The Azores have 70 bathing waters approved for this year on all islands of the archipelago. The bathing season begins between June 1 and July 1, ending between August 31 and October 14.
The Vila Franca do Campo Islet on the island of São Miguel has the longest bathing season, starting on June 1 and ending on October 14.
In the case of the municipalities of Ponta Delgada, Povoação and Ribeira Grande (São Miguel), Calheta (São Jorge) and Lajes do Pico (Pico), the bating season begins Saturday, June 1, and ends in the end of September.
In the municipalities of Vila do Porto (Santa Maria), Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira), São Roque and Madalena (Pico), Horta (Faial), Santa Cruz da Graciosa (Graciosa), Velas (São Jorge), and Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo (São Miguel), the bating season begins in mid-June and ends in mid-September.
In the municipality of Praia da Vitória (Terceira), the begins on June 1 and ends on September 15, while on Corvo it will start on June 20 and ends on September 30.
As for Lajes das Flores (Flores) and the bathing areas of Conceição and Fajã (Faial), the bathing season starts on July 1 and ends on August 31, and for Santa Cruz das Flores (Flores) it is scheduled to begin on June 15 and end on September 30.
The Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs is responsible for coordinating the procedures for the identification of bathing waters as well as for defining and implementing quality monitoring programmes.
The monitoring programme for the 70 identified coastal bathing waters includes samples taken during the bathing season and a pre-season sample.
The Regional Director for Sea Affairs noted that "managing entities, namely municipalities, are responsible for complying with the logistics and assistance requirements following the identification of bathing areas." They are required to provide sanitary facilities, waste collection and cleaning services and, whenever possible, lifesaver surveillance.
Filipe Porteiro also pointed out that the definition of bathing seasons must take into account "the actual use of bathing areas, given the increase of tourism flows in the Region over the last years."
"A well-managed bathing area network is a main asset for all beach users," the Regional Director said, stressing that this leisure and tourism offer is intended to "comply with quality and safety standards that are compatible with their expectations."
Under the Blue Flag international programme, a record number of distinguished coastal bathing areas was reached this year in the Azores with the awarding of 39 Blue Flags, i.e., five more than in 2018.
This year, the official national Blue Flag raising ceremony will take place in the Azores on Praia Grande beach in the municipality of Praia da Vitória on June 1.
All useful information on regional bathing waters will be regularly published on the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs Portal at www.aguasbalneares.azores.gov.pt.