The Berlengas archipelago is a true paradise in Portugal and different from everything else in the country. Here you will find nature in its purest state, landscapes that leave you speechless and a seawater colour that is simply irresistible. Find out everything you need to plan your trip in this complete guide on what to visit in Berlengas.

Currently, considered a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Berlengas is an archipelago composed of granite islands that are located 15 km off the coast west of Peniche.

The archipelago is composed of 3 islets (Berlenga Grande, Estelas and Farilhões-Forcados) but it is Berlenga Grande that stands out for its larger size. By the way, whenever I mention the Berlengas throughout this blog post, I will only be referring to the Berlenga Grande island.

The most usual season to visit the Berlengas is summer. Firstly because the temperatures are milder, there are more options available to get there, and it is also during this time that the island’s restaurant is open.

However, it is also possible to visit during other seasons, although it is less recommended due to the worse weather conditions.

Most people choose to visit Berlengas in one day. The island is quite small, and for that reason, it’s easy to visit it in a single day. But it all depends on the activities you want to do 😊 If you are interested in many of the experiences available, maybe the best option is to stay overnight on the island. However, for most people, as long as you try going in the earliest boat available and come back in one of the latest, one full day should be enough.

Only 350 people can visit the island daily, and you access it by sea from Peniche. 

The boat trip takes about half an hour, but it can take a little longer (up to 45 minutes) if the sea is rough that day. Prices vary depending on the time of year and are different for children. Some companies offer bundles that also include visits to the caves and/or other experiences (snorkeling, kayaking, etc) 😉.

The boat departs from the seaport of Peniche, where there are several companies with boat transportation services to the Berlengas. I leave here the name of some of the best-known companies (most of the sites are only available in Portuguese, but you can easily translate them with Google Translate):

• Julius
• Feeling Berlenga
• Odisseia Viva
• Viamar
• Berlengatur 

This boat ride is quite popular, so I strongly recommend booking a few days before your visit to Berlengas. In fact, it is preferable to book online to ensure that there is availability for the day you want.

There are some new restrictions to accessing Berlengas:

• All visitors have to register on this site before visiting Berlengas
• Each visitor has to pay a tourist tax of 3€

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you usually get seasick when you travel by boat, this trip is known to cause a lot of seasickness (especially on days when the sea is rough)! So be prepared and take one of those seasick pills before starting your trip. Additionally, you can ask the tour operators when they expect the sea to be the calmest.

Most visitors to the island do not stay overnight, but it is possible to do so. If you are interested in staying overnight on the island, you can do so in 3 different places:

• São João Baptista Fort: reservations must be made directly with Associação dos Amigos das Berlengas
• Pavilion Mar e Sol: has only 6 rooms and the prices are much higher and must be booked well in advance
• Camping: limited to 40 tents, each night of camping on the island costs 8€. Here, too, you should book in advance at Peniche’s Tourism Office.

For those who intend to enjoy the island without staying there, the best option is to sleep in Peniche where there are several accommodations available.

São João Baptista Forte is probably the main landmark in Berlenga island. Although the date of its construction is uncertain, it is known that the current fort configuration dates from 1651 after it has been (re)constructed by D. João IV.

There are several stories of pirate attacks and bombings and it even served as a prison between the 17th and 18th centuries.

The fort was restored again in the 1950s after it was no longer used for military purposes (which had happened until 1914). The access to the fort involves a staircase, but it is a relatively simple route.

Located in the former location of Misericórdia Monastery, this neighbourhood consists of 20 houses and is the only settlement in the Berlengas Archipelago.

Built in 1940, this neighbourhood was intended to provide housing for the fishermen who lived there at the time. This is also where the island’s restaurant and mini-market are located.

Located next to the Fishermen’s Quarter, this is the most famous beach on the island. The sand is quite short, but the colour of the water is simply superb (so beautiful that it almost makes you forget how cold it is).

The access to the beach is relatively simple, and this beach is strategically located next to the island’s pier.

There are other beaches – Forte Beach or Cova do Sonho Beach – that are less well known. These beaches are more difficult to access and during high tide, they have almost no sand.

Located on the highest point of the Berlenga island, it was Marquês de Pombal that ordered this lighthouse to be built in 1758, even though it only started operating in 1842.

The lighthouse can be visited every Wednesday from 14h to 17h and the visit is free of charge.

This is the shortest trail on the island (1.5 km round trip) and is a relatively easy route. During the trail, you can see the other islets (Estelas and Farilhões) and even Cabo Carvoeiro on clearer days.

While walking this trail, you will also pass by the seagull colonies, very typical of the island.

This is a longer trail (3 km one way) and goes to the most southwestern point of the island. On this route, you will pass the lighthouse and São João Baptista Fort.

💡 EXTRA TIP: The trails are well-defined and, although in some situations there may seem to be other possible routes, we must respect the signs and not go beyond the marked trails. It is also important to mention that to make the trail more comfortable, you should NOT bring slippers to these trails.

There are several caves you can visit in Berlengas and most of them are hardly accessible by yourself. The best option is to book a cave tour with the companies that provide the boat service between Peniche and Berlengas, since many times they have special bundles that already include cave tours.

Furado Grande Cave is probably the best known, being 70 meters long, but there are also others such as the Cova do Sonho Cave and Furado Pequeno Cave.

The seawater colour and the importance of nature in this place make it an excellent place to practice some activities like diving, snorkelling, canoeing or paddleboarding. If you are interested in any of these activities, you can request more information from the boat operators located in Peniche harbour.

Because it is one of the places with the least human intervention in Portugal, here you will find several species of animals and plants that are unique in the country. An example of this is the Airo – a bird that only exists in Berlengas (which actually is the archipelago’s icon). If you are interested, Berlengas is an excellent place to observe some of these unique species.  

Despite being an inhabited place and relatively isolated, there is a restaurant on the island – Restaurante Mar e Sol (open between May and September). It has a terrace and the prices are relatively affordable. Don’t forget to bring cash, since there are no ATMs on the island.

For those staying at São João Baptista Fort, you can also take advantage of the Fort’s cafeteria, where they serve some daily dishes.

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