[Guest]

Havent heard of san rafael but my friend is going to sao rafael, nr albufeira for 2 weeks - maybe this is the place you are thinking of??

[jadzia]

Hi - yep that's right Sao Rafael - I thought my spelling was suspect - but it's a beach somewhere nearby. We are off tomorrrow and thought what we will do is take some photos of the beach and show them at the tourist info centre - they should be able to identify it!! Can't wait - we'll be there by 4 tomorrow afternoon - hooray . We will be waving at the webcam by the icecream parlour - see you there!!! I'll be the one with 4 kids yelling at each

Liz xx

[pammie]

Glad I got the spelling right. Have a great hol. We don't return to Carvoeiro until September so wish we were on the plane with you 2morrow. Enjoy those ice creams

[biffa]

You must be talking about one of the several beaches between São Rafael just before Albufeira and Praia da Galé.

Probably it is a beach which is reached by turning right off the old Pera to Albufeira coast road at Galé, keeping tright on until you can go no further and then down a sand track to the beach.

From the "main" road just before you hit this beach you can turn left to beaches like Evaristo (where the jet set go!) or right to Galé beach which is nearly back as far as the Salgados golf course. Then the bay carries on for miles as far as Armação de Pêra.

This strip of coast has numerous rocky coves some served by beach bars. A nice small one with a great Brazilian type beach bar is just in front of the exclusive Vila Joya restaurant hotel

[jadzia]

Thanks so much - when we have the car we will follow your directions and have an explore - it definatly sounds familiar!!! We have packed our photos of this particular beach so I am determined to find it again!! By the way does anyway know what voltage the electricty is in Carvoeiro - I want to take my heated hairbrush but it isn't a travel one and won't work if it's 110v!!1 (vain I know - but you wouldn't want to see my hair without it LOL!!)