Praia Fluvial de Fernandaires

The Praia Fluvial de Fernandaires is a river beach on the Castelo do Bode reservoir, next to the small village of Fernandaires, about 12 km from the town of Vila de Rei in Castelo Branco district. Vila de Rei council describes it as surrounded by high hills thickly covered in maritime pines and strawberry trees (medronheiros), facing a wide stretch of water held back by the Castelo do Bode dam on the River Zêzere. The pines give plenty of shade around the beach.

The APA (the Portuguese Environment Agency) describes a sandy beach in good condition with a floating pool, and water suitable for canoeing and other boating. For children who like digging, that sand makes a change from the rocky mountain pools of many inland beaches.

Fernandaires is one of only four bathing areas in Castelo Branco district with a Blue Flag in 2026, and the flag went up again on 6 July 2026, its fifth year in a row. The conservation group Quercus also gave it the Gold Quality award for the fifteenth year running, for consistently excellent water.

The council picks out two features: a floating pool (piscina flutuante), which is a framed pool moored in the reservoir, and an inflatable water park, both watched by the lifeguards throughout the bathing season.

The inflatable park is the big draw for school-age children, and it has clear rules, published by the council:

• Everyone must wear a life jacket.
• It’s only for people who can swim.
• It isn’t recommended for children under 6.
• It’s only supervised during lifeguard hours.
• No diving from it or under it, and no jumping in unless the water below is clear.
• It closes in thunderstorms, and the surface is slippery.

So this is a place for confident swimmers of about 6 and over. Younger children can play on the sand and paddle at the edge with a parent, but will have to watch the inflatables from the shore. Check on arrival whether there’s a charge and whether it’s set up that day: the council’s page lists it without prices or dates.

The 2026 bathing season ran from 15 June to 15 September. The beach notice (edital de praia) signed in June 2026 says two lifeguards are on duty every day from 11:00 to 19:00, with a lunch break from 13:00 to 13:30, and that the first-aid post on the beach is open the same hours. The beach front is 100 metres long.

The notice also explains the flags:

• Green: bathing and swimming allowed.
• Yellow: take care, swimming forbidden.
• Red: danger, don’t go in the water.
• Chequered: the beach is temporarily without a lifeguard.
• Striped: marks the safest area for bathing.

The APA classes the water as Excellent, recorded no short-term pollution in 2025 and sees no significant pollution sources near the beach. It tests every two weeks in the season. On its InfoÁgua page for 2026, the APA also flags works in progress (obras em curso) at Fernandaires without giving details. The beach operated normally through the 2026 season, but check for any building work before a visit next year.

The council says the snack bar serves meals all summer; in 2026 its hours were 09:00 to 19:00. The council’s services map shows toilets and showers, including accessible ones, drinking water, the first-aid post and lifeguard stand, a telephone, an information board, shaded areas by the sand, and car parks with spaces for disabled drivers.

There’s also a municipal mooring (ancoradouro) for leisure and tourist boats, so you may see boats come and go.

The same services map shows an accessible entrance to the beach, accessible toilets and showers, and an amphibious chair (a floating wheelchair for getting into the water). Fernandaires isn’t on the APA’s list of accessible beaches, though, so ring the council before you go if access is essential. Vila de Rei’s Bostelim does hold the Praia Acessível flag.

Above the beach, the rebuilt Fernandaires miradouro (viewpoint) looks out over the reservoir, the village and the beach. The council says it has a platform with several balconies over the rocks, fences, a pergola, picnic tables and its own parking. It’s a good spot for a picnic and a look at how the reservoir fills the valleys.

The 2026 beach notice bans animals from the lifeguarded area, except certified assistance dogs, so leave the dog at home. Fires, camping outside designated areas and overnight parking of campervans (midnight to 08:00) aren’t allowed. Ball games belong in marked areas only, and pedal boats and windsurfers must keep out of the swimming zone.

• The inflatables aren’t for under-6s or non-swimmers.
• Reservoir water deepens away from the shore, so keep young children close.
• Lifeguards take a half-hour lunch break at 13:00.
• The APA flagged works at the beach in 2026 without details.

Vila de Rei has two other river beaches on our site: Bostelim, a calm, accessible Blue Flag pool on a small stream with a campsite, and Penedo Furado, with boardwalks and waterfalls. Across the reservoir in Ferreira do Zêzere, Lago Azul has another floating pool and a wakeboard cable park. The Sertã town beach at Ribeira Grande is a short drive north.

Is Fernandaires good for toddlers?

Toddlers can play on the sand and paddle with you at the edge, with two lifeguards on duty. The inflatable water park isn’t recommended for children under 6.

Is there a lifeguard?

Yes, two lifeguards daily from 15 June to 15 September 2026, from 11:00 to 19:00 with a break from 13:00 to 13:30.

Do children need a life jacket on the inflatables?

Yes. The council’s rules make life jackets compulsory and allow only swimmers on the inflatable park.

Is there food at Fernandaires?

Yes, a snack bar serving meals, open 09:00 to 19:00 in the 2026 season.

Are dogs allowed?

No, not in the lifeguarded area, except certified assistance dogs.

Is there parking?

Yes, next to the beach, with accessible spaces, and more parking at the viewpoint.