📹Reis Magos

Located just 2.8 kilometers from the Garajau Nature Reserve boundary, Reis Magos is a great spot for those looking for a genuine local experience. The area is connected by a very convenient 650-meter concrete promenade, which makes it easy to walk along the coast without having to navigate the large, rounded dark volcanic stones on the beach itself. The tall coastal cliffs form a natural amphitheater around the bay, providing shelter and a striking backdrop. Ponta da Oliveira, located just to the east, helps shelter the main swimming area from the prevailing trade winds. This means the water here is often calmer than at other spots along the southern coast. Many locals come down here after work for a quick dip before dinner.

This beach is known for its excellent water quality, having proudly received the Blue Flag certification in 2021, 2023, and 2025. The natural feel of this area has been preserved largely because the steep cliffs historically blocked large construction equipment from reaching the lower sections, keeping the cove relatively untouched.

On the western edge of the beach, you will find the remnants of an 18th-century military fort, Fortim dos Reis Magos. Local civic groups recently helped restore the traditional stonework, and there is now safe pedestrian access around the left walls. This historic spot offers great elevated views over the swimming area and provides some much-appreciated early morning shade. According to 19th-century sea charts, this particular cove served as a sheltered anchorage for shallow-draft fishing vessels escaping sudden Atlantic storms.