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Best beaches on the central coast of Portugal: Praia Tocha
This beach on Portugal's central coast is known as Praia Tocha, a wide and unpretentious sandy strip that is a local secret.

By Kate Armstrong
Published: 10:50AM BST 14 May 2010


The quirkiest aspect of this beach is the quaint library, located on the beach itself

Two words: local secret. Praia Tocha’s beautiful wide, sandy beach is backed by a long line of dunes, the Dunas de Quiaios. This unpretentious spot has little to distract you from swimming and sunbathing – other than a 200m-wide sandy strip on one side and, on the other, the quaint “palheiros”, former fishing houses made of wooden palings and perched on stilts (there’s no hotels; house rentals are available).

See our Google map of Praia Tocha

Who goes?

Those in the know. Visitors love its resort-free environment and clean water (the surf isn’t huge, but it can be choppy). Nature lovers will enjoy the fauna and flora of the dunes.

What is there to do?

Slap on the sunscreen, lie back and... read, or at least brush up on your Portuguese. The quirkiest aspect of this beach is the Praia’s quaint library, located on the beach itself. To exercise more than your book-holding arm, wander along the dune boardwalks. Landlubbers can walk for many glorious, sandy kilometres.

Bars and bites

There’s not a huge choice, but the local, casual eatery Restaurante Avenida (00351 231 441 243) serves up generous servings of local dishes, including seafood.

Getting there

From Figueira da Foz, head northwards over Serra da Boa Viagem or along the inland route for around 21km.

Tourist office: 00351 231 443 552; www.turismo-centro.pt; www.thecentroexperience.com

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/bestbeaches/7720601/Best-beaches-on-the-central-coast-of-Portugal-Praia-Tocha.html









O meu aparecer Manuel, sobre esta praia, é que o Presidente da CÂMARA MUNICIPAL DE CANTANHEDE, não se importa com a ecologia nem com o que é importante, que são as casas sustentáveis, mas sim, como dinheiro que recebe os construtores e das pessoas.
É um atentado e um abuso por completo, daí meti-me já numa especialização sustentável, pois vivendo nesta zona, não sei como é possível este presidente continuar assim.
Acho que devia perder o mandato, pois muitos dos palheiros vão desaparecer devido à estupidez dele e dos que estão na política a receber uns bons tachos.