This year, the environmental association Quercus classified 58 beaches in the Azores with “Gold Quality,” 12 more than last year, the biggest increase in the entire country.
In the coastal areas, 58 beaches in the Azores, 24 in Madeira, 55 in the Tagus and Oeste, 54 in the north, 58 in the Algarve, 17 in the center and 25 in the Alentejo were classified as “Gold Quality”.
In inland areas, 16 were awarded in the Tagus and West, 14 in the North, 22 in the Center, and three in the Alentejo.
Three transitional beaches from the Tagus and West, three from the North, three from the Alentejo, and one from the Algarve were classified.
Quercus adds that this year, 11 first-time bathing areas were awarded Gold Quality for the first time. Five are inland, four are coastal, and two are transitional, located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Madeira, the Center, North, Tagus, and West regions.
This year, the association saw a sharp drop in coastal bathing waters, with 36 fewer awards than in 2023.
In the note, the association also highlights the launch of an interactive map of the beaches awarded “Gold Quality”, available at https://praiasouro.quercus.pt.
The “Gold Quality Beach” award annually distinguishes the bathing water quality of Portuguese beaches, based on the official public information available, taking into account exclusively the analyses carried out in the laboratories of the different Regional Hydrographic Administrations, according to the environmental association.
According to a note from Quercus, to receive the “Gold Quality” beach classification, the bathing water must meet several criteria, such as “excellent” water quality in the annual classification of the five bathing seasons before the last one. Also, all the analyses carried out in the last bathing season (2023) must have shown better results in various bacterial indicators.

Two Azorean firsts are included in this “Golden Quality” distinction: Poças da Ribeira Grande, on the island of S. Miguel, and Praia de Castelo Branco, on the island of Faial. Poças da Ribeira Grande is a complex of swimming pools and a sandy beach area that offers a direct connection to the sea, thus allowing bathers greater diversity. The pontoon that shelters the bathing complex protects it.

in Diário dos Açores -Osvaldo Cabral, director

From the Municipality of Ribeira Grande

The Poças municipal swimming pool complex is located in the city of Ribeira Grande, in the parish of Matriz, facing north and bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a mixed bathing area because it has a beach area with natural sand in addition to the three pools.

The largest pool is 25 meters long and 20 meters wide and varies in depth between 1.2 and 2 meters. There is also a jumping pool, a children’s pool, and a baby pool (the only one with fresh water).

Between the pools is an area of sand that offers a direct connection to the sea, allowing bathers greater diversity. The pontoon that shelters the bathing complex protects it.

This infrastructure has two support bars, an elevator for transporting people with special needs, a large solarium, a recreation area, changing rooms, toilets, outdoor freshwater showers, bar and restaurant service, a medical office, changing rooms, and sun lounger rental.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.