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Portugal’s secret freshwater swimming spots just got much easier to find.
A new app dedicated to the country’s river beaches has launched, helping travellers discover hidden inland escapes far from the Algarve’s packed coastline.
The app, aptly called River Beaches, arrives just as demand for quieter, nature-filled swimming destinations, away from busy beaches, continues to rise.
Available on the Apple App Store and soon to be launched on Google Play, it maps more than 130 lesser-known inland swimming spots with beaches, alongside photographs and descriptions.
How does the app help visitors to river beaches?
The app, available in Portuguese, English and Spanish, also suggests tips from people who have already been to the spots in order to improve visitors’ experiences, and lets them know how to make the most of the locations.
Filters in the app allow users to find beaches which line up with their own preferences, from those with restaurants, parking and restrooms to those which have lifeguards or are child and dog-friendly.
River Beaches taps into the growing popularity of freshwater swimming spots, which have become increasingly popular as alternatives to crowded beaches, particularly during heatwaves.
Many are located in forested mountain areas in central Portugal, including around the Mondego, Zêzere and Alva rivers.
While the app is free and has no ads, the team behind it says that 50% of its profits will be used for river restoration and water retention projects across the country, so that their natural beauty can be preserved for generations to come.
Portugal already has an existing culture of beach and apps focusing on water conditions. Vodafone’s long-running “Praia em Directo” app provides real-time data on dozens of Portuguese coastal and river beaches on the mainland and the islands, including water quality, temperature and lifeguard information.
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