CoastalVerified by the municipality

Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras

Lajes do Pico, Açores · Açores

Excellent(2025)

About the Beach

Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras is in the parish of Ribeiras, municipality of Lajes do Pico, on the island of Pico. It is an artificial saltwater pool of roughly 25 by 12 metres with a concrete sun terrace. Next to it sits a shallower natural pool of rock and concrete, with concrete access and a sun terrace of basalt slab and concrete. There are toilets, changing rooms, a bar and a small commercial area. Average bathing water temperature is 22ºC. Average daily use is around 150 people. Water quality is rated Excelente by APA in 2025. Physical description from the 2026 bathing water profile issued by the Azores regional maritime authority and supplied by the municipality of Lajes do Pico.

Amenities and Services

Lifeguard

Toilets

Showers

Parking

Food & drink

Accessible

Amenities from the official APA beach registry (SNIAmb), for the bathing season. Water quality (SNIRH/APA)

Water Quality

Excellent(2025)Official APA classification

Beach conditions

Air temperature

21.2°Cestimate

There is no IPMA station within 20 km of this beach. Value modelled by Open-Meteo for 04:00.

Water temperature

24.5°Cestimate

Water temperature is not measured at this beach. Value modelled by Open-Meteo for 03:30.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras have a lifeguard?

Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras does not have a permanent lifeguard. Take extra care.

Does Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras hold a Blue Flag?

Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras does not currently hold the Blue Flag certification.

Is there parking at Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras?

Yes, there is parking near Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras.

When is the bathing season at Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras?

The bathing season at Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras runs officially from 1 June to 30 September 2026, as set by the annual bathing season decree. Outside this period, access is free but unsupervised.

Are there restaurants near Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras?

Yes — Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras has food and drink on the beach or nearby — beach bars, restaurants and snack bars open during the bathing season.

Can I bring my dog to Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras?

We have no confirmed information for Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras specifically. As a general rule, dogs are not allowed on Portuguese beaches during the bathing season, which at this beach runs from 1 June to 30 September 2026, except where a dedicated dog area exists; outside that period the rules are considerably more relaxed. Each municipality decides by local bylaw, so check with the Lajes do Pico town council or the signs on site.

Information

TypeCoastal

DistrictAçores

MunicipalityLajes do Pico

RegionAçores

Bathing season1 Jun – 30 Sep 2026

View on Google Maps

Praia de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras

Sources

autarquiasnirh.apambiente.ptapambiente.ptdiariodarepublica.pt

Last updated: 2026-08-21

Spotted any incorrect or missing information?

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