Praia do Amado.

Praia do Amado is a highly consistent beach break tucked below the Carrapateira headland, reached by a winding track south of the village. The sandy bottom produces A-frame peaks that lean soft and forgiving - well-covered, backing-off waves with steep faces but without the suction of a hollow break. Rides run 50-100m on a good day. A notable feature is a right that peels off a large rock on the north end from mid-low tide, offering more shape than the average peaks further down the beach, which tend toward slower shoulders. The spot handles SW through NW swells well and benefits from more northerly wind shelter than nearby Praia da Bordeira. It works best from low through rising tide; bigger swells can overpower the banks and close out across the whole beach. Amado is the unofficial surf school capital of the western Algarve - on any given morning, a grid car park fills with camper vans and multiple schools run sessions simultaneously. The crowd is consistent and heavy, dominated by learners, which keeps the peak count high and the vibe relaxed but the lineup busy. The beach bars make it a social hub beyond the surf itself.