Praia de Mariscal

Mariscal is the beach for anyone who wants space on the sand. It shares one continuous strip with Praia de Canto Grande Mar de Fora, and together the two run for more than 4 kilometres. Even at the height of summer, a few minutes' walk is enough to find a stretch to yourself, with preserved coastal scrub framing the shore.

The name comes from the rocks: it was the huge number of mussels — mariscos — found on the headlands at either end that gave the beach its name. The water is crystal clear and the sand is white and fine, made of quartz crystals.

The sea is open, with medium-sized waves that draw plenty of surfers. It's a beach for people who like the real thing — and, for that very reason, one where you should follow the flags and stay near the lifeguards, especially with children.

Mariscal is one of the Bombinhas beaches holding the Blue Flag, an international beach-management award that is reassessed every season. The certified stretch is 450 metres long, along Avenida Água Marinha, and it comes with proper facilities: public toilets, accessibility, lifeguards, excellent water quality for swimming and a code of conduct that applies to everyone.

At the left-hand end is Prainha do Mariscal, also known as Praia do Atalaia: 150 metres of sand with little development and plenty of vegetation around it. It's the spot for anyone who wants Mariscal's water in an even quieter setting.

The beach sits in the neighbourhood of the same name, laid out in the late 1970s, where the streets are named after stones. There's a good choice of bars, restaurants and guesthouses, and Avenida Água Marinha, which runs along the beach, has been redeveloped with parking, a cycle lane, a square and leisure areas. If you're thinking about property, it's the mix of spread-out, residential development and a well-kept seafront — a house near the sea without the bustle of the centre.