Berlenga Islands

(Local Name: Ilhas Berlengas) Altitude: 0-88m/0-289ft. Population: 50

The Ilhas Berlengas, 12km/7.5mi northwest of the rugged and imposing Cabo Carvoeiro, rear out of the shimmering green sea as bleak and bizarrely shaped masses of granite apparently cast asunder from the mainland. This little archipelago consists of the main Ilha da Berlenga (4.5km/ 3mi long and up to 800m/0.5mi wide), the neighboring islands of Estelas, Forcadeas and Farilhes, and numerous reefs and isolated rocks, offering magnificent opportunities for scuba divers. The main island can be reached by boat from Peniche in about an hour (regular services in summer).