Is it safe to travel to The Algarve right now?
Live satellite check · air quality · official advice · Updated 6 Aug 2026
- No active fires detected within 150 km of The Algarve.
This is an automatic satellite check — always confirm with the official advice below.
Live status — The Algarve
Sources: NASA FIRMS · Open-Meteo · GDACS · FCDO
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The Algarve is Portugal's tourism heartland — golf courses, beaches and resorts from Lagos to Faro. The coast is heavily built, but the interior (Serra de Monchique, the hills behind Loulé and Tavira) is forested with eucalyptus and pine that burn readily. The 2018 Monchique fire burned around 27,000 hectares and forced evacuations, though no resorts were directly affected.
Portugal's fire service (ANEPC) publishes a daily fire-risk map with five levels, and the country has the strictest rural-burning rules in southern Europe. The highest risk is in July and August. This page tracks live fires within 50 and 150 km of the coast and links to the FCDO advice for Portugal.
What the UK government says
vel advice also covers Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores. Wildfires in Portugal There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page .
Source: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Portugal) — reviewed 2026-07-17. Read the full advice.
What to do if your trip could be affected
- Check the official risk map for Portugal the day before you travel — they update daily and are the authoritative source (see the FCDO link above).
- Know your insurance: standard travel policies often exclude wildfire disruption. Only about half of policies include "catastrophe" cover, and insurers rarely pay for "disinclination to travel" — check your wording before cancelling.
- Don't cancel early: if you're not due to travel for a week or two, wait. Airlines and operators prioritise rebooking for departures in the next few days, and cancelling early usually forfeits your right to a refund.
- Pack for smoke: an N95 respirator and a small HEPA purifier make a big difference if the air quality dips — N95 masks on Amazon · HEPA purifiers on Amazon.
- Follow local instructions: if authorities order an evacuation or close forest trails, treat it as mandatory — the smoke, not the flames, is the biggest danger.
Wildfire season in Portugal runs roughly May–October and peaks in July–August. The live check above uses NASA FIRMS satellite data (fires within 50/150 km), air quality from Open-Meteo, and official GDACS alerts.
Frequently asked questions
When is wildfire season in Portugal?
Roughly June to September, with the highest risk in July and August. The fire service (ANEPC) publishes a daily fire-risk map with five levels, and rural burning is strictly regulated.
Is my hotel or resort safe if a fire is burning nearby?
Algarve resorts sit on a heavily built coastline; fires concentrate in the forested interior (Serra de Monchique, the hills behind Loulé and Tavira). Evacuations have never affected the coastal resorts directly.
Does travel insurance cover wildfires?
Not always. Many standard policies exclude "catastrophe" events. Check your policy wording before cancelling.
Should I cancel my trip because of the fires?
Usually not. Cancelling early usually forfeits your refund. Check the ANEPC risk map closer to your date.
Where can I see the official fire-risk map?
ANEPC publishes the daily risk map at fogos.pt (also shows active incidents in real time). The live check on this page adds NASA FIRMS satellite data.