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Location

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Beaches

Praia do Ancão

Almancil, Algarve, Portugal

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Highlights

Dune-backed beach within the Ria Formosa Natural Park
Large sandy beach close to Quinta do Lago, Garrão and Vale do Lobo
Parking, showers, bar, restaurant and surveillance listed by VisitPortugal
Accessible-beach recognition listed by VisitPortugal; current support should be confirmed
2026 Blue Flag listing verified via ABAAE awarded list
Nearby cards link only to published internal AlgarveOfficial listings

Full description

Beach do Ancão is a wide sandy beach in the municipality of Loulé, in the Vale do Ancão / Almancil coastal area between Quinta do Lago, Garrão and Vale do Lobo. VisitPortugal describes it as integrated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, with a large sandy beach surrounded by dunes and pines. The setting combines resort-area access with a more natural coastal character than the urban beaches further west. Visitors can expect an open dune-backed shoreline, Ria Formosa context and practical beach services, while still needing to respect marked routes, dune protection and local safety signage. Official tourism information lists Blue Flag, safety or surveillance, sunshade rental, light boat rental, showers, parking, bar, restaurant, windsurfing, sailing and accessible-beach recognition for Beach do Ancão. These services should be treated as seasonal or concession-dependent unless confirmed locally before travelling. For 2026, Ancão is listed in the official ABAAE Blue Flag awarded list, and Diário da República lists the bathing season from 1 June to 30 September under bathing-water code PTCW2C. The individual ABAAE Ancão page checked on 19 May 2026 still showed 2025 season dates, so the page documents that conflict and avoids claiming exact 2026 Blue Flag display dates from the individual page.

Meeting point

Praia do Ancão, Vale do Ancão, Almancil, Loulé, Algarve, Portugal

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Practical details

Parking

VisitPortugal lists parking for Beach do Ancão. Current capacity, payment rules and peak-season restrictions were not independently verified for this review.

Accessibility

VisitPortugal lists Beach do Ancão as an accessible beach. Step-free beach access, adapted equipment, mats, accessible toilets and assisted bathing were not independently verified from current sources for this review, so visitors with reduced mobility should confirm conditions before travelling.

Lifeguard season

VisitPortugal lists safety or surveillance for Beach do Ancão, and Diário da República lists Ancão as a 2026 bathing beach from 1 June to 30 September. Exact daily lifeguard staffing should still be checked locally through beach flags, signage and notices.

Blue Flag status

Blue Flag status: verified for 2026 via the ABAAE awarded list. The individual ABAAE Ancão page checked on 19 May 2026 still showed 2025 season dates, so exact 2026 Blue Flag display dates should be confirmed locally.

Important information

Suitable for

Visitors staying in Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo or Almancil
Families wanting a serviced beach with space
Couples looking for a refined but natural beach setting
Visitors needing accessible-beach recognition, subject to current confirmation
Beach walkers
Nature-focused travellers
Water-sports users when conditions are suitable

Not suitable for

Visitors seeking an urban promenade beach
Visitors who want a remote wild beach with no services
Those wishing to avoid resort-area beaches in peak summer
Visitors requiring accessibility support without confirming current seasonal arrangements
Anyone intending to walk across protected dunes or wetland areas

Includes

Blue Flag 2026 listing

Seasonal beach surveillance

Accessible beach recognition

Sunshade rental

Light boat rental

Showers

Car parking

Bar and restaurant

Windsurfing and sailing

Ria Formosa Natural Park setting

Best Time to Visit

June to September aligns with the official 2026 bathing season for Ancão. May, June and September are practical months for beach walks and Ria Formosa scenery with less heat than mid-summer. In July and August, arrive earlier in the day if parking, serviced areas or restaurant access are important.

Know before you go

ABAAE lists Ancão among Loulé's 2026 Blue Flag coastal beach locations. The individual ABAAE Ancão page checked on 19 May 2026 still showed 2025 season dates, so exact 2026 Blue Flag display dates should be checked locally. Diário da República lists Ancão, bathing-water code PTCW2C, with a 2026 bathing season from 1 June to 30 September. VisitPortugal lists safety or surveillance, parking, bar, restaurant, showers, water-sports activities and accessible-beach recognition. Parking is listed by VisitPortugal, but capacity, payment rules and current restrictions were not independently verified for this review. Accessible-beach recognition is listed by VisitPortugal, but current adapted equipment, assisted bathing, mats and the best access point should be confirmed before visiting. Beach do Ancão is in a sensitive dune and Ria Formosa setting; use marked access routes and avoid walking across protected dunes. Sea and wind conditions can vary; follow local flags, signage and instructions from beach teams where present.

Nearby beaches

Beach de Faro / Ilha de Faro

Nearby beach · ~4.9 km

Published AlgarveOfficial Faro island-beach listing east of Ancão by stored coordinates.

Published internal listing

Nearby restaurants

Izzy's Beach Restaurant

Restaurants · ~1.3 km

Casa do Lago

Restaurants · ~1.3 km

Restaurante Casa Velha

Restaurants · ~1.4 km

Restaurante Limoni Quinta do Lago

Restaurants · ~1.5 km

Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy

Restaurants · ~2.3 km

Nearby attractions

Reserva Quinta do Lago

Beach club · ~1.4 km

Published AlgarveOfficial beach-club listing near the Quinta do Lago and Ancão area by stored coordinates.

Published internal listing

San Lorenzo Golf Course

Golf · ~2.3 km

Published AlgarveOfficial golf listing near Quinta do Lago by stored coordinates.

Published internal listing

FAQ

Where is Beach do Ancão?

Beach do Ancão is in the municipality of Loulé, in the Vale do Ancão / Almancil coastal area between Quinta do Lago, Garrão and Vale do Lobo.

Is there parking at Beach do Ancão?

VisitPortugal lists parking for Beach do Ancão. Current capacity, payment rules and peak-season restrictions were not independently verified for this review.

Is Beach do Ancão accessible?

VisitPortugal lists Beach do Ancão as an accessible beach. Practical details such as step-free access, mats, adapted equipment and assisted bathing should be confirmed locally before travelling.

Are there lifeguards at Beach do Ancão?

VisitPortugal lists safety or surveillance, and Diário da República lists Ancão as a 2026 bathing beach from 1 June to 30 September. Exact daily lifeguard staffing should be checked locally.

Is Beach do Ancão a Blue Flag beach?

Yes. Ancão is listed in the official ABAAE 2026 Blue Flag awarded list. The individual ABAAE Ancão page checked on 19 May 2026 still showed 2025 season dates, so exact 2026 display dates should be confirmed locally.

What are the nearest AlgarveOfficial beach listings?

Nearby published AlgarveOfficial beach listings include Beach do Garrão, Beach de Quinta do Lago, Beach de Vale do Lobo, Beach de Faro / Ilha de Faro, Beach de Quarteira and Beach de Vilamoura.

Are there restaurants near Beach do Ancão?

Published AlgarveOfficial restaurant listings near Beach do Ancão include The Bold Octopus, The Shack, Dunes Beach Bar & Restaurant, António Tá Certo - Almancil, Casa do Lago and Izzy's Beach Restaurant, based on stored listing coordinates.

What is the best time to visit Beach do Ancão?

June to September aligns with the official 2026 bathing season. May, June and September are practical for walks and Ria Formosa scenery, while July and August are better approached with earlier arrival if parking and serviced areas matter.