Portugal Selection

2025, HD and 360°, Portugal Selection

Mesquita Beach and its golden cliffs, Algarve, Portugal


Mesquita Beach and its golden cliffs, Algarve, Portugal

Sculpted cliffs of Mesquita Beach, Algarve – Portugal.


👁️ View the 360° virtual tour

A discreet gem of the Algarve, Mesquita Beach reveals a spectacular landscape where marine erosion has carved arches and columns out of golden limestone.

Located near the famous Benagil Cave, Mesquita offers a much more rugged and wild atmosphere. Its steep cliffs, shaped by the wind and sea spray, bear witness to the patient strength of the Atlantic. At low tide, the receding water reveals secret passages between the rocks and natural pools where the stone seems to dissolve into the turquoise hues of the ocean.

This virtual tour allows you to immerse yourself at the foot of these stone giants and contemplate the fine geological layers that tell millions of years of sedimentary history.

2014, Portugal Selection, Underwater Pictures from Azores, Underwater Wildlife

Mobulas Rays (Mobula tarapacana), Sea Devils or Gentle Giants? – Azores, Portugal

Mobula rays (Mobula tarapacana), Sea devils or gentle giants? - Azores, Portugal

Mobula rays (Mobula tarapacana), Sea devils or gentle giants? – Azores, Portugal.

Mobula rays, cousins of the majestic manta rays, have long been nicknamed “sea devils” by fishermen around the world.

Their impressive silhouette, their two horn-shaped cephalic fins, the stinger at the base of their dorsal fin, and especially their spectacular habit of leaping out of the water, have fueled many fears and legends. Among the most whimsical tales, it was said that mobulas could grab boat anchors with their curled horns to drag vessels into the abyss. Though harmless to humans, they were also accused of trapping pearl divers or freedivers under their immense “cloak” to drown them. These beliefs, born of ignorance and seafaring imagination, contrast today with the fascination inspired by their elegance, their quiet power, and their essential role in the balance of marine ecosystems.

?>