Monte Gordo 2026: Qualidade de Ouro – Gold Quality Beach

Mantendo uma distinção que detém há décadas, a Praia de Monte Gordo voltou a ser distinguida com o galardão Quercus Qualidade de Ouro, atribuído anualmente pela Quercus às praias que demonstram, de forma consistente, uma excelente qualidade da água balnear. Para receber esta distinção, as praias têm de cumprir critérios rigorosos baseados nos dados oficiais de monitorização da qualidade da água, recolhidos ao longo de várias épocas balneares. O galardão é atribuído apenas às praias que mantêm uma excelente qualidade microbiológica da água durante toda a época balnear, sem registos de contaminação ou degradação. A avaliação considera igualmente a consistência e estabilidade dos resultados ao longo do tempo, refletindo um compromisso contínuo com a qualidade ambiental e a saúde pública.

ENGLISH:

Continuing a distinction it has held for decades, Monte Gordo Beach was once again awarded the Quercus Gold Quality distinction, granted annually by Quercus to beaches that consistently demonstrate excellent bathing water quality. To receive this distinction, beaches must meet strict criteria based on official water quality monitoring data collected over several bathing seasons. The award is given only to beaches that maintain excellent microbiological water quality throughout the entire bathing season, with no recorded instances of contamination or deterioration. The evaluation also considers the consistency and stability of results over time, reflecting a sustained commitment to environmental quality and public health.

LINKS:

Quercus Qualidade de Ouro / Gold Quality

Monte Gordo 2026: Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Mantendo a tradição das últimas décadas, em 2026 a Praia de Monte Gordo volta a ostentar a Bandeira Azul, um dos galardões internacionais de maior prestígio, atribuído pela Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa. A distinção reconhece o cumprimento de exigentes critérios nas áreas do ambiente, educação ambiental, segurança, qualidade e acessibilidade, que devem ser assegurados e mantidos de forma contínua.

ENGLISH:

Continuing a tradition upheld over the past decades, Monte Gordo Beach once again holds the Blue Flag in 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious and widely recognized beach awards, granted by the Blue Flag Association of Europe. To qualify for this distinction, a series of stringent criteria relating to environmental management, education, safety, and accessibility must be consistently met and maintained.

Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Monte Gordo 2025: Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Mantendo a tradição das últimas décadas, em 2025, a Praia de Monte Gordo continua a ostentar a Bandeira Azul, um dos galardões mais reconhecidos do mundo, atribuído pela Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa. Para se qualificar para a Bandeira Azul, uma série de critérios rigorosos de ambiente, educação, segurança e acessibilidade devem ser cumpridos e mantidos.

ENGLISH:

Keeping the tradition over the last decades, in 2025, Monte Gordo Beach continues to hold a Blue Flag, one of the world’s most recognized awards for beaches, attributed by the Blue Flag Association of Europe. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

Links:

Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Monte Gordo 2024: Bandeira Azul e Qualidade de Ouro – Blue Flag and Gold Quality Beach

Com tem vindo sendo tradição há várias décadas, em 2024, a praia de Monte Gordo continua a ter Bandeira Azul (atribuída pela Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa) e a designação de “Qualidade de Ouro” atribuída pela Quercus (Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza).

ENGLISH:

Keeping the tradition over the last few decades, in 2024, Monte Gordo Beach continues to hold a Blue Flag (awarded by the Blue Flag Association of Europe) and the designation of “Gold Quality” awarded by Quercus (Portuguese Association for the Conservation of Nature).

Links:

Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Quercus Qualidade de Ouro / Gold Quality

Guadiana, a river that unites us

The video below shows several places and activities present along the counties of Vila Real de Santo Antonio (VRSA; where Monte Gordo is located), Castro Marim, all the way up to Alcoutim, along with the Guadiana River. Here are also additional links of interest for this region:

Territory and History: https://www.baixoguadiana.com/en/territorio/

Trails to explore: https://www.baixoguadiana.com/en/percursos/

Culture, Sports & Leisure: https://www.baixoguadiana.com/en/cultura-desporto-lazer/

Local food: https://www.baixoguadiana.com/en/sabores-descanso/produtos-endogenos/

Restaurants: https://www.baixoguadiana.com/en/sabores-descanso/restauracao-cafetaria/

Algarve wins 2023 “Europe’s Leading Beach Destination” award (again!)

PT (English version below)

Pela décima vez, o Algarve foi eleito o “Melhor Destino de Praia da Europa” nos 2023 World Travel Awards. Artigo: https://jornaldoalgarve.pt/algarve-e-o-melhor-destino-de-praia-da-europa-pela-10-a-vez/

For the tenth time, the Algarve has been voted as “Europe’s Leading Beach Destination” at the 2023 World Travel Awards. Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanneshurvell/2023/10/02/the-algarve-wins-europes-leading-beach-destination-at-world-travel-awards-2023/?sh=677f03ae2c73

Faro Airport now connected to 71 Cities

Faro Airport (FAO) will have 18 new routes this summer 2023, out of which 6 are new destinations. Consequently FAO will now be connected to 70 European cities plus Toronto in Canada (total of 81 routes). The 6 new cities added to FAO destinations are: Aarhus (Denmark), Roma (Italy), Strasbourg (France), Bilbao (Spain), Jersey (UK), and Exeter (UK).

Destinations from Faro Airport: click here (links to external site: “Flight Connections”)

News Source:

English: click here (links to external site: “THE PORTUGAL NEWS”)

Portuguese: click here (links to external site: “ECO – Economia Online”)

Swimming in December… why not?

After some rainy days, the sunny weather is back in full blast to Monte Gordo. These are a couple of photos from today, December 27 of 2022. The temperature was about 21 celsius (70F) all day.

December 27 at about 9h30, one of the last traditional fishermen boat arrives at the beach with fresh seafood

December 27 at about 17h30 the sunset is phenomenal and the temperature remains at 20 celsius

December 27 also at about 17h30 I noticed that a couple of young people could not resist going for a swim!

Season greetings!

Monte Gordo: Bandeira Azul e Qualidade de Ouro – Blue Flag Beach and Gold Quality

Com tem vindo sendo tradição há várias décadas, em 2022, a praia de Monte Gordo continua com a Bandeira Azul (atribuída pela Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa) e a designação de “Qualidade de Ouro” atribuída pela Quercus (Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza).

ENGLISH:

Keeping the tradition over the last few decades, in 2022, Monte Gordo Beach continues with the Blue Flag (awarded by the Blue Flag Association of Europe) and the designation of “Gold Quality” awarded by Quercus (Portuguese Association for the Conservation of Nature).

Links:

Bandeira Azul / Blue Flag

Qualidade de Ouro / Gold Quality

Portugal is World’s 4th Safest Country

The latest rank Global Peace Index (GPI) elaborated by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks Portugal as the 4th safest country in the world.

The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness and covers 99.7% of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace across three domains:

– the level of Societal Safety and Security,

– the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict,

– and the degree of Militarisation.

For more details about the rank use this link: