The interior of the Algarve will gain a new river beach this summer. The new bathing area is located in the Odeleite reservoir, in the municipality of Castro Marim, and should start operating from July 1st, the date scheduled for the start of the bathing season in that location.
According to what sets the bathing season on the country’s beaches, the Odeleite reservoir beach will have a bathing season between July 1st and August 31st. This is a new option for those looking to escape the busiest beaches on the coast of Santa Catarina.
A new bet on the interior
The new bathing area is integrated into the Odeleite Dam Activity Center. The space aims to reinforce the tourist offer in the interior of the municipality of Castro Marim and create another point of interest linked to nature and leisure.
The presentation of this new river beach was made by the Municipality of Castro Marim during the BTL – Lisbon Travel Market, in Lisbon. On the occasion, the city hall highlighted its intention to create “a new destination and a new experience within the municipality”.
The Odeleite reservoir beach must also display the Blue Flag, a distinctive sign attributed to bathing areas that meet criteria related to water quality, safety, information to users and environmental management.
Second classified river beach in the region
With this classification, Odeleite joins the river beach of Pego Fundo, in Alcoutim, until now the main reference for this type of offer in the Algarve. Pego Fundo beach has already started the summer season, which takes place between June 1st and September 13th.
The arrival of a new river beach gains special relevance in a region known mainly for its sea beaches. However, the Algarve interior has increasingly focused on experiences linked to streams, dams, rural landscapes and nature tourism.
For visitors, the new bathing area could represent a quieter alternative during the months of greater tourist pressure. For the municipality of Castro Marim, it is also a way to enhance the Odeleite dam area and attract visitors beyond the coastal strip.
Odeleite gains new prominence
The Odeleite reservoir is one of the best-known landscapes in the northeast of the Algarve, associated with the dam and the watercourse that crosses this area of the municipality. The creation of the river beach gives the space a new tourist and recreational use.
The opening of the summer season on July 1st marks the official start of supervised use of the new beach. Until August 31st, the space must operate under the conditions defined for the season, allowing bathers to enjoy the area safely.
The new river beach appears at a time when many residents and tourists are looking for alternatives to the intense heat of the Algarve summer. Freshwater areas, when properly classified and monitored, become attractive options for families and visitors seeking calmer environments.
One more reason to discover the interior
The investment in Odeleite reinforces the idea that the Algarve is not just about the coast. Between mountains, streams, dams and villages, the interior of the region continues to gain space as a destination for walks, rest and contact with nature.
The new river beach could help to better distribute tourist flows during the summer, taking more visitors to less popular areas of the territory. This type of offer can also help boost local commerce, restaurants and activities linked to active tourism.
For now, the date to be retained is July 1st. From that day on, the Odeleite reservoir beach is expected to officially open the bathing season and become the second classified river beach in the Algarve, joining Pego Fundo, in Alcoutim.
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