Castelhanos: the island at full scale

What to expect

A long beach on the island’s southern / Atlantic side. The sea can be livelier than at Boca da Barra. On many boat routes this is the lunch stop with the best structure among the circuit beaches — stalls known on the tours (names and hours vary with season).

There are natural-pool stretches linked to the area, always depending on tide and the exact stop.

How to get there

• Boat / tour: the usual way (part of the Island circuit or similar routes).
• On foot / quad: possible from southern villages or local combinations; the route can be long and uneven.

Why go

• A sense of scale rare on busy coastlines
• Tour lunch with ocean view
• Pairs with Moreré and, later, oysters on the mangrove/river circuit (depending on route)

Tip

If you go only once, fold Castelhanos into the Island circuit tour: you see coast, villages and still fit mangrove food on the way back.