Praia da Rocha is a beach in the municipality of Portimão, in the Algarve (Portugal). This beach has a long stretch of sand, in a total area of ​​about 146,000 m², along a 1,5 km coastline. Next to the beach rises the Fortress of Santa Catarina, built in the XVII century to assure the defense of the bar of the river Arade.

The beach owes its name to the rocks that lie between the sand and the sea. It is one of the most famous in the Algarve, if not the whole country. Every year, during the summer, the beach is filled with tourists from all over the world, and despite its great extent, it is rare not to be crowded with people. In the last years, it has received the Mundialito of Soccer of Beach, that is played in a stadium built for the purpose and that has capacity for 3000 people.

Next to the beach, there is a plurality of restaurants and bars that attracts large numbers of tourists, both during the day and at night.

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Portimão is, today, one of the most important tourist centers of the Algarve. Its diversity of activities and its dynamism, especially during the summer, characterize a very lively city, able to satisfy different tastes and interests.

Praia da Rocha, formerly an extension of Portimão and now an integral part of the city, allows the combination of the cultural factor of Portimão with the ludic factor resulting from its beaches. Tomás Cabreira avenue, which runs along the coast line to the Santa Catarina de Ribamar fort, is made up of hotels, bars, restaurants, terraces and nightclubs that, together with the Casino, transform Praia da Rocha into a zone of intense commerce and activity tourist

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As an eternal fisherman's land, Portimão is the place that enchants all lovers of fish and seafood, as well as offering the flavors of the land. As an example, some rice dishes and "popes" of corn, accompanied with seafood, as well as the cataplana of clams, feijoada of conch, sardines saddled with rice of cockle and Xerém. To accompany one of these beautiful meals can not miss the olives, the wheat bread. To finalize do not dispense the amarguinha, the arbutus or any liquor of fruits of the time, with a good cheese.

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Praia de Rocha receives a Mediterranean climate very similar to its surrounding resorts. The Algarve in southern Portugal is home to many popular resorts, loved by tourists seeking long hot summers in the region or mild winters. Sitting in the extreme west of the south coast of Portugal, the weather conditions at Praia da Rocha are almost identical to those at Lagos and Ferragudo, although summers are slightly warmer than Praia da Luz, which is more west and slightly cooler that of Quarteira and Faro to the east.

Summer, from June to September, is unbelievably hot. The average high in the mid-20s in June and September, rising to a high of 28 ° C in July and August. The beach is protected by the cliffs of the north wind and with the sun shining for about twelve hours a day in the peak months, you can sizzle without stopping in the warm sand. You may find yourself craving a refreshing little breeze, but a gentle dip will suffice. The wind ignores the beach, but creates excellent conditions for navigation, windsurfing and kite surfing in the sea. The humidity is quite low, helping to keep the heat more bearable.
Autumn in October and November is still very hot and many may find it preferable to high season. The average high temperature drops to 22 ° C in October and only drops below 20 ° C in late November. However, precipitation increases. It does not rain very often, but rain falls in strong storms that become heavier as the season progresses.

Winter, from December to February, is very light, as is the area feature. The high average is 16 ° C throughout the season. The low average of 10 ° C decreases to 9 ° C in January. The rain is lighter, but more frequent in December and January, before beginning to decline in general. The sun in the rainy months is still out for five hours a day, and seven hours a day in February drier. The sea is too cold to swim, but persistent water sports enthusiasts may want to don their wetsuits and enjoy the east wind blowing in this season.

Spring, from March to May, is warm and sunny. The rain still falls quite often, but not enough to worry about. The high average increases to 18 ° C in March, 19 ° C in April and 21 ° C in May, although every night still cool considerably and the sea is not really hot enough to swim.

Praia de Rocha is a beachfront property located on Praia da Rocha. The heat is guaranteed, but tempered by ocean currents. The mountainous region to the north keeps the whole Algarve protected from the colder climate received by northern Portugal.

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