Armação de Pêra

About This Anchorage

Armação de Pêra is one of the central Algarve's most popular beach anchorages — a wide, gently curving sandy bay backed by a modern beach resort. The sand is fine, white and clean, giving outstanding anchor holding. The bay is shallower and wider than most Algarve anchorages, reducing the worst of the Nortada chop. Olhos d'Água, 2nm to the east, is a smaller, more characterful fishing-village cove with similar depth and sand quality. Both are daytime anchorages but can be used overnight in settled summer anticyclone conditions. The Algarve's driest and sunniest stretch of coast.

Hazards

• !Open S/SE — Atlantic swell penetrates directly; this is the most exposed aspect and any forecast S or SE wind/swell is a departure trigger
• !Heavy beach boat-hire traffic (pedaloes, kayaks, jet skis) near the shore — anchor with adequate scope to avoid drifting near these zones
• !Tidal range 2.8–3m: allowance needed for depth calculation on approach; enter well off a 1.5m LAT minimum
• !Beach fishing activity with long lines cast at dawn and dusk — give beach a wide berth

Skipper's Tips

• →The wide bay means good swinging room — this is a comfortable anchor for those nervous about tight anchorages
• →Olhos d'Água cove (2nm E) is notably more scenic and authentic than the Armação de Pêra resort; good lunch stop with fishing village character
• →Best overnight anchorage on this stretch in settled high pressure — the wide sand bottom gives confidence even at night
• →Vilamoura Marina (9nm E) is the major hub for this section: excellent overnight, fuel, chandlery, provisioning

Nearby Anchorages