Pego do Inferno

Santo Estevao / Tavira, Algarve Region, Portugal

About Pego do Inferno


Hiking Distance: about 1km round-trip
Suggested Time: allow 1 hour

Date first visited: 2024-06-05
Date last visited: 2024-06-05

Waterfall Latitude: 37.15563
Waterfall Longitude: -7.69592

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Pego do Inferno is a rare natural waterfall in the Algarve Region of Southern Portugal, situated near the charming town of Tavira not far from the Spanish border.

This waterfall is also known as the Moinhos da Rocha because it was the site of a former mill.

Pego_do_Inferno_042_06052024 - Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego do Inferno Waterfall

These days, it harbors a 10m waterfall with a large plunge pool that made it a pretty popular spot for cooling off, especially considering how hot it can get in the Algarve.

Although this waterfall was shorter than the Queda do Vigario (another Algarve waterfall further to the west), I learned that it was artificially enhanced for irrigation purposes.

Therefore, the Pego do Inferno could very well be one of the few natural waterfalls in the typically hot-and-dry Algarve Region.

However, that also means that it’s subject to the whims of the Mediterranean climate (including periods of prolonged drought).

Pego_do_Inferno_089_06052024 - When the Pego do Inferno has water, it can be quite the popular spot to chill out and cool off from the increasing Summer heat of the Algarve Region of Portugal
When the Pego do Inferno has water, it can be quite the popular spot to chill out and cool off from the increasing Summer heat of the Algarve Region of Portugal

Like with other waterfalls in the Algarve, you get pretty polarized reviews of these swimming holes with more people complaining about the lack of water than those who rave about a good experience.

I guess that’s the social media effect for you, but the key thing to remember about this waterfall is that it’s typically best visited in the late Spring or early Summer.

And that only works if the region has seen a healthy amount of precipitation in the Winter and Spring months, which is not a guaranteed thing in a Global Warming world, especially for Mediterranean climates.

Accessing the Pego do Inferno

From the car park near its trailhead (see directions below), we managed to walk to towards a bend in the road where the trail started at its corner.

Pego_do_Inferno_004_06052024 - At the bend in the road, where the trail to Pego do Inferno began. The upper trail to the waterfall ascended on the left while the lower trail descended on the right
At the bend in the road, where the trail to Pego do Inferno began. The upper trail to the waterfall ascended on the left while the lower trail descended on the right

We actually had a choice of a couple of trails to choose from – an upper trail and a lower trail.

It turned out that both trails ultimately go to the same place, but we started off by taking the upper trail, which followed a defined path for about 200m before the trail started to veer away from the Ribeira da Asseca.

At that point, we followed one of the informal-looking paths down a semi-steep embankment to rejoin the lower trail and then continue the remaining 100m or so to the top of the Pego do Inferno Waterfall.

By the way, had we taken the lower path, we would hike on another path where some maps said it was crossing through private property.

Pego_do_Inferno_011_06052024 - Looking down towards the lower trail from the upper trail with some agricultural lands in the background
Looking down towards the lower trail from the upper trail with some agricultural lands in the background

That said, the signage in this area was not very good so I don’t know how one could tell if they were trespassing or not.

Nevertheless, when the trail became overgrown or not discernible (especially on the return hike), that was when we knew it was time to backtrack and look for an easier way.

Once we were at the top of the Pego do Inferno, we couldn’t really see the waterfall from up here, but we could certainly hear it and also see the people swimming in the large plunge pool down below.

While it was tempting to take a real steep and eroded shortcut down to the base of the falls, it was much easier and safer to continue veering along the cliff edge and away from the waterfall into a tree-covered trail.

Pego_do_Inferno_017_06052024 - When we consulted Gaia GPS and found out that we were veering away from the Pego do Inferno, we found this connector path leading back down to the lower trail to get back on track
When we consulted Gaia GPS and found out that we were veering away from the Pego do Inferno, we found this connector path leading back down to the lower trail to get back on track

At the bottom of this trail, we then veered to the right along the base of the cliffs before returning to the low-hanging reeds almost creating a sort of floral tunnel around the fringes of the plunge pool of the Pego do Inferno.

From there, we could choose to swim or take profile pictures of the waterfall, or scramble a bit further downstream away from the falls while crossing the Ribeira da Asseca one more time before getting a more frontal view of the waterfall.

Indeed, due to the poor signage of this excursion, I found that consulting with my GPS app certainly helped to keep me oriented in the right direction.

Overall, we spent a little over an hour away from the car covering roughly about 1km in total distance out-and-back.

Pego_do_Inferno_103_06052024 - Looking down at the context of the large plunge pool fronting the Pego do Inferno Waterfall as seen from the top of the cliff above the falls
Looking down at the context of the large plunge pool fronting the Pego do Inferno Waterfall as seen from the top of the cliff above the falls

On the way out, we definitely saw quite a few more people heading to the waterfall, and they mostly seemed to be an international crowd as I heard other languages besides Portugese (especially Spanish, German, and French) being spoken.

The Legend of the Pego do Inferno

Pego do Inferno translates as “Hell’s Pool” or the “Pit of Hell”.

Legend has it that there was a carriage that fell into the lake or large plunge pool here, but neither the carriage nor its occupants were ever found.

Thus, it was said that anyone who fell into the pool would go straight to Hell, as it was assumed that that was where the carriage and its occupants must have gone.

Pego_do_Inferno_055_06052024 - During our early June 2024 visit to the Pego do Inferno, there was enough water in the Ribeira da Asseca to support a school of fish.  However, in hotter and drier times, I'd imagine these fish would be hard to come by
During our early June 2024 visit to the Pego do Inferno, there was enough water in the Ribeira da Asseca to support a school of fish. However, in hotter and drier times, I’d imagine these fish would be hard to come by

These days, with Global Warming and Climate Change, a different kind of Hell can be unleashed on this area.

Indeed, the combination of heat and prolonged drought resulted in a fire that closed this area in 2012.

Therefore, technically the Pego do Inferno has been closed since that time, and it has not been formally re-opened.

Nevertheless, as you can see from the presence of this write-up, it didn’t stop people from going here, and we were no different.

Authorities

The Pego do Inferno Waterfall is located near the town of Tavira in the Faro District of the Algarve Region of Portugal. It appears that the waterfall is administered by the authorities and/or local landowners of Tavira. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Tavira Tourism website.

Pego_do_Inferno_002_iPhone_06052024 - Making it to the nearest car park for the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_008_06052024 - Tahia on the upper path leading closer to the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_012_06052024 - Julie and Tahia on the upper path leading closer to the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_018_06052024 - Looking back at Julie and Tahia negotiating an informal connector trail where we dropped down from the upper trail join up with the lower trail leading to the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_020_06052024 - Now on the lower trail leading closer to the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_021_06052024 - Looking back at Julie and Tahia catching up to me after rejoining the lower trail on the way to Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_022_06052024 - Approaching some kind of pole situated at the top of the Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_025_06052024 - Julie and Tahia approaching the top of the Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_027_06052024 - Looking down at the large plunge pool at the base of the Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_030_06052024 - Instead of taking a steep and eroded shortcut gully to the bottom of the Pego do Inferno, we went away from the waterfall towards this trail that was much tamer albeit a little more overgrown
Pego_do_Inferno_033_06052024 - Julie and Tahia continuing to follow a well-vegetated path leading back to the Pego do Inferno as we followed the longer but surer approach
Pego_do_Inferno_035_06052024 - Looking at some of the alcoves and holes within the cliffs that give rise to the Pego do Inferno Waterfall hinting at the geology at play here
Pego_do_Inferno_038_06052024 - Julie and Tahia hiking among the reeds and mangroves fringing the large plunge pool at the base of the Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_039_06052024 - First look at the Pego do Inferno Waterfall during our early June 2024 visit
Pego_do_Inferno_044_06052024 - Another look at the Pego do Inferno Waterfall from the near side of its plunge pool
Pego_do_Inferno_046_06052024 - Looking towards a couple that was sharing the view with us when we first gazed upon the Pego do Inferno Waterfall.  Little did we realize that they were about to engage in some activity that made Tahia question what they were doing near the waterfall later on
Pego_do_Inferno_046_06052024 - Tahia skipping stones at the fringes of the plunge pool before the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_048_06052024 - Julie trying to cross the Ribeira da Asseca on the way to the opposite end of the large plunge pool of the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_056_06052024 - Looking across the plunge pool towards the Pego do Inferno Waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_060_06052024 - More people showing up at the Pego do Inferno Waterfall as it became later in the morning of our early June 2024 visit
Pego_do_Inferno_063_06052024 - More zoomed in look at the Pego do Inferno Waterfall with that couple swimming together towards the waterfall
Pego_do_Inferno_090_06052024 - Some graffiti seen on the walls or cliffs around the plunge pool of the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_094_06052024 - A little reed 'tunnel' that we had to pass through to get to and from the far end of the large plunge pool of the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_097_06052024 - Last look at the Pego do Inferno Waterfall, where Tahia was wondering why the woman was 'bouncing' at the base of the falls
Pego_do_Inferno_099_06052024 - Looking back at more of the reed 'tunnels' allowing us to get around the fringes of the plunge pool of the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_101_06052024 - Julie and Tahia taking the steep shortcut back up to the top of the cliff and the trail leading us back to the car park
Pego_do_Inferno_107_06052024 - Julie and Tahia making their way back along the 'lower' trail to the car park for the Pego do Inferno
Pego_do_Inferno_113_06052024 - Julie and Tahia continuing to make their way back to the trailhead for the Pego do Inferno via the 'lower' trail
Pego_do_Inferno_118_06052024 - When we realized that the lower path on the left became overgrown and unable to proceed, we had to backtrack and go up this brief ascent to the right to return to the trailhead
Pego_do_Inferno_119_06052024 - Julie and Tahia making the final push to return to the trailhead for the Pego do Inferno after a bit of confusion among the overgrowth around the 'lower' trail
Pego_do_Inferno_121_06052024 - Julie and Tahia returning to the nearest car park for the Pego do Inferno


The Pego do Inferno Waterfall resides about 10km north of the town of Tavira.

So I’ll describe the driving directions as if we were coming from Tavira.

Drive_to_Pego_do_Inferno_018_MingSung_06062024 - On the narrow Estrada do Barranco da Nora leading from the N270 towards the M514-2 and eventually the access road to the car park for the Pego do Inferno
On the narrow Estrada do Barranco da Nora leading from the N270 towards the M514-2 and eventually the access road to the car park for the Pego do Inferno

From the public parking spaces flanking the Rio Gilão in Tavira, we drove west abour 4km on the N270 towards the roundabout near the exit 16 of the A22 motorway.

Then, we drove east on the Rua de Santa Margarida for about 600m before turning left onto the Estrada do Barranco da Nora.

Next, we drove for about 3km (going past the M514-2 Road at the 2.6km from the Rua de Santa Margarida), then turning right onto a rural access road.

After the final 350m or so, we reached the second of two car parks for the Pego do Inferno.

Pego_do_Inferno_002_06052024 - Looking back at the nearest car park for the Pego do Inferno
Looking back at the nearest car park for the Pego do Inferno

Overall, this drive should take around 15-20 minutes.

For context, Tavira is about 38km (about 30 minutes drive) east of Faro, 96km (about an hour drive) east of Portimão, about 115km (over an hour drive) east of Lagos, 174km (under 2 hours drive) west of Sevilla, Spain, 251km (over 2.5 hours drive) south of Évora, and 302km (over 2.5 hours drive south of Lisbon.

Find A Place To Stay

Back and forth sweep from a somewhat angled look at the waterfall near the bottom of a steep scramble below the bluff


Brief back and forth sweep of the whole context as seen from across the plunge pool and then a brief zoom in with a greater emphasis on the flowers and falls before zooming back out again

Related Top 10 Lists

No Posts Found

Trip Planning Resources


Nearby Accommodations



Tagged with: tavira, santo estevao, swimming hole, algarve, faro, portugal, moinhos da roca



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page


Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

No users have submitted a write-up/review of this waterfall


Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls

The Waterfaller Newsletter

The Waterfaller Newsletter is where we curate the wealth of information on the World of Waterfalls website and deliver it to you in bite-sized chunks in your email inbox. You'll also get exclusive content like...

  • Waterfall Wednesdays
  • Insider Tips
  • User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month
  • and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls


How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.