This photo was taken in late December 2025 and shows Castelejo Beach as seen from the Cordoama viewpoint, near Vila do Bispo, on the southwest coast of Portugal. That day I was walking one of the Rota Vicentina circular trails that starts in the town of Vila do Bispo and heads towards the coast before returning inland. This is a beautiful trail that passes through coastal hills with pine tree woods and eventually reaches the coast at Barriga Beach. From there, the trail climbs back to the hills before arriving at Cordoama.
This part of the coast is famous for its pristine beaches, where the tall black hills drop into the sand and sea below. The Cordoama viewpoint is just above, and from there the view is amazing. On that day, the weather was cold, with crisp air and excellent visibility. To the north, it was possible to see as far as Arrifana; to the south lay the highest point of the western Algarve coast. After climbing the steep hill to reach this viewpoint, I rested for a while and then took some photos. Some clouds had appeared during the afternoon, which added interest to the sky.
I framed the beach of Castelejo (meaning castle), where the low tide exposed the rock formation after which the beach was named. I always shoot in RAW format to maximize the amount of information; later, I converted the file to black and white to better convey the mood of this unique region that has been shaped by the elements.
