Behind the rugged cliffs of the Sintra coast hides one of the purest and most beautiful beaches in Portugal. It is the Praia da Ursa (Beach Ursa), considered the most western beach in Portugal and continental Europe. The place is located near Lisbon.
The Beach owes his name the the huge rock in the shape of a “Bear”that dominates the sand , next to an other rock formation that has the name “Giant”. The Praia da Ursa is a natural beauty in its purest form that uplifts the soul at first sight. The beach may be tiny, but its scenic beauty is huge! The Michelin Guide has named it one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The beach is very close to Cabo de Roca (Rock Cape) one of the most visited places in Portugal. Praia da Ursa can only be reached by foot and the walk, althrough short, is very demanding. To make matters worse, the access to the beach is not marked at all. So for those are not familiar the place, it is not easy to find the most direct and physically less demanding way. the first 900 meters of the trail, from Cabo de Roca to the point where is possible to have the first view of Praia da Ursa, are not very difficult, but also offer stunning views of the coast. The greatest difficulty of the Pra da Ursa trail are the last 400 meters. To reach the small sandy beach, it`s going down a winding cliff and you must be very careful to avoid falling.
Finding the Praia da Ursa is not easy, because if it were, the beach would probably not be the paradise it is today.
The legend of the Praia da Ursa says, that many thousands of years ago, when the earth was still covered with ice, a bear lived here with her cubs. When the thaw came, the god ordered all the animals to leave the Sea. But the bear did not play along and answered the god that she was born there and and want stay there and not leave. The god was enraged by this affront, turned the bear into a stone and her cubs into small rocks around her.
The Praia da Ursa is a wild beach, which means that the beach is not guarded and does not have any services.
Photos and Text: Rainer Georgius
Nature & Culture 
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