The municipal tourism and environment company Prazilândia, which manages the Praia das Rocas infrastructure known for its waves situated 80 kilometers from the sea, reported that the site has welcomed approximately 1,595,789 visitors since 2005.
The beach’s most successful season in terms of visitor numbers was in 2016, attracting a total of 121,627 people. Prazilândia attributed this surge to an extensive promotional campaign featuring television spots aired during the European Football Championship.
The advertisement for Praia das Rocas was broadcast until the final match of the championship, which saw Portugal crowned as winners, the company clarified.
The lowest recorded numbers were in 2020, with just 36,218 visitors, a year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the implementation of restrictions, such as a daily limit of 650 visitors, and delayed the swimming season start to July, whereas it typically begins on June 1, according to Prazilândia.
The Praia das Rocas complex features a 2,100-square-meter pool with a central island, a reservoir, a historic bridge, the “Villa Praia” area, and six bungalows for accommodation.
This bathing season, which runs from May 31 to September 14, includes various activities such as zip-lining and climbing, which are particularly popular. Visitors can also enjoy canoeing, paddle boats, and stand-up paddleboarding. In July and August, free aqua aerobics classes are planned.
The standout feature this season is the expanded range of activities, introducing areas like ‘Rocas Fun Park’ with games and chill-out zones.
Speaking to Lusa, the Mayor António Henriques emphasized the significant impact of Praia das Rocas, a project that initially cost approximately 7.5 million euros, in promoting Castanheira de Pera both nationally and internationally.
“The direct and indirect returns on this investment over the past 20 years are undoubtedly far greater than the initial capital invested in the infrastructure,” said António Henriques.
The mayor noted that the remaining loans related to Praia das Rocas, although minimal, will be settled by 2027.
“The last major installment will be paid this year, and the remaining payments of around 50,000 to 60,000 euros will be completed by 2026 or 2027,” he assured.
Regarding future projects, the mayor of the district’s smallest and least populated municipality explained that there are ongoing initiatives aimed at the beach’s surrounding area enhancement and increasing shaded areas.
In total, these efforts will exceed 2.5 million euros and are a priority for the coming years to fully complement the existing infrastructure.
António Henriques also mentioned another significant challenge linked to Praia das Rocas.
“While Praia das Rocas is a strong attraction in summer, especially in July and August, the challenge to extend the project further is considerable,” he stated.
He added that preliminary studies are underway for a large project—a 35-hectare adventure park near Praia das Rocas, in an area known as São João da Mata.
According to the mayor, this infrastructure will also play a crucial role in combating seasonality, which remains significantly high in the region.
