The narrowest part of Tavira Island is just 250 meters (820ft) wide, and while it’s no longer a secret, it remains one of the quietest stretches on the island. It’s located between the more popular beaches of Ilha de Tavira and Barril, and hasn’t yet been discovered by tourists. It’s mostly visited by locals and those who find it by chance on a walk from the beaches to the east and west.
It has a bar for drinks and light meals, and that’s where you can rent equipment for water sports (surfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, sailing, and canoeing). In the summer, the sea tends to be fairly calm, so there might not be major waves for surfing. There’s lifeguard supervision in the bathing season, as well as parasols and loungers for rent.
Like on the rest of the island, here the sand is white and soft, and very clean. You’ll see a Blue Flag indicating the high environmental and quality standards of the beach. A boardwalk protects the dunes, where sea daffodils and other Mediterranean plants grow.
Some locals call it “Santa Luzia Beach” because the fishing village of Santa Luzia is where you can catch a boat to it (see transportation information below). Before or after the beach, you might want to check out the restaurants with outdoor seating on the Santa Luzia waterfront. The village is known as the “octopus capital” and for its tuna dishes.
Beach for: Families, Couples, Water Sports
Lifeguards: Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Rentals: Yes
Bar or Restaurant: Yes
Accessible: Yes
Parking: No (boat access only)
How to Get to Praia da Terra Estreita
Boats to Praia da Terra Estreita depart every 15 or 30 minutes (depending on the month) from the pier on Avenida Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco in Santa Luzia, a village just outside Tavira. They’re in service from June to October and take about 10 minutes to reach the island. Once you arrive, follow the boardwalk to the beach. Santa Luzia is a 5-minute drive from the center of Tavira, but you can also take Vamus bus 105, which takes 10 minutes. However, there are less than a dozen departures per day, and only on weekdays. Alternatively, take a taxi or Uber, which should cost around 5 euros. If you’re driving, you’ll find parking along the waterfront. Another way to reach this beach is walking west (to the right, when facing the ocean) from the Ilha de Tavira Beach, for about 30 minutes. You can also walk from Praia do Barril, the beach to the west, by walking to the left (when facing the ocean) for 25 minutes.
Beaches by Praia da Terra Estreita
As indicated above, the beaches of Ilha de Tavira and Barril are within reasonable walking distance of Terra Estreita. If you really enjoy walks by the sea, continue to the right all the way to the western end of the island for the mostly-deserted Homem Nu, an official nude beach.
To locate these beaches, see the Tavira beaches map.
Hotels by Praia da Terra Estreita
Vila Gale Albacora
If you want to spend a day at Praia da Terra Estreita, this is the hotel with the best access, as it has its own pier with boats to Tavira Island. When you arrive, go for a long walk by the sea (for about 30 minutes) until you reach this beach. The hotel stands right by the Ria Formosa Natural Park, and was once part of a fishing community. The former school is now a kids’ club and the local bakery has become a small museum showing what life in the community was like. The rooms are contemporary and some offer a view of the park’s lagoons. There’s an indoor and an outdoor pool, a spa, and a restaurant of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine.
SEE PRICES, AVAILABILITY AND MORE DETAILS HERE: Vila Gale Albacora