Praia do Camilo, Lagos: Is It Open? 2026 Guide

Praia do Camilo is the small cove south of Lagos that most people know from one photo: a long wooden staircase zigzagging down golden cliffs to a strip of sand and clear water. In 2026 that staircase is closed, so here’s what you can still do, and how to plan for when it reopens.

Quick answer: Praia do Camilo is about 2km south of Lagos old town, between Praia Dona Ana and the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse. Its wooden staircase of about 200 steps has been closed since before summer 2026 after storm damage to the cliff, with no reopening date yet. See it from the clifftop or on a boat or kayak trip, and don’t cross the barriers.

Where it is

The beach is on the coast between Lagos and Ponta da Piedade, just south of Praia Dona Ana. From town, follow the signs for the praias (beaches) and Ponta da Piedade; Camilo is signposted a little before the lighthouse. The cove faces east, and the clifftop looks along the coast towards Albufeira.

Is Praia do Camilo open?

Not on foot. The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) closed the staircase after the storms, heavy seas and rain of winter 2025 to 2026 damaged both the cliff and the structure. It says it can’t guarantee the stairs are safe to use.

• Barriers: Lagos council has added fencing and signs at the top. Local press reported dozens of people a day ignoring them in early summer. Don’t.
• Swimming: since 9 June 2026 the APA has listed Camilo as “do not bathe” (não tomar banho), because access to the beach is unstable.
• Repairs: in October 2026 the council announced an agreement with the APA and the Agência para o Clima, worth about €150,000 from the government’s Environmental Fund, to rebuild the access. No start or reopening date has been given.

The staircase

The staircase is what made Camilo famous. It has about 200 steps (counts vary a little) and winds down through low scrub of mastic, kermes oak and rockrose to the sand.

Even when it’s open, there are rules. In the bathing season, from 9am to 7pm, you can’t carry boards, kayaks or diving gear down the Camilo or Dona Ana stairs, or leave that kind of kit on the sand. Fines for individuals run from €55 to €550.

What the beach is like

Camilo is small. A large rock formation splits it in two, and a narrow, damp tunnel dug by hand links the two halves. The cliffs are full of ledges, arches and little caves, where cormorants and gulls often rest.

• Water: clear and usually calm, as the cliffs shelter the cove from the wind.
• Tide: at high tide much of the sand disappears, so it’s best around low tide.
• Crowds: it fills quickly in summer, and with so little sand it feels busy fast.
• Risk zone: Camilo is officially a limited-use beach (praia de uso limitado), because a large part of the sand is within reach of rockfalls.

Lifeguards and Blue Flag

For 2026, Camilo was listed as a supervised bathing beach (praia de banhos) with a season from 1 June to 30 September, but the closure and the “do not bathe” advice overtook that. It doesn’t fly a Blue Flag: in 2026 the Lagos beaches with one were Luz, Meia Praia and Porto de Mós.

Getting there

• On foot: the easiest way. From the old town, follow the coast south past Praia do Pinhão and Dona Ana; a clifftop boardwalk runs from Dona Ana to Camilo and on to the lighthouse. Allow about half an hour.
• By car: there’s a car park for about 56 cars at the Camilo turn-off on the Ponta da Piedade road. The lane towards the beach is restricted access and ends at a viewpoint, and the last stretch to the lighthouse is for service vehicles only. Arrive early in summer and check the signs for any charges.
• Coach tours drop passengers at Praia Dona Ana, and groups walk the boardwalk from there.

The restaurant at the top

The only place to eat nearby is O Camilo, at the top of the staircase. It’s known for fish and seafood, with a counter of fresh fish to choose from, and a table isn’t always easy to get, so book. Otherwise bring water and snacks. See the best restaurants in Lagos.

Best time to visit

• Early morning: the cove faces east, so it gets the morning light, and the clifftop is cooler and quieter.
• Low tide: once the stairs reopen, go around low tide for the most sand.
• Season: May, June and September are warm without the peak crowds. In July and August, avoid the middle of the day, when there’s little shade on the clifftop.
• Photos: the classic staircase shot is from the clifftop. See the best Algarve photo spots.

The cliff path and nearby beaches

Camilo is one stop on the clifftop walk from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade.

• Praia Dona Ana: the next cove north, split into several sandy inlets, with a restaurant and more parking.
• Praia do Pinhão and Praia da Batata: coves closer to town, where the walk starts.
• Ponta da Piedade: the lighthouse and viewpoints over the sea stacks, a short walk south. See our Ponta da Piedade guide.

To compare them all, see the best beaches in Lagos.

Boat and kayak trips

While the stairs are closed, the water is the best way to see Camilo up close. Boat trips from Lagos to the Ponta da Piedade grottos pass the cove, and guided kayak tours paddle the same coast when the sea is calm. See Algarve boat trips and kayaking in Portugal.

Cliff safety

The APA’s rockfall warning sign for Camilo explains that cliff falls happen suddenly, and that the danger zone at the foot of a cliff reaches up to 1.5 times the cliff’s height.

• Keep away from the base of the cliffs, and don’t sit under them.
• Keep back from the edge on the clifftop, and stay on the boardwalk and paths.
• Avoid isolated rocks and sea stacks, which can also drop blocks.
• Emergencies: call 112.

FAQ

Is Praia do Camilo open in 2026?

The staircase, its only land access, has been closed since before summer 2026 because of storm damage to the cliff. Funding to rebuild it was agreed in autumn 2026, with no reopening date announced.

How many steps are there at Praia do Camilo?

About 200, on a long wooden staircase down the cliff. The exact count varies a little between sources.

Can you swim at Praia do Camilo?

Not at the moment. The APA has advised against bathing there since 9 June 2026 because access is unstable. Its official 2026 bathing season was 1 June to 30 September.

Is there parking at Praia do Camilo?

Yes, about 56 spaces at the turn-off from the Ponta da Piedade road. It’s small for such a popular spot, so walking from Lagos is often easier.

More: things to do in Lagos, where to stay in Lagos and the best Algarve beaches.

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