Vale do Lobo - Quarteira Beach

The gay beach between Vale do Lobo and Quarteira is also known as 'Cavalo Preto' beach (Black Horse beach). While driving to this beach from Quarteira requires a little spirit of adventure as the road is replaced, at the last stage, with a track through a pinewood forest, it is certainly worth the trip. It is a generously sized gay beach, with a large stretch of sand and dunes, and a bush area north of the dunes where cruising takes place.

This is a popular beach, busy all year round (even in the winter for cruising) and especially crowded with gay people in the summer. Nude sunbathing and swimming (beachwear optional).

How to get there:

• Walking from Quarteira: Drive or walk to the end of Quarteira. Walk along the beach in direction to Faro (East). Pass the first set of cliffs. The gay beach starts towards the middle of the cliffless beach until the next set of cliffs (Vale do Lobo). Behind the beach you will see marshland and golf courses. The gay beach is about 20 to 30 minutes walk from Quarteira.

• Walking from Vale do Lobo: Drive to Vale do Lobo and park as close to the beach access as possible. Walk towards the sea and walk along the beach in direction to Quarteira (West). The gay beach is about 10 minutes walk from Vale do Lobo.

• Driving: From Quarteira - Take the road to Almancil, drive pass the Camping and turn right at the next road marked 'Praia do Almargem'. Follow the road in direction to the sea, driving through the pine tree forest. While driving through the pine trees, take the track roads going towards the left. Road will finish by the sea, in front of a beach side café, where parking is available. Walk along the beach towards the Vale do Lobo cliffs: the gay beach starts half way along and runs till the Vale do Lobo cliffs.