Ilha do Pessegueiro
Pessegueiro Island · Ilha Pessegueiro · Peach Tree Island
37°50.3'N 08°47.8'W
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m in 3–5m on excellent sand. The island creates a usable lee in E/NE winds but the channel is open S and SW to Atlantic swell. Day anchorage only — depart before any southerly forecast or before sunset.
About This Anchorage
Ilha do Pessegueiro (Peach Tree Island) is a small uninhabited island 400m off the coast near Porto Covo, dominated by the dramatic ruins of a 16th-century Portuguese fort (Forte da Ilha do Pessegueiro) built to defend against pirate raids. The island is a PNSACV natural reserve — no landing on the W side, limited to the beach areas. The anchorage in the channel between island and mainland offers one of the best sandy bottoms and most photogenic settings on the Alentejo coast. The clear Atlantic water makes for outstanding snorkelling around the island's rocky edges. Strictly a day anchorage — the channel offers no overnight protection from the dominant SW Atlantic swell. Best combined with a Porto Covo stop for the overnight.
Protected From
E · NE · N
Exposed To
W · SW · S
Orca Interaction Protocol — Alentejo Coast
This anchorage is within the orca interaction zone (Atlantic Portugal 36°N–38°N). If orcas approach under way: stop engine immediately, lower sails, release wheel and drift passively. Do not attempt to manoeuvre or accelerate. Report all interactions at orcas.pt and on VHF Ch. 16. The Nortada builds strongly by 12:00 — plan morning departures to minimise motoring time in interaction waters.
Setting Your Anchor
Deploy 7:1 scope minimum on the Alentejo coast — Atlantic groundswell can arrive overnight even in settled summer weather and will put significant loading on the rode. If staying overnight, use 10:1 scope for additional security.
Nortada assessment: The afternoon Nortada builds from 10:00–12:00 most summer days. If you are setting your anchor for the night, set it at peak Nortada strength to confirm it holds in the worst daytime conditions you are likely to see.
Atlantic swell assessment: Check the ipma.pt ocean swell (ondas) model before anchoring overnight. A 1m SW groundswell arriving at 03:00 will make many Alentejo anchorages uncomfortable or dangerous — know your departure conditions in advance.
Orca protocol reminder: Do not run your engine unnecessarily when in orca interaction waters. Consider anchoring for the night rather than motoring through peak interaction hours (dawn to mid-morning).
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- None
Restrictions: PNSACV Natural Park: no camping on the island, no fires, no littering. Landing restricted to beach areas only — the fort ruins are accessible. The island is a seabird reserve — do not disturb nesting colonies. Day anchorage only (S/SW exposure).
Portuguese Cruising — Documentation
Portugal requires no transit log. EU-registered vessels: carry vessel registration documents and crew passports. Non-EU vessels: clear customs at the first Portuguese port of entry (Faro, Lagos, Portimão, Sines, Setúbal, or Cascais). VHF Ch. 16 throughout; Lisbon Radio weather broadcasts on Ch. 11 (English and Portuguese, 4x daily).
Hazards
- !DAY ONLY: exposed to S/SW swell — overnight is not viable; depart before sunset or before any southerly forecast
- !PNSACV reserve: landing on the island is restricted; respect bird nesting areas on the W cliffs
- !Rocks on the S tip of the island and submerged rocks to the SW — approach from the N only
- !ORCA RISK on offshore passages in this area — engine-off protocol if approached
Skipper's Tips
- →The 16th-century fort is extraordinary — landing by dinghy on the E beach and walking to the fort takes 20 minutes and is one of the highlights of the Alentejo coast
- →Snorkelling around the N and E edges of the island in the clear Atlantic water is outstanding — visibility often 10–15m
- →Combine with Porto Covo (1.5nm N) for overnight — dinghy to Pessegueiro for the day, return to Porto Covo cove at dusk
- →Best visited on E or NE wind days when the island provides genuine shelter; avoid on W/SW days entirely
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Porto Covo village (2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September
May–September for day anchorage in the channel. The island is at its best in settled June–August high pressure; avoid in autumn Atlantic swell season.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep Peacefully at Ilha do Pessegueiro
The Nortada builds while you sleep — sometimes from nothing at 02:00. On the Alentejo coast, an unexpected afternoon gust or arriving Atlantic swell can set a vessel dragging before the skipper wakes. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your position through the night and fires an alert the moment you move beyond your set radius — giving you time to act before the beach finds you.
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