The Algarve is again the region flying the most Blue Flags in Portugal this year, having maintained the 91 flags it was awarded last year (87 beaches and four marinas). The national tally has increased from last year’s 360 to 372.

The Algarve’s 87 beaches that were singled out last year will continue to fly Blue Flags in 2021, while the marinas in Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira and Vilamoura will also be hoisting flags.

Albufeira is the municipality with the most flags (26), followed by Vila do Bispo (11), Loulé (11), Portimão (7), Lagoa (6), Lagos (5), Aljezur, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António (4 each), Castro Marim (3) and Silves (2).

Algarve tourism boss João Fernandes described the news as “recognition of the work carried out by the 13 coastal boroughs of the Algarve, namely the investment by public and private entities to improve beach conditions and preserve the quality of the water, despite all the challenges posed by the pandemic”.

Fernandes also stressed that these Blue Flags come at a time when international tourism is resuming and will help showcase the region’s pristine beaches, which earned it the title of World’s Best Beach Destination at the 2020 World Travel Awards.

Here is the list of Blue Flag beaches in the Algarve, from west to east:

• Aljezur: Odeceixe-Mar, Amoreira-Mar, Monte Clérigo and Arrifana
• Vila do Bispo: Cordoama, Beliche, Castelejo, Tonel, Mareta, Martinhal, Ingrina, Zavial, Salema, Almádena – Cabanas Velha and Burgau
• Lagos: Luz, Porto de Mós, D. Ana, Meia Praia
• Portimão: Alvor Poente, Alvor Nascente – Três Irmãos, Vau, Três Castelos, Rocha and Marina
• Lagoa: Ferragudo, Caneiros, Carvoeiro, Vale Centeanes, Senhora da Rocha and Vale do Olival
• Silves: Armação de Pêra and Praia Grande Poente
• Albufeira: Salgados, Galé-Oeste, Galé-Este, Manuel Lourenço, Evaristo, Castelo, Coelha, São Rafael, Arrifes, Peneco, Pescadores, Alemães, Inatel, Aveiros, Oura, Oura-Leste, Santa Eulália, Maria Luísa, Olhos D’Água, Belharucas, Falésia Açoteias, Falésia Alfamar, Rocha Baixinha Poente, Rocha Baixinha and Rocha Baixinha Nascente.
• Loulé: Vilamoura, Quarteira, Forte Novo, Almargem, Loulé Velho, Vale do Lobo, Garrão-Poente, Garrão-Nascente, Ancão and Quinta do Lago
• Faro: Faro-Mar, Barreta, Ilha do Farol-Mar and Culatra-Mar
• Olhão: Armona-Mar, Armona-Ria, Fuseta-Mar and Fuseta-Ria
• Tavira: Barril, Terra Estreita, Ilha de Tavira-Mar and Cabanas-Mar
• Castro Marim: Praia Verde, Cabeço and Alagoa-Altura
• Vila Real de Santo António: Manta Rota, Lota, Monte Gordo and Santo António

Source: Portugal Resident