Art
Algarve International Film Festival
10 - 18 May 2008 (annual)
The annual Algarve Film Festival, (FICA - Festival Internacional de Cine do Algarve), in the town of Portimão, is Portugal's oldest cinema event, dating back to 1972. It centres on a short…
Festival Med
25 - 29 Jun 2008 (annual)
Loulé
The best of the Med comes to Loulé in the Algarve this summer for a music, dance and arts extravaganza in the form of Festival Med.
Festivals & Heritage
Moorish Nights
Jul 2008 (annual)
Cacela Velha
During the Moorish Nights, the Algarve village of Cacela Velha recreates the ambience of the Arab presence in the region from the 10th-13th centuries.
Cova dos Mouros Mine Park
10 May - 31 Oct 2008; Thu only (annual)
Cova dos Mouros Mine Park, Alcoutim
If you're interested in archaeological finds then head for the Cova dos Mouros Mine Park. Discover the remains of copper mines dating back to the Chacolithic period (2500 BC) and learn all…
Loulé Carnival
Feb 2009 (annual)
Loulé
At carnival time the people of Loulé really let rip and stage a lively event with plenty of floats, fancy dress, parades and parties, mostly along the Avenida José da Costa Mealha.
Easter Festival
Mar 2009 (annual)
S. Bras de Alportel
Easter Sunday is celebrated in São Bras de Alportel with an unusual ceremony. The men of this inland town hold decorated torches while running through the streets shouting "Hallelujah".
Castelo de Silves
Daily
Castelo de Silves, Silves
Located at the highest point in Silves, this impressive castle once formed part of the wall that encircled the city and was an important defence when it was the capital and residence of the…
Kids & Family
Moorish Nights
Jul 2008 (annual)
Cacela Velha
During the Moorish Nights, the Algarve village of Cacela Velha recreates the ambience of the Arab presence in the region from the 10th-13th centuries.
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
Daily
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Faro
Ria Formosa, on the coast of the Algarve close to Faro, is one of the area's most popular tourist destinations and a wonderful place for nature lovers to spend the day. Designated a protected…
ZooMarine
Daily; not Mon
ZooMarine, Guia
Located at the heart of the Algarve tourist region, the ZooMarine oceanographic theme park in Guia offers a great day out for the whole family.
Krazy World
Daily
Krazy World, Algôz
Krazy World is a theme park that combines a mini-zoo and petting farm with a crazy golf course.
Castelo de Silves
Daily
Castelo de Silves, Silves
Located at the highest point in Silves, this impressive castle once formed part of the wall that encircled the city and was an important defence when it was the capital and residence of the…
Algarve Live Science Centre
Daily; not Mon
Centro de Ciência Viva do Algarve, Faro
For adults and children alike, the Algarve Live Science Centre in Faro is a place of discovery and learning. The exhibits are interactive, encouraging the visitor to stretch the boundaries of…
Lifestyle
Festival do Marisco
Aug 2008 (annual)
Jardim do Pescador Olhanese, Olhão
One of the most important gastronomic events in the Algarve, the Festival do Marisco (seafood festival) in the fishing town of Olhão has rows of stalls selling all kinds of fresh fish dishes.…
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
Daily
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Faro
Ria Formosa, on the coast of the Algarve close to Faro, is one of the area's most popular tourist destinations and a wonderful place for nature lovers to spend the day. Designated a protected…
Algarve Shopping
Daily
Algarve Shopping, Albufeira
AlgarveShopping is a giant shopping mall and entertainment centre just a short drive from Albuferia in the town of Guia. It features all the most popular high street and designer shops as well…
Vilalara Thalassa
Daily
Vilalara Thalassa, Lagoa
It may sting your eyes, but sea water and its derivatives can do wonders for the mind, body and soul. The thalassotherapy centre at Vilalara is one of the best places in Europe to get a good soaking.
Monchique Thermal Baths
Daily
Monchique Thermal Baths, Monchique
Between the blue sky and the green Monchique mountains lies Monchique Spa, or Caldas De Monchique, the perfect place to soak away your worries (and maybe even the lines from your face) as the…
Sports & Outdoors
Vilamoura International Showjumping Contest
Sep 2008 (annual)
Vilamoura Showjumping Course, Vilamoura
Once again the International Showjumping Contest takes place in the Algarve resort of Vilamoura. With first-class showjumpers from Portugal and overseas, the competition is as hot as the destination.
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
Daily
Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Faro
Ria Formosa, on the coast of the Algarve close to Faro, is one of the area's most popular tourist destinations and a wonderful place for nature lovers to spend the day. Designated a protected…
Quinta do Lago
Daily
Quinta do Lago, Almancil
Used several times for the Portuguese Open, the Quinta do Lago is a deluxe golf course situated close to Almancil. Designed by William Mitchell and opened in 1974, the course favours the long…
Algarve-Gold Luxury Coastal Cruises
Daily
Lagos
For a luxury day out, hire the Algarve-Gold 45ft motor cruiser, built by one of Britain's leading yacht builders. Periods of hire range from a few hours to days, weeks or even months.
Parque da Floresta Golf Course
Daily
Parque da Floresta Golf Course, Budens
The Algarve is renowned for its golf courses and the Parque de Floresta is one of the finest in Europe. Designed by Spanish golf architect Pepe Gancedo in 1995, it is an undulating course with…
Alto Golf
Daily
Alto Golf, Alvor
Opened in 1991, the Alto Golf course was the last to be designed by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton. Located close to the coastal village of Alvor, golfers can enjoy the occasional picturesque…
Boavista Golf Course
Daily
Boavista Golf Course, Lagos
This 18-hole course near Lagos was designed by Howard Swan and opened in 2001. Good for the average player, the course is set amongst umbrella pines, fig, almond and olive trees, with various…
Palmares Golf Course
Daily
Palmares Golf Course, Lagos
Designed by Frank Penninck in 1976, this course is renowned for its breathtaking views and overlooks the Bay of Lagos. It is an open 18-hole par 71 with five challenging holes on sand dunes.…
Penina Championship Golf Course
Daily
Le Meridien Penina Golf & Resort, Portimão
The Algarve is renowned for its golf courses and Penina was one of its first. Designed by Sir Henry Cotton in 1966, it was built on what was once paddy fields. With flat fairways and…
Vilamoura Casino
Daily
Vilamoura Casino, Vilamoura
As well as international shows and game rooms, Vilamoura Casino has the famous Blackjack disco, all promising a night of adult entertainment.
Ocean Golf Course
Daily
Ocean Golf, Almancil
One of the many golf courses designed by Sir Henry Cotton, the Ocean golf course opened in 1968. As the name suggests, it boasts views of the Atlantic, with some holes along the cliff tops.
Algarve-Gold Traditional Sailing Trips
Daily
Lagos
For the perfect family day out, hire a traditional Portuguese sailing vessel, with a trip round the Lagos Bay and to the grottoes at Ponto de Piedad and the beaches at Burgau. Then anchor…
Monchique Thermal Baths
Daily
Monchique Thermal Baths, Monchique
Between the blue sky and the green Monchique mountains lies Monchique Spa, or Caldas De Monchique, the perfect place to soak away your worries (and maybe even the lines from your face) as the…
Vale do Lobo, a history with success
In 1962, was born the famous Vale do Lobo, the first tourist enterprise of Algarve, in south of Portugal. The project became real after the partnership of two multinationals: Trusthouse Fort plc and Costain plc.
When it was built, the area of Algarve was devoted fundamentally to the fishing and to the agriculture. With the arrival of the Vale do Lobo, the area met its first five stars hotel "Le Meridien D. Filipa" and its first golf course.
During the seventies, Sander van Gelder, the dutch entrepreneur linked to the industry of the jewellery store and diamonds with some stories in Holland, discovered the Vale do Lobo. The enormous tourist potential of the resort attracted the entrepreneur, who acquired the company in 1977, moving with his family to Portugal. In that moment, Vale do Lobo won a new future, becoming a luxury tourist resort.
Nowadays, Vale do Lobo possesses about 400 hectares, attracting residents and visitors because of its self-sufficiency, quality of the homes and for the excellent infrastructures and services that please all. Vale do Lobo is known by being one of the most important luxury enterprises of Europe, being the largest one in Portugal.
In the end of 2006, the resort was sold to a group of portuguese and international investors, as well as to the largest portuguese bank, “Caixa Geral de Depósitos”. For now, Vale do Lobo is commanded by Diogo Gaspar Ferreira, the new Executive President.
Because of this new investment, the structure receives enough financial support to be able to carry forward the actual plan of service and the future expansion. There are in development some of the most important projects, like the “Oceano Clube” (Vale do Lobo II) and “Vale Real” (Vale do Lobo III).
Vale do Lobo is located in the coastal area of the centre of Algarve, in a rich area in history where the sun appears during the whole year. One of the attractive thing that justify the choice of the Vale do Lobo to live and to visit is their approximation to the Faro International Airport in about 20 minutes. The Vale do Lobo Golf and Beach Resort is only three hours of flight of most of the European capitals. The enterprise is still about two and a half hours of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and of Seville, in Spain.