Intrepid Tom

Either the locals don’t even know where it is, or are seriously trying to keep this hidden beauty a secret.

Three taxi attempts later and with the rough guidance to a nearby village using Google Maps, we were finally on our way. Money wasn't exactly falling out of our wallets, so getting a taxi twenty two kilometres and back was really the last thing we needed to do. As we left the slightly dreary, eighty’s throwback of a town that is Praia da Rocha behind, I did start to wonder if this was going to be worth it.

Passing through the dismal back end of Portimão and then onto a highway, we really started having doubts. Could we actually be heading to such a stunning place? Does the driver even know where we are going? Between his bad English, our lack of Portuguese and my absence of a data connection, it wasn't looking hopeful.

But then suddenly I could see the sea again, glistening lustrously in the perfect Algarve sunshine. As we arrived at the car park, I no longer cared about the little cash I had left. I threw some money at the driver and we jumped out and ran to the cliff’s edge. Wow. It truly was a moment I will remember forever.

You see, I think the locals know exactly where this place is. It has to be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen and not only that, I couldn't even see any evidence of other people except for a couple of cars and a trail of footprints on the beach. It’s not often you see a quiet beach in Europe, so I can’t blame them for trying to keep people away from it. The beach is only a few hundred metres long, but the setting is perfect. Surrounded on three sides by striking, golden, limestone cliffs, the perfect sand is beautifully contrasted by the clear, turquoise water. We could wait no longer. We had to get down there.

Never before had I raced down a set of steps as we did that day. Of all the wonderful things I have seen, this was really unexpected. Better than I can describe! I ripped off my t-shirt and headed straight for the ocean.

Floating on the calm, perfect water, I looked back at the spectacular cliffs I had been standing on. It was mesmerising.

As the morning went on, a few people did turn up, but it was a mighty contrast to where we had been the last few days. From a busy, neon sign lit beach-front, to a secluded utopia away from it all.

Praia da Marinha. The locals don’t even know where it is, so don’t try to find it.