Naturism in Portugal
By: Luis Cortes

Since it’s origins, Portugal has been dotted with villages & battle fields. The adventurous spirit of it’s history has placed Portugal on the map. This is present in all the breath and width of it’s geography and has inherited in a thousand ways the splendor of it’s past.

Today Portugal is integrated in a community of nations, a participant of a modern world which has raced forward in the last few decades of this century. In spite of it all, body acceptance (naturism) has not even reached levels such as found for example in it’s neighboring country Spain, and so it still retains a certain measure of romantic & somewhat prudish attitude towards social nudity, such as was commonly found in most parts of the western world in past decades. This produces in the visitor to Portugal, especially the naturist, a retrospective effect, a sensation of participating in something which has ended some time ago but it is still alive in it’s buildings, cities, roads, paths, beaches, towns and attitudes of this country. The passing of time, a culmination of incidences, conquests and a jealously guarded culture, has marked this country strongly, offering an easily appreciatively, original and valiant flavor.

From North to South in spite of its variety, Portugal offers a blatant uniformity. The character of it’s people, the simplicity and the beauty of it’s traditional crafts, it’s wines, the music and the melancholy, the attractive fields and silent villages and towns, it’s reduced dimensions are in other words, the essence of the poetic and traveling soul of the Portuguese.

A land of labor, rich in products, hard but at the same time appreciated, this is the land of pleasant & good natured people, always welcoming. Maybe this article can positively introduce more naturists to this small country, picturesque, in many respects well taken care of, traditional and facing the vast Atlantic ocean, the great source of its existence, from this ocean the richness which naturism can bring not only to the tourist industry, but to enriching even more the lives and culture of the Portuguese people.

Naturism in Portugal is under the organization of the FPN, (Federaco Portuguesa de Naturismo) ( Apartado 3232. 1306 Lisboa Internet: http://www.fpn.pt E-mail: nat@fpn.pt ) The FPN also publish the naturist bulletin "N"

Naturism in Portugal is regulated by the law n° 29/94 of August, which dictates the mandatory obligation to signpost all naturist locations. The local municipal authorities are the ones with the authority to give or take away permissions.

Some months ago a new association has been formed which seems ready and capable of reaching great hights, the ANP, (Associaco Naturista de Portugal) ( Rua Sebastiao Quaresma 3. 2925 Vila Nogueira de Azeitao. Tel: (01) 218 1526 Internet: http://www.anp.pt E-mail: natur@anp.pt ) This association also boasts it’s own naturist bulletin "A nu"

Naturism in Portugal is regarded and practiced along the lines of the INF definition of what naturism is about, even though naturism in Portugal has not developed as far as in some other western countries, the clear ideas and joint efforts of the associations, it’s members and other sources, has started to have a positive effect in the development and growth of naturism in Portugal.

Lets take you on a tour of what is available to the naturist visitor to Portugal. First off, there are only two official beaches where naturism is sanctioned by law to be practiced. Albeit thank heavens Portugal harbors many a beautiful little frequented coves and beaches along it’s shoreline for this insignificant number of official beaches to be a hindrance. The two official beaches are Praia de Vela Vista, Costa de Caparica, Lisbon, (central zone), and Praia de Ilha de Tavira, Tavira, Algarve, (south zone). Apart from these two official beaches, two more places exist where naturism is sanctioned. These are currently the only places where naturism can be practiced away from the beach. One is a at a mixed campsite where there is a naturist zone, (Parque de Campismo Quinta dos Carricos, Salema, 8650 Vila do Bispo.) the other is at a swimming pool which is opened to the public twice a month. On the second and fourth Sunday of each month between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, the amenities include swimming pool, sauna, and in fact it is no less than a whole sports and recreation complex left to the complete disponibility of the naturist. ( Quinta Xicara Avenida do Alcaide Lagoa de Albufeira 2970 Sesimbra)

There you have it - all that according to official sources is available for naturists in Portugal. Fortunately for every one of these official places, there are ten non-official beaches where one can be as God intended. Some are more tolerated than others. Many are still unknown to even most Portuguese naturists. The author of this article, after many years of research way back in 1992, toured the land from north to south and consequently catalogued and photographed/filmed every known naturist beach in Portugal, actually in each case confirming that naturism was actually being practiced at each spot. This then is the list of lists of Portuguese naturist beaches, listed in geographical order from north to south.

Portugal West:

Efife Praia, Efife, N Portugal.
Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto. N Portugal.
Duna Litoral de Aveiro, Aveiro.
Praia Vagueira, S Costa Nova do Prado.
Praia Mira, - Cabo Mondego, N of Figuera da Foz. Duna Litoral, by Forest of Urso & forest of Leiria.
Praia de Gralha, Martinho do Porto, caldas da Rainha.
Fonte de Telha, Costa de Caparicia.
Praia de Troia, Troia, Sebutal. Aldeo do Meco.
Praia Comporta, Peninsula de Troia. Praia de Melides, Melides.
Lagoa de Melides, Melides. Praia do Santo Andre, by Lagoa de Santo Andre.
Praia das Furnas, S Vila Nova de Milfortes, Alentejo.
Praia Monte Derigo.
Praia Amoreira. Praia de Arifana.
Praia do Bondeira Praia do Armado.
Cabo de San Vicente

& now East from here!

Portugal South: Praia de Boliche, Aldea de San Vicente.
Praia de Tonel.
Praia Mareta.
Martinhall Praia Barriaga.
Praia Cordama. Praia Castelejo, Vila do Vispo.
Praia de Zabial, Hortas de Talud.
Praia de Figuera, Salema.
Praia Boca del Rio, Almedena.
Praia de Burgao Praia de Nos, Canavial.
Ponta d. Ponta da Piedade, Lagos.
Praia de Barranco Praia d.Alvor, Alvor Lagoon.
Praia da Rocha.
Praia d. Carvaiho.
Praia d. Oihos d. Agua.
Praia Falesia.
Praia Gigi- Praia Ancao, Quinta del Lago.

Near the beach of Praia de Figuera, Salema, is where the camping "Parque de Campismo Quinta dos Carricos," is to be found. This as mentioned is a mixed camping with a small naturist zone, rooms about 150 people, has it’s own naturist swimming pool but the restaurant and supermarket lay in the textile area where one has to dress to shop or dine. The naturist zone is only accessible via the textile zone. Naturism is not obligatory and one may do as one pleases. The camping offers small apartments in the textile zone where naturism can be practiced within the confines of the private gardens.

Naturism in Portuguese beaches is much the same as anywhere else. On the west coast, most beaches are in general very large and open - this leads to quite a few days where the prevailing winds are constant although not strong or cold can be a little discomforting. Many naturists therefore hide in the many sand dunes found on many beaches. In the south of Portugal, the winds are not as apparent as the smaller bays and beaches are geographically more protected from the Atlantic. Here the naturists stick most often to the beach and can be spotted with much greater ease. In high season one will most likely meet up with foreign tourists as numbers of foreign naturists outweigh those of the local population.

For those who prefer the peace and tranquility coupled with some extraordinary seascapes and scenery that most Portuguese beaches offer, Portugal is definitely worth checking out. For those who prefer small and friendly coves, where everybody get to know each other within minutes of arrival, Portugal is worth checking out. And those who prefer it any other way! Portugal is worth checking out. There is something for everyone in Portugal.

Luis Cortes.