The Carvoeiro boardwalk solved the prettiest problem in town: how to walk from the village to the rock cathedral of Algar Seco without dodging traffic. Since 2014, a timber walkway runs roughly 570 metres along the clifftop from the eastern viewpoint above the beach to Algar Seco's stairs.
The walk is short and the views are not: the full sweep of cliff and ocean, the white town behind, blowholes and coves below, with benches and viewing platforms at the best angles. It is flat, free, pushchair-friendly and lit until late; sunset turns it into the village's open-air gallery, and photographers stake the rails early.
Go out by the boardwalk, descend into Algar Seco, and return at dusk — Carvoeiro's essential hour.
Highlights
- 570 metres of clifftop timber walkway
- Links the village to Algar Seco
- Benches and platforms at the best angles
- Flat, free and pushchair-friendly
- The village's sunset gallery
History & context
Built in 2014 along the old cliff path, the boardwalk took one of the Algarve's most casually dangerous strolls and made it the region's template for clifftop walkways — imitated up and down the coast since.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Sunset, without question; early mornings for solitary ocean.
⏱️ Duration
30–45 minutes
♿ Accessibility
Flat boardwalk; viewpoints railed; Algar Seco descent by stairs.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk?
About ten unhurried minutes each way — though sunsets routinely double it.
Is it accessible?
Yes — flat boards from the viewpoint above the beach to the Algar Seco stairs; the descent into the rocks themselves involves steps.