Carvoeiro's main beach sits at the bottom of the village, a compact sandy cove framed by rust-coloured limestone cliffs and the old fort to the east. It is sheltered, calm, and small — which means it fills up in July and August. Outside the peak season it is quietly pleasant, with the village restaurants and bars a short walk up the hill.
The cove faces due south, getting full sun throughout the day. The water is clear and generally calm, protected by the cliffs. Rock pools at low tide at both ends of the beach are worth exploring. For more space, the beaches at Centeanes and Carvalho, both reachable by a 20-minute cliff walk to the east, are larger and less crowded.