Praia dos Pescadores (Albufeira)

Praia dos Pescadores or the Fishermans Beach is a blue flag beach[1] on the Atlantic south coast of the Algarve, in the district of Bairro dos Pescadores (Neighborhood of the Fisherman), Albufeira which is within the Municipality of Albufeira, Portugal.[2] The beach is one of the two beaches which front the town of Albufeira with Praia do Túnel at the western end and Praia dos Pescadores lying to the eastern end of the towns seafront. The town and its beaches are located west 23.9 miles (38.5 km) by road of the regions capital of Faro.[3]

Praia dos Pescadores
Beach
Praia dos Pescadores
Praia dos Pescadores
Praia dos Pescadores is located in Portugal
Praia dos Pescadores
Praia dos Pescadores
Location of Praia dos Pescadores
Coordinates: 37°5′12.7″N 8°14′59.1″W
LocationAlbufeira, Algarve, Portugal

Description

In the days before Albufeira had a harbour and mariner the Praia dos Pescadores was where all the local fishermen[4] operated from and the beach scene would have been very different to the site you see today. Then the beach would have been full of brightly painted fishing boats pulled up on this beach when not at sea and much of the tourist activities took place on the Praia do Túnel. Today the Praia dos Pescadores is now used for tourism and is a very busy beach especially in the summer season.

The beach is 225 metres (738 ft) in length[5] and is 106 metres (348 ft) wide at low tide. The beach is divided by a protruding cliff from Praia do Túnel at the western end of the seafront. To the beaches eastern boundary is the Praia do Inatel and it is divided from that beach by a concrete pier which covers the outflow of the Ribeira de Albufeira (Albufeira River).[6] There are also cliffs at the eastern end and to the back of the beach there is an amphitheatre of white houses of the district of Bairro dos Pescadores. The beach can also be accessed by an outdoor foot escalator from the Pau da Bandeira bluff located south of Bairro dos Pescadores down to the beach and Albufeira old town.

Beach facilities

Praia dos Pescadores is an easily accessed beach with its large hard surface square at beach level. There are two car park's near-by, one of which, is at beach level, a short distance along the Avenida 25 de Abril within the old town. The second car park is at the top of the cliffs at Bairro dos Pescadores and is accessed via the outdoor escalator. To the back of the western end of the beach there a variety of restaurants many of which specialise in the local fish and seafood. The beach has several licensed concessions with opportunities to hire parasols and sun loungers. There are also many organised beach and water sport concessions from volleyball to boat trips and Parasailing. The beach also has toilet and shower facilities.[7] During the summer months the beach is patrolled by lifeguards.[8]

New Year Celebrations on the beach

In recent years the beach has been the focal point for the new year celebrations[9] in the town. A temporary concert stage is erected on the Largo 25 de Abril and concerts are held to celebrate the new year. In the past the celebration has seen international bands appearing such as British reggae/pop band UB40[10] in 2009. The celebrations cumulate with a firework display held just of the beach on boats and pontoons just of the shoreline.

  • The western end of the beach
    The western end of the beach
  • The eastern end of the beach
    The eastern end of the beach
  • The escalator down from Pau da Bandeira bluff located south of Bairro dos Pescadores down to the beach and Albufeira old town.
    The escalator down from Pau da Bandeira bluff located south of Bairro dos Pescadores down to the beach and Albufeira old town.
  • Chairs and umbrellas in Praia dos Pescadores
    Chairs and umbrellas in Praia dos Pescadores

Neighbouring Beach locations

References
  1. "Blue Flag Pescadores". Praia dos Pescadores's listing on the Blue Flag listing site. The Foundation for Environmental Education. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. Portuguese civilian survey: Sheet 52B Albufeira. Publishers: Instituto Geográfico Português (Portugal Civilian Survey). Scale:1:50,000. ISBN 972-8867-11-5
  3. "Spain & Portugal 2012, Tourist and Motoring Atlas. Pub:Michelin, 2011, ISBN 972 8867 11 5
  4. AA Algarve – Spiral Guide.Author: Murphy, paul. Publisher:AA Publishing, 2003 edition. Work: Page 73, Albufeira – reference to fisherman’s beach. ISBN 0 7495 3209 2
  5. "Map - Praia dos Pescadores" (PDF). Map of the extent of Praia dos Pescadores with a scale - PDF format. Instituto da Agua - Portuguese Environment Agency. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  6. "Praia do INATEL". References to the Ribeira de Albufeira concrete pier- In Portuguese. Play Ocean ©2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. "PRAIA DOS PESCADORES". list of the beach facilities - In Portuguese with symbols. Serviço de Apontadores Portugueses – SAPO – na Universidade de Aveiro. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  8. "Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos". information on the Portuguese Lifeguard Service. International Life Saving Federation. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. "Albufeira Uncovered - Annual events in Albufeira". reference to the New Year celebrations in Albufeira. AlbufeiraUncovered. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  10. "UB40 - Albufeira". Self made film uploaded to YouTube of the New year celebrations in 2009. YouTube. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
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