Vilamoura is located in the beautiful Central Algarve region of Portugal, and is well known as a unique leisure and recreations resort. The area is an ideal holiday destination for golfing enthusiasts, with 6 National and International golf courses very closeby, yet it also boasts several beautiful blue flag beaches and offers a wide range of activities locally.
Golf
The 6 National and International golf courses that Vilamoura boasts ensure that it is fast becoming one of Europe's finest golf resorts.
Old Course - International 18 Hole Golf Course
The Old Course in Vilamoura, set amongst a pine wood and arranged so as to make full use of the natural contours of the area has to be one of the best known golf courses in the Algarve. The International golf course itself was originally designed by Frank Pennink in the style of a classic English course and would certainly be a real treat for any golfing enthusiast.
Pinhal Golf - International 18 Hole Golf Course
Vilamoura's International Pinhal Golf course is situated set back from the main tourist beach area of Falesia beach. This course also runs through the typical pine woods of the Algarve region however it's more open fairways and smaller greens create a very different challenge to that found at the Old Course.
Laguna Golf - National 18 Hole Golf Course
Laguna Golf is a National golf course, which unlike many of it's fellow golf courses in the Algarve region is located on relatively smooth, level and open ground set around a lake. However, although there are fewer obstacles in the form of trees on this course, it's modern design and the strategic placement of water hazards and bunkers still demands a high level of accuracy from it's players.
Victoria Golf - National 18 Hole Golf Course
This course is the most recently opened of the Algarve golf courses and is currently the longest 18 hole golf course in Portugal. The course is laid out on fairly flat terrain, interspersed with many small lakes and waterfall features. At least five tees are available at each hole, making the course ideal for golfers of all handicap levels.
Millenium Golf - National 18 Hole Golf Course
Millenium Golf did of course, as it's name suggests, open in the year 2000. The terrain of this course is partially open, similar to the adjacent Laguna course, however the remainder of the fairways are of the narrow variety as they wend their way through pine trees.
Vila Sol Golf - International 27 Hole Golf Course
Vila Sol golf course has a reputation as one of the best kept courses in the Algarve. It has been recently extended to 27 holes, each of which maintains the original nature of the undulating terrain.
'SuperGolf' golf academy is also located close to the apartment and provides tuition for those that would like to brush up on their skills before tackling the big courses!
Marina
Vilamoura Marina is a very large and popular marina, providing berths to some extremely glamorous sailing vessels. The waterfront area is ideal for a pleasant stroll during the day, but also enchanting by night. The sophisticated Vilamoura Casino and an abundance of bars and restaurants in the vicinity make it a great place to visit for lunch or dinner; however, it is the excellent water sport facilities that make it well-liked among sporting enthusiasts.
Beaches
Whilst there are many wonderful beaches in this area of the Algarve, the nearest beach to our apartment is Falesia Beach. This idyllic golden sandy beach is said to be the longest in the Algarve and stretches from Oura, a town just to the east of Albufeira to Vilamoura itself. The beach is well served by a great choice of bars and restaurants, many featuring the local freshly caught sea food, and also a large supply of parasols and sun beds. It's just a short five minute drive from the apartment to this award winning Blue Flag beach, which meets Europe's highest safety and cleanliness standards and is therefore ideal for children.
Activities
Water sports
Just some of the water sport activities which can be found locally include, sailing, surfing, water skiing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, paragliding and diving. Power boat hire is also available along with a variety of boat trips, and plenty of deep sea as well as coastal fishing.
On land
If you prefer to entertain yourself on land you can find tennis, bowling, horse riding and bird watching all within a few miles of the apartment. An ideal way to explore the area is by bike. Vilamoura itself is very flat and therefore ideally suited to cycling, something which has been promoted by the large number of cycle routes serving the area. The Environmental Park is a beautiful tranquil area for both cycling and walking and is located close by beside Vilamoura Marina.
Attractions
There are plenty of local attractions that promise a great day out for the whole family, including Aqualand a large water slide park, Zoomarine, with it's dolphins, seals, sharks, tropical fish and exotic birds, Environmental Park, a conservation site established to protect the wetland areas, and the site of the Roman Villa in Vilamoura, with archaeological exhibits and a museum.
Shopping
Within Vilamoura you will find many designer shops located around the Marina, and at the other extreme, a traditional outdoor market in Quarteira town on a Wednesday. Faro and Guia both have large shopping centres.