South island beaches

The South is the best-preserved part of the island. It has open-sea beaches, fishing villages, trails to beaches with no road access and the view of Campeche Island. On the other side, facing the South Bay, lies Ribeirão da Ilha, with its Azorean houses and oysters.

The beaches

• Campeche: the longest in the south, with the island on the horizon.
• Armação: artisanal fishing and boats to Campeche Island.
• Matadeiro: reached on foot, with good waves.
• Lagoinha do Leste: the most famous wild beach.
• Pântano do Sul: seafood in the village.
• Naufragados: the southern tip of the island, reached by trail.

Beyond the beach

Lagoa do Peri, between the hills and the sea, is the island’s largest freshwater lagoon, at about 5.2 km², according to Wikipedia. It is a protected area and supplies water to part of the region.

South beaches in this guide