General information for the Algarve, Portugal

 2011 Blue Flag beaches & Marinas in the Algarve

74 blue flag beaches and 4 blue flag Marinas in 2011

The Algarve has been awarded 74beach blue flags and four for Marinas in 2011  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 2011.  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 2011

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:

Tres Castelos, Vau, Rocha, Ferragudo, Vale de Centeanes, Senhora da Rocha, Caneiros, Carvoeiro, Vale do Olival, 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, 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 Ria, Fuseta Mar, Cabanas-Mar, Ilha de Tavira-Mar, Barril, Terra Estreita, Monte Gordo, Manta Rota, Lota, Santo António

Marinas:

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

Source www.abae.pt & www.blueflag.org & algarve resident 13th May 2011

updated May 2011