Portimão Beaches Raise Blue Flag for 38th Consecutive Year
Environmental awareness campaigns accompany beach season across the municipality.
As of Monday, June 23, the beaches of Rocha, Três Castelos, Vau, Três Irmãos, Alvor, and the Marina of Portimão are once again flying the prestigious Blue Flag, a European distinction awarded to coastal destinations that meet stringent criteria in environmental education, water quality, environmental management, safety, and infrastructure.
In addition to the beaches, the Portimão Marina and two ecotourism vessels — Sun Cat I – Algarve and Sun Boat I – Algarve, operated by local tourism company Sun Boat Trips — have also received the 2025 Blue Flag certification. This international award, reserved for beaches, recreational harbors, and marinas, has been a hallmark of Portimão’s coastline since 1987 and will remain in place throughout the bathing season, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of protecting marine and coastal environments.
Several beaches — Rocha, Vau, Três Irmãos/Alvor Nascente, Torralta/Alvor Poente, and Marina — have also retained the Accessible Beach – Beach for All designation. This recognition highlights their commitment to inclusivity, featuring easy, obstacle-free pedestrian access, designated parking for individuals with reduced mobility, beach walkways, and adapted sanitary facilities, among other accessibility improvements.
Rocha Beach continues to be a standout destination, once again winning the Five Stars Regions Award in the category of seaside resorts. This accolade reaffirms its prominence in the national tourism landscape, as assessed by a system that celebrates excellence across various sectors in Portugal.
Adding to this year’s initiatives is the ongoing “Há UV na Praia” (“There’s UV at the Beach”) project, launched earlier in June at Rocha, Três Castelos, Vau, and Alvor beaches. The program, led by the Manuel Teixeira Gomes School Group (AEMTG), in partnership with the Portimão Municipality and the parishes of Portimão and Alvor, promotes safe sun exposure and educates beachgoers on the dangers of ultraviolet radiation.
In a new development, a partnership has been formed between “Há UV na Praia” and EMARP (Portimão’s municipal water and waste company), integrating the initiative with the “Nico” campaign, which encourages proper disposal of cigarette butts, and the campaign “The Best Footprint Leaves No Mark,” which urges residents and tourists to preserve the natural beauty of their local beaches.
