Praia do Farol (ria)

You anchor in the Ria Formosa lagoon here, with the barrier island of Ilha da Culatra separating you from the Atlantic — white sand beaches and crystal-clear water just a short dinghy ride away. It's genuinely one of those spots that makes you forget the rest of the world exists, with kilometre-long stretches of near-empty beach on the ocean side and calm, sheltered water on the ria side.