Where everything here comes from
Every beach on this site shows where each piece of data came from. This page explains the method, what we don’t know and how the site pays for itself.
Every beach, unfiltered.
Each dot is a beach page on the site. The colour is the official water quality class from the last bathing season. Beaches rated “Poor” are on the map too.
Hover over a dot to see the beach; click to open its page.
Real screenshot of /en/praias/praia-da-marinha
Praia da Marinha, marked up in pen.
This is the real page, as it looks on a phone. Tap a note to see where it is and where it came from.
“Excellent water”
The official class from the European Environment Agency, based on samples taken by APA, the Portuguese Environment Agency. We show the class as published, with no stars or scores of our own.
OfficialUnstable cliffs notice
Taken from the harbour authority’s notices (Portuguese Maritime Authority). Safety notices come before everything else.
OfficialBathing season
Dates from the order published in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official gazette. Outside them there are no lifeguards, and the page says so.
Official“Weekdays only”
Checked against the bus operator’s timetable. A small detail that saves a wasted morning.
Written by us“There is no webcam at Marinha”
When something doesn’t exist, we say so and point to the nearest MEO cameras.
Written by usThe sources, at the bottom
The links we used to write the page: council, harbour authority, official gazette, Blue Flag operator, bus company. Anyone can check them.
Written by us
Every piece of data has its own shelf life.
A wind forecast is good for hours. A Blue Flag is good for one summer. That is why every piece of data on the site carries a label saying where it came from.
Live
Changes every hour
- Waves, wind, water, UVOpen-Meteo
- WebcamsMEO Beachcam
Good for planning. On the day, the flag and the lifeguard have the final say.
Written by us
Changes when things change
- Descriptions and accessSources on the page
- Surf and fishing spotsEditorial
- Where to stay zonesEditorial
If something has changed on the ground, write to us and we will fix it.
Official
Changes once a season or a year
- Water qualityEEA · APA
- Blue FlagABAAE
- TidesHydrographic Institute
- Fishing licencesDGRM
- Bathing seasonOfficial gazette
We always show the year the data refers to.
What we have already fixed.
Mistakes happen. When we find one, or someone tells us, we fix the page. A few real examples.
We pick the area. You pick the hotel, with real data.
The right area for your kind of trip
44 areas in 7 regions, each with its nearest beach, water quality and closest airport.
Ratings read with the number of reviews
A high score from a handful of reviews means little. Always look at both.
Prices for your dates
Live, on the partner’s site. You pay the same as you would there.
Free for you. Partners pay.
When you book a hotel, a car or a tour through one of our links, the partner may pay us a commission. Your price stays the same.
Paid by anyone to get on a list
Beaches, spots and areas are included on merit. In the business directory, a listing is free; paying businesses carry a “Partner” label.
Advertising banners
No page carries third-party display ads.
The same price as the partner
Every booking block says: “We may earn a commission from partners, at no cost to you.” Commission does not decide what we recommend.
On the day, check the source.
Official sources“I run this site from Portimão. If you spot something wrong about a beach you know better than I do, write to me. I’ll fix the page, and thank you.”
Ricardo Barbosa · About the site