It’s one of the Algarve’s hidden jewels; where the mysteries of the past can be explored in the most captivating of surroundings.
Pego do Inferno (Hell’s Pool/Pit of Hell) is the name given to a small waterfall and olive-green lagoon in the parish of Santo Estêvão in the municipality of Tavira. Nestled in the hills approximately seven kilometres north west of the city (see map), it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the Algarve.
Timing is everything when visiting. Go at the height of summer and it’s almost certain the waterfall will be dry and the lagoon shallow or even nonexistent. The month of May, however, should be ideal, with the waterfall, lagoon and surrounding foliage benefiting from the winter rains.
The waterfall itself is less than five metres high, but it’s still impressive. It was once known among locals as the ‘secret waterfall’. These days, the area is more often referred to as Pego do Inferno. This is due to a local legend telling how, many years ago, a horse-drawn carriage and its occupants had a tragic accident, tumbling into the lagoon, never to be seen again.
The legend doesn’t stop there, either. It’s said that the rescue divers not only failed to find the poor souls who perished, they were even unable to find the bottom of the lagoon. Word soon spread that it was conceivably a passage to hell, hence the name by which it is now known.
This is only a legend but it serves as a timely reminder for modern-day visitors. While the walk from the nearby car park is a short one of less than a kilometre, it’s very uneven ground and steep in places. The pathway can also become overgrown, so if you are visiting, please do take care and wear appropriate footwear.
All that said, Pego do Inferno is a magical location and a great place for a picnic or to relax in beautiful natural surroundings. The more adventurous amongst you may also wish to take a bathing towel and swimwear as a dip in the lagoon often proves popular, regardless of whether it has a bottom or not!
Pego do Inferno is not maintained by the local council or any other organisation, so it’s particularly important, therefore, that the philosophy of any good nature walk applies: we should ‘take only photographs and leave only footprints’. In other words, we should all respect the local environment by leaving this beautiful location as we found it and as somewhere that can be enjoyed by generations to follow.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pego_do_Inferno
Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/C8r5GyL4i6PFgrzy8
