General information for the Algarve, Portugal

 2012 Blue Flag beaches & Marinas in the Algarve

69 blue flag beaches and 4 blue flag Marinas in 2012

The Algarve has been awarded 69 beach blue flags and four for Marinas in 2012  The Associacao Bandeira Azul da Europa (ABAE), the European Blue Flag Association say it is in recognition of the quality of their beaches and marinas.  The ABAE judge the coastal area on a number of different criteria including environmental nature, security, the comfort level of users, display information and, of course, environmental proptection standards. Lagos Marina has retained it's blue flag status for 2012.  The other blue flag Marinas are Albufeira, Portimão and Vilamoura.  The EUCC - The Coastal and Marine Union, based in Holland, has awarded their European Quality Coast flag to 10 municipalities in Portugal including Lagos and Tavira in the Algarve.

Blue Flags have been awarded to the following beaches and Marinas in 2012

Western Algarve:

Odeceixe-Mar, Monte Clerigo, Arrifana, Castelejo, Cordoama, Mareta, Martinhal, Ingrina, Zavial, Salema, Almádena - Cabanas Vehlas, Burgau, Luz, Porto de Mos, Meia Praia, Dona Ana, Camilo, Batata, Alvor Poente, Alvor Nascente - Três Irmãos,

Central Algarve:

Vau, Rocha, Armação de Pêra, Praia Grande Poente, Salgados, Galé-Oeste, Galé-Leste, Manuel Lourenço, Evaristo, Castelo, Coelha, S. Rafael, Arrifes, Santa Eulália, Aveiros, Oura, Oura-Leste, Maria Luísa, Olhos d'Agua, Belharucas, Falésia Açoteias, Falésia Alfamar, Rocha Baixinha-Poente, Rocha Baixinha-Nascente, Almargem, Forte Novo, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Loulé Vehlo, Vale de Lobo, Garrão Poente, Garrão Nascente, Ancão and Quinta do Lago

Eastern Algarve:

Culatra-Mar, Ilha do Farol-Mar, Barreta, Faro-Mar, Armona-Mar, Fuseta-Mar, Cabanas-Mar, Ilha de Tavira-Mar, Barril, Terra Estreita, Monte Gordo, Manta Rota, Lota, Santo António, Pego Fundo

Marinas:

Marina de Lagos, Marina de Portimão, Marina de Albufeira, Marina de Vilamoura

Source www.abae.pt & www.blueflag.org & algarve resident 11th May 2012

updated 2012