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Ponta de Piedade is located just just a couple of miles from Lagos Portugal. Trust me when l say you definitely owe it to yourself to visit this absolutely stunning place if you are ever in the Algarve region of Portugal. The rock formations along the coastline seriously has to be one of the most beautiful natural coastlines we have ever been fortunate enough to see.
Getting to Ponta de Piedade is easy, you can take one of the many tour boats from Lagos for a different view point, drive or take one of the mini trains that is super popular with tourists. There is free parking too, and we were lucky enough to find one pretty quickly as it was packed. Another great highlight of our wonderful trip, kind of like the icing on the cake. Much like the rocky beaches reminded me of Malta, Ponta de Piedade reminded me of Malta’s sister island of Gozo and its Azure window. This is just on a grander scale as there are many more cliffs.
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Ponta de Piedade: Lagos Portugal
I will be the first to admit that l was very nervous walking close to the edge of the cliffs. There are no guard rails. Zip! Nada. Just a puny little sign showing the way to the boat rides. No “Danger” warning signs. Nothing to keep you from falling to a gruesome death if you get too close to the edge. I kept yelling at Federico, and totally stopped him from getting as close as he would have desired. ;-). He had on mere flip flops, and can be clumsy sometimes.
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Ponta de Piedade means “Pity Tip” according to Google translate. I picture that’s what someone would say when you trip and die.. “He was right at the tip and fell. What a pity!”. I didn’t even climb down the steps to the bottom and l certainly didn’t want to ride in any of those little boats. I still have nightmares of a water taxi we took in Malta. I almost drowned all of us four riders as well as the paddler ;-).
Ponte de Piedade stairs:
Richard and l grabbed the last couple of seats available at the restaurant at the top and waited while Federico and Anita bravely climbed down the stairs to get a closer look at the grottos. They counted 198 steps down, but the official count is 182. I can only imagine how much more beautiful it was down there.
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Ponte de Piedad Caves:
Ponta de Piedade boat trips:
As you can see, taking canoe rides around the Ponta de Piedad, others were on speed boats and they looked like they were having a wonderful time.
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Some of the cliffs are over 65 feet tall!. We saw a few birds, but the landscape was pretty bare. Very nice though. There were a few hikers on the trail that leads back into Lagos. In the Springtime, Herons come to nest and there are tons of flowers and figs from January till late Spring. The sunset is supposed to be an awesome sight too. I hope we get to visit again. I would very much like to see all of that, perhaps even hike the trail in cooler weather.
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How to get to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos:
The most popular option is a boat ride from Lagos judging from the crowds when we went. There is also a little train that leaves from Lagos every 10 minutes and costs €1.50. Lagos boat trip prices: The rides will cost you €12-15 per person. You can also take a private tour for €25. I think l would do it on a cruise from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade where they give you life jackets and the boat is a lot bigger. This little itty bitty canoe is not going to cut it! Another option is by car. If you’re interested in car rental in Portugal, check here, this website will compare rates for you so you can get the best prices.
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Would you climb the stairs and go for a ride through the grottos and caves? or would you be like me and stay safe and cool up at the top? What do you think of Ponta de Piedade? Beautiful or Meh?
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This trip must have been fun. It looks so peaceful and beautiful. I would love to check it someday.
You would love it! It was a whole lot of fun. I want to experience it in cooler weather. I’m sure it would be just as awesome.
Ah … My very favorite place in Lagos and I couldn’t wait to share it with your and Fede! Loved your gorgeous photos and it brought back memories of a terrific day and a great visit. Visiting Ponta de Piedad will be one of the first things I do when we return to Portugal at the end of this week. I’ll let you know if the weather is cooler! Anita
Amazing that you’re already back next week! So glad you shared this beauty with us. I remember your saying it was your favorite place in Lagos. We totally got it. It is stunning and definitely we want to see it when the weather is cooler :-). Hope you guys had a wonderful trip.
This is beautiful! I would love to visit countries with my husband. Lovely!
I hope you get to travel with him to all the wonderful places you desire :-). You would love it, and yes.. it is beautiful!
I get so excited when others have fond memories of Portugal! It was my favorite European country. I didn’t visit that region but I know for fact that I will eventually get there!
Definitely fond memories of Lagos! It is absolutely beautiful. I wish l could be sure of my favorite countries like you haha! I will settle for cities..Budapest and Ghent so far. London though is on another level and is just a given.. I get why Portugal is your favorite though. I’m sure you’ll get down there soon enough :-).
Beautiful and scary at the same time! I loved the stairs actually and I would have no problem (hopefully) in going down to explore a bit more. Especially during a hot day, I think that the colder caves are a blessing!
Yep, beautiful and scary describes it to a T. I hate the heat, and with menopause..l die ;-). I suppose l could cheat and walk down, then take one of those boats back to the town..haha! You’re young, and used to carrying the baby, so l’m sure you would have no problems :-).
Thanks for sharing this wonderful looking section of coastline through your photos, they are terrific. We will definitely go for a visit when we are there in December and let you know what it is like at that time of year.
Tim & Anne
Good! I look forward to reading about your experiences down that way. I can only imagine with fewer people and great weather how ice it would be. Hope you guys are loving your trip so far. Thanks for the compliment. 🙂
Beautiful! I went there 25 years ago and still remember it. Walked along the edge and the views were just fantastic, I could do it all day. Just need a hat and sunscreen because that sun is hot!
Frank (bbqboy)
No kidding about the heat! I felt like the wickde with in Oz.. I’m melting..melting.. Fall weather would be glorious. It wonderful that you still remember it fondly. It is beautiful.
Kemkem, we loved Ponta da Piedade, we got a small boat from the bottom of those long stairs. It cost us 15 euros each, there was 4 of us. They do give you a life jacket and it is nice that the small boats can enter the caves. We stayed for sunset there. Your photos are beautiful and brought back lovely memories ????
I read at first that they “didn’t” give you life jackets.. LOL! I would have loved to see the sunset. It sounds heavenly. When we went into the caves in Malta, they did give us jackets as well, but l was still nervous, the water is just too close ;-). Glad it brings back good memories.
I would absolutely visit this beautiful spot when I am in Portugal next summer!
You look great and not nervous at all.
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Thank you very much for the compliment. Glad l was able to cover my nervousness well. You should definitely visit. It’s worth it. Totally :-).
Those are beautiful pictures! I’ll just live through you to visit because I am way to afraid of heights to walk along a cliff with no guard rail. Bravery!
Haha! It’s nice to know someone is even more scared than l am. It’s such a beautiful view though, but not too close, thank you! I’m not that brave 🙂
Beautiful blue water but gosh that is hot & thirsty work! I agree it looks a lot like parts of Malta- steep rocky cliffs and hundreds of steps leading to the beaches. Also the water is so clear, like glass but those tiny boats are a no no for me too! I get sea sick even on big ones :-/
Yeah, the water is totally beautiful and brought back memories of Malta and Gozo. I don’t know how people can relax on those little things, but l guess if you’re a strong swimmer, it wouldn’t be so bad. Glad to know l’m not the only one who wouldn’t try it. Had to tell Federico next time..when we can do a bigger boat. I don’t like to tempt fate at all 🙂
Wow this place looks gorgeous! It looks like a post card. I’ve never been to Portugal, but i must make it here if i ever go! I would have been scared close to the cliffs as accidents do happen.
Yep! If you get to Portugal, you should try and visit Ponta de Piedade. Indeed, it does look like a postcard doesn’t it? I think fear is a healthy thing myself. It stops us from doing stupid stuff 🙂
You did look a bit nervous on the edge there. Lol! Amazing photos! I know you had a ball!
I did have a ball :-), but yes, l was quite nervous standing close to the edge. I’m like take the picture, and let’s move ;-). Thanks for the compliment.
Oh wow, this place is solo gorgeous!!! The water and cliffs are so beautiful!!! I’d definitely love to visit. I may try out the stairs if it wasn’t crowded, and I would definitely go up and down very slowly!
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Haha! 🙂
Even now thinking about it, l get nervous. It has to be a chore going down the stairs, but especially coming up. I always worry the older l get that l’ll break a leg or something 😉 . Those carefree days are over, now caution rules. I think l would suck it up though and go when the weather is cooler and it’s less crowded.
It looks so beautiful and peaceful. I can only imagine how beautiful it is in person!
Completely beautiful :-). I feel so good that we got to experience its beauty.
Beautiful pics! I’ve never heard dof this area. I’m a sucker for clear, blue waters. I would have been in heaven being out on one of those boats.
Yeah l think you would love it Ms Outdoors! Compared to that hike of yours, this would be nothing for you ;-). I will definitely go on the boat in the future.
Ponta de Piedade is such a beautiful place. I would definitely climb the stairs and go for a ride in the caves and in the grottos.
I’m pretty sure l would do it in a bigger boat. Even though l was nervous in Malta, l did enjoy the caves and grotto ride, so l think l could do this. It is gorgeous.
Looking at your post makes me what to book a trip immediately. The water is so sea-through, I love that water is a different color depending on where you are and which minerals are present.
Haha! What are you waiting for? 🙂 . It’s so nice to see the clear water. You feel like you could take a drink.. It really was a great experience. 🙂
That was beautiful! I’d love to go!
Terri
What are you waiting for? Let’s go!!! 🙂
‘Nice one KemKem! Yep! I remember this area well.
Beautiful! I have a photograph of me standing in front of one of the grottos wearing a jumper jacket and scarf and a fellow Brit wondering why? Firstly, it was April. Secondly, it was bloodly windy!
p.s. We had a hard time keeping “The Tall Young Gentleman” away from those cliffs as he was sulking, and kept trying to provoke us by skipping down the cliff and hiding!
I can just imagine how windy it must have been! Even though Brits tend to think of any day in another country as warm.. 🙂 . Oh, l can just imagine the anxiety. even just thinking about the drop gives me the heebie-jibbies even now. Hahah! Nothing like a sulking teenager is there? Woe is me and all that. It certainly is one of the most beautiful places l have ever seen..and l loved Gozo’s Azure window, so it’s saying a lot 🙂
These photos are stunning and what a great read! I’m with you on cliffs with no safety railing! How are doggies doing??
So good to hear from you Mike! :-). Incredibly good!!! The doggies are fine and still being a pain :-)..haha! Yeah.. safety all the way with me, life already has so many unforseen accidents waiting to happen, I don’t need to egg it on :-).