The 45-kilometre coastal strip between Troia and Melides, in the municipality of Grândola, currently has restricted access in about 80% of its length. The conclusion is from a survey carried out by Expresso, which identified a lack of public paths, parking and signage as the main obstacles to the enjoyment of bathing in this area of the Alentejo coast.
Access to the region begins with the crossing of the Sado River, the cost of which represents one of the first obstacles. The ferry connection between Setúbal and Troia costs €21 for a car with a driver, plus €5.50 per passenger. Since 2003, prices have quadrupled, with a 57.6% reduction in the number of passengers.
Although beaches are public by legal definition, the reality is different. In many areas, the sands are surrounded by tourist developments, with limited or no access. The situation has been the target of criticism from residents, activists and public figures, such as the Setúbal singer A Garota Não, who denounces the growing exclusivity associated with the area and the environmental impact of the construction of resorts.
In 2023, the municipalities of Setúbal, Alcácer do Sal and Grândola requested the Government to integrate river crossings into the Navegante pass. The Mobility and Transport Authority recommended the renegotiation of the concession, but the measure was not implemented. The monthly pass of the operator Atlantic Ferries remains at €99.30.
In the area between the Pestana resort and the future “Na Praia” project, the only access available is the internal ones to the developments. The Portuguese Environment Agency provides for public pedestrian access next to the Pestana, currently limited to emergency vehicles. In the case of the “Na Praia” project, a three-kilometre wooden fence limits access to the beach and there is no parking area.
Since 2002, the approval of several Projects of Potential National Interest (PIN) has led to a 76% reduction in the area of the National Ecological Reserve in Grândola. The environmental association ZERO criticizes the trend of favoring private interests. Geographer Sérgio Barroso argues that the projects should have been conditioned to the guarantee of public access.
Further south, outside urbanised areas, access remains difficult. Visitors park on the verges and walk along improvised trails between dunes and pine forests, which weakens local ecosystems. Biologist Maria Santos, from the Dunas Livres association, defends the creation of walkways and alternative transport to preserve the region’s Botanical Reserve.
On the most accessible beaches, such as Comporta, Carvalhal and Pego, the costs associated with the stay represent another factor of exclusion. Shade rentals range from €70 to €200 per day, and simple meals can exceed €20.
According to the Espichel-Odeceixe Coastal Coast Program, only 20% of the coast between Troia and Melides has free formal access, jeopardizing the effective public use of this stretch of coastline.
