As part of our Blue Flag accessibility compliance project our team visited the beach Praia do Vau in Portimao on Tuesday June 25th 2024.
According to the Blue Flag program, and information put out by the Portuguese department of the environment on its App "Info Praia" and the Algarve Tourism board website, Praia do Vau in Portimao is a fully accessible beach. They say this beach includes an amphibious chair to assist bathers with reduced mobility into the water for swimming. In addition to the Blue Flag, the beach was also flying a flag that says "Praia Acessível – Praia para Todos. Accessible beach for everyone.
"Info Praia" App - Praia do Vau
When we arrived we were pleased to see blue card parking spaces right next to the beach. However the ramp to get on the beach was in poor condition and at a difficult angle. There was a gap full of sand between the cobbled concrete and the wooden ramp, easy for the wheels on a chair to get stuck. This could be a relatively easy fix to smooth over the gap with some concrete.
Once on the beach we went to ask the lifeguards to find the amphibious chair and were told there was none, we checked at the hut with the concessionaire and he confirmed no chair was available, no explanation was given as to why, just a shrug of the shoulders. Constance then went to use the adapted bathroom and it was locked.
The restaurant and cafe on the beach was only accessible by stairs, so no refreshments are available to people with reduced mobility, a ramp needs to be installed.
This beach can definitely not be considered accessible.
We will be informing the relevant local and national authorities, and will update this report as we hear back from them.
