Praia de Odeceixe

The Ribeira de Seixe reaches the sea at Odeceixe by curving sharply north, and the beach fills the inside of that bend - so it has ocean surf on its western edge and the shallow, still, much warmer river along its northern one, which is why it is the beach families on this coast head for. The river also marks the regional boundary: the far bank is Alentejo, the near one Algarve. Cliffs enclose both sides, with a clifftop road and viewpoints above. The village of Odeceixe sits four kilometres inland on a hillside with a restored windmill on top, and the Rota Vicentina passes through. In summer the beach has lifeguards, a couple of cafés and a car park that fills; out of season it is empty, and the river channel shifts noticeably from year to year after winter floods.

What you actually see

• The river bend - the beach filling the inside of a sharp curve in the Seixe.
• The two waters - warm shallow river on one side, cold Atlantic on the other.
• The regional border - Alentejo on the far bank, Algarve on the near one.
• The village - Odeceixe on its hillside inland, with a restored windmill.

When to go

May to September, with lifeguards in season. Half a day. August is busy; June and September are far better.

Honest expectations

The car park is small and fills early in summer. Ocean-side currents are strong even though the river side looks tame. The walk between village and beach is four kilometres with no shade. Out of season most facilities close.

Nearby

Odeceixe village is inland; Zambujeira do Mar is north in the Alentejo.