Praia da Falésia (Albufeira), Praia da Rocha (Portimão) and Praia da Marinha (Lagoa) currently are the three best beaches in Portugal, according to visitors’ votes for the 'Travellers Awards 2017' on TripAdvisor.
In the list of the Top 10 beaches in Portugal, the Algarve stands out with eight in the Top 10, with the saddening omission of Dona Ana which has been altered so severely by the regional environment agency that people are spending their time elsewhere.
Fourth on the list is Guincho beach (Cascais), but the Algarve dominates the list with Camilo beach in Lagos (fifth place), São Rafael beach in Albufeira (sixth), Odeceixe beach in Aljezur (seventh), Meia Praia in Lagos (eighth) and Galé beach in Albufeira (ninth).
In tenth place is the beach at Nazaré, famous with surfers for the huge waves.
Dona Ana beach in Lagos is not in the Top 10 as it was comprehensively ruined by the 'improvements' put in by the Algarve's environmental agency under 'demolition man' Sebastião Teixeira.
Quercus removed the Gold Quality status at Dona Ana in 2015 as a result, saying at the time that the €1.8 million project promoted by the government “significantly altered the beach’s natural landscape” and “jeopardised the conservation of highly diversified marine ecosystems.”
In 2015, Dona Ana beach was rated "the most beautiful in the world" but was attacked and modified with zeal by the Portuguese Environment Agency under Teixeira, leaving the beach as just another also ran, lacking in charm and stripped of its magic.
Albufeira has three beaches in the Top 10: Falésia, São Rafael and Galé.
For the Albufeira mayor, Carlos Silva and Sousa, this recognition at national and international level "demonstrates well the immense natural heritage that we have and how much it works as a tourist attraction factor."
"It is important that we are able to value this potential so that, by increasing tourism in the region, we can also contribute to improving the country's economic and social conditions," said the politician.
TOP 10 PORTUGAL
1 - Praia da Falésia, Albufeira
2 - Praia da Rocha, Portimão
3 - Praia da Marinha, Lagoa
4 - Guincho Beach, Cascais
5 - Praia do Camilo, Lagos (between Praia Dona Ana and Praia da Boneca )
6 - Praia de São Rafael, Albufeira
7 - Beach of Odeceixe, Aljezur
8 - Meia Praia, Lagos
9 - Praia da Galé, Albufeira
10 - Praia da Nazaré
See: https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches-cTop-g189100
