Parque Marinho Professor Luiz Saldanha

Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park is a marine nature reserve on the southern coast of Portugal's Setúbal Peninsula, stretching between the Serra da Arrábida ridge and Cape Espichel. It is the marine part of the Arrábida Natural Park and belongs to the European Natura 2000 network. It is one of those places where the most interesting things happen below the waterline.

Where is the park and how is it protected?

The reserve covers roughly 53 km² of coastal waters at the foot of the steep limestone hills of Arrábida, which are clothed in Mediterranean scrub. Protection is the responsibility of Portugal's Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, the body that runs the national system of protected areas. The park is divided into zones with different levels of protection: the full protection zone covers about 4 km² and the partial protection zone about 21 km². The rest is a complementary protection area where selected activities are permitted.

The full protection zone carries the strictest limits, which is why nature recovers fastest there. Before visiting, check the current rules for each zone, because they decide whether boating, diving or fishing is allowed.

What can you see here?

The seabed mixes rocky reefs, sandy shallows and underwater algae fields. Typical habitats include brown-algae (kelp) forests, bivalve beds, coral bottoms and seagrass meadows. Many groups of marine life are recorded in the park: algae, crustaceans, fish, starfish, sea urchins, nudibranchs, anemones and sponges. Octopuses and gorgonians live in rocky corners, and the rock known as Pedra da Anicha, offshore from Portinho da Arrábida, is considered especially valuable for marine fauna.

The number of recorded species depends on the study: some give more than 1,400, others about 2,200. All point to exceptional diversity, a result of the location where Atlantic and Mediterranean influences meet.

What is the state of the ecosystem?

Seagrass meadows have shrunk considerably and the seahorse has become rare. Projects to transplant Zostera marina aim to rebuild these habitats. According to available studies, biodiversity is recovering, but slowly.

How to experience the park

The best-known starting point is Portinho da Arrábida, a small bay with pale sand and clear water. Divers, boat-tour visitors and wildlife watchers usually set off from here. For divers the park is a destination in itself, but even simple snorkelling in the shallows reveals plenty of fish. On land, trails and scenic roads across the Arrábida ridge give superb views over the coves and blue water below.

Frequently asked questions

Is the park part of Natura 2000? Yes. It belongs to the European Natura 2000 network and is the marine part of the Arrábida Natural Park.

Where exactly is it? On the southern coast of the Setúbal Peninsula, between the Serra da Arrábida and Cape Espichel, south of Lisbon.

Can you dive here? Yes, but the rules depend on the protection zone. The full protection zone has the strictest limits, so it is best to arrange a dive with a local operator.

How big is the park? It covers about 53 km² of sea, of which around 4 km² is full protection and around 21 km² is partial protection.

What is most valuable about it ecologically? Habitats such as kelp forests, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs with octopuses and gorgonians, plus a rich variety of species where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet.