Portimao

Description

Portimao is situated just east of the long beach of Praia da Rocha - an area with many buildings - and thus the entrance to the river estuary is easily identifiable. The river is entered from due S between two long moles extending from either side of the river banks. The entrance is about 250m wide. Ponta do Altar with its lighthouse of the same name is on the E side. On account of the height of the cliffs on the E side, the entrance to the port is obscured to those approaching from the east almost until the entrance to the moles. Once the outer moles have been passed, if heading for the marina a course should be set at 020º off the line of the Ferragudo Fore and Aft beacons, leaving buoy no. 2 to port, continuing in the direction of buoy no. 4 until arriving at the marina entrance on port side. The marina is marked by two moles with beacons at each end and the reception pontoon is to starboard of the marina entrance. Reception is the round yellow building at the end of the pontoon, open 8am to 8pm. The fuel station is on the N end of the same pontoon.