Sports enthusiasts are very well catered for in the Algarve.
Watersports are in abundance including boat fishing, snorkelling, waterskiing, windsurfing, parascending and jet-skiing. There are also plenty of beach-side activities on offer such as volleyball, rugby and cricket.
Inland are numerous riding schools catering for beginners as well as experienced riders, mountain bikes and mopeds for hire, leisure centres offering a very wide range of sports and some superb water parks for children.
The exclusive Barringtons Leisure Centre set in the heart of Vale do Lobo is a great venue for all the family.
The excellent facilities include squash courts, sauna, Jacuzzi, gymnasium, beauty salon, exercise studio and outdoor and indoor heated swimming pools. There is a floodlit golf range, a putting and a practice green, an outdoor children’s play area, swimming pool and children’s club. There are also plenty of dining and bar facilities.
Temporary membership is often available giving access to most of the activities. Private lessons, treatments and the driving range incur a supplementary charge.
Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Vilamoura offers a good combination of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities including tennis, basketball, hockey, an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, exercise studio and a children’s activity programme. The club’s Bar & Grill offers lunch and evening menus.
A sports centre with a slight difference, Aldeia dos Acoteis Sports Centre offers cross-country running, archery, fitness equipment and sprinting courses as well tennis courts, mini golf and a gymnasium.
The centre is located at the holiday village by the same name, close to Albufeira.
The Carvoeiro Club has ten tennis courts, five of which are floodlit, as well as a fitness centre that includes aerobic classes, exercise bikes and saunas.
Tel: 282 357 847.
There are two other places to play tennis in the area. Quinta da Paiso has three courts, tel. 282 357478; and Rocha Brava Tennis Club, which has four courts, tel. 282 358 856.
Big game fishing is available in Carvoeiro. Tel: 282 357 354.
A favourite with the kids is the Beach Hut Water Sports School on Luz beach. For a reasonable £35 you can leave a child (8-16 years old) here to participate in all the activities, including windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, waterskiing, kayaking and banana rides. Food is provided at a barbeque. Book early to ensure a place as numbers are limited for safety reasons.
The club offers tennis and squash courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, mini golf, sauna and a Turkish bath at reasonable rates (£7 for an adult for use of most facilities in peak season and £4 for a child).
Based in the Marina-Sol urbanisation this club has three tennis courts, changing rooms, a shop and equipment hire. There is also professional coaching on site.
Open 9am-9pm weekdays and1pm-3pm on Sundays. Book 24 hours in advance.
There is no shortage of tour operators along the promenade facing the marina. Visitors can opt for a professional operator or take an informal trip with a local fisherman. Not to be missed is the two-hour trip to the grottoes beneath Ponta da Piedade or take a longer coastal cruise or even a one-day big fish voyage into open seas.
There are also trips on traditional schooners with drinks, picnics and stops for swimming and snorkelling. Other options include five-hour bay cruises and a full-day sail to Sagres with a minibus tour of Cape Saint Vincent. And finally, for a special tour take the glass-bottomed aqua-bus and watch the local underwater world of seahorses, octopuses and mermaids.
Espadarte do Sul offers complete fishing trips including coastal trips, snorkelling and big game fishing, all leaving from Lagos harbour.
Information provided daily from 8am to 7pm on 00351 282 761820
The centre offers 12 all-weather tennis courts, six of which are floodlit, as well as a short tennis court for children. A team of resident professionals can provide one to one and group coaching and for competitive players, weekly tournaments are held.
The courts are overlooked by the centre’s clubhouse which includes a bar, a shop and satellite TV, where you can relax after a game or join one of the regular social events.
Located between Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, Pinetrees Riding Centre provides a high standard of riding tuition, taught by qualified teachers. Lessons are available for beginners as well as experienced riders with ponies for very young children.
Activities on offer include one to one and group sessions, nature walks and treks. The centre welcomes disabled riders with some experience and with medical and (under 18s) parental approval. Riding equipment such as boots, hats and jodhpurs are provided. (Tel. 289 394 369/489)
Situated 8 kilometres from Vilamoura and open all year round, the Almancil Go Karting circuit is a replica of the Jacarepagua Formula 1 circuit in Brazil. Try a 160cc or 200cc Go Kart or lift the pace with a 400cc bi-motor model. (Tel. 289 399 899)
Catering for water babies of all ages, the centre offers a terrific range of both lake and beach water sports. Windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking and rowing are available on the lake or try a mini course in sailing, windsurfing or water skiing.
Beachside water sports range from the challenging to the relaxing. Get your adrenalin going with high energy sports including parasailing, water skiing and jet skiing or go a little slower on a pedalo. Family beach activities are on offer or try a power boat tour along the coastline. (Tel. 289 394 929)
Tennis fans have a good choice of clubs and courts at local holiday villages and hotels. Vilamoura Tennis has 12 courts (Tel 289 314169); Aldeia do Mar has two courts (Tel 289 302635); Aldeia do Golf has two courts (Tel 289 302844); and Hotel Dom Pedro Golf has six courts (Tel 289 389650). Tennis is also available at Balaia Village, Albufeira (Tel 289 501273).
Vilamoura also offers riding stables (Tel 289 312535) and a lawn bowling club catering for individuals, pairs and club groups (Tel 289 321260).
Wind-surfing board hire and water skiing (instruction if required) are available during the summer months.
For the adventurous, various fishing companies offer challenging fishing expeditions or if you fancy some sailing, yachting or excursions are available from the marina.
If you fancy the idea of a game of bowls, cucumber sandwiches, Pimms and a great view of the sea, make sure you call in at Club Praia d’Oura.
Situated in Albufeira at the time-share complex by the same name, the green is open to residents and non-residents from 10am to 6pm unless there are tournaments in play. (Tel 00 351 289 590310)
The Montechoro Hotel just outside Albufeira is a great venue for sport, leisure and good food. Burn off some energy at the hotel’s two football pitches, eight tennis courts and two squash courts then chill out in the games room or health club.
The hotel’s restaurants offer both Portuguese and international cuisine in a stylish and relaxing environment. (Tel. 289 589 423)
The Oura hotel in Albufeira has ample health and fitness facilities including a gym, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, squash courts, sauna, Turkish baths and solarium. (Tel 289 589135)
Try windsurfing at Praia d’Oura or waterskiing at Falesia beach near Albufeira. During the summer months, the Acoteias complex near Falesia offers other watersports.
Located at Armacao de Pera, the Algarve’s largest beach, is a well-equipped water sports centre.
Excursions by boat to explore the caves along the coastline are available from the beaches. Further east at Gale, towards Albufeira, there is water-skiing and wind-surfing with pedalos and banana boats for hire.
Wind-surfing (full courses or board rental), catamaran sailing and water-skiing are available at the Praia Grande Wind-Surf School where summer barbecues with live music are held.
There is no shortage of tour operators along the promenade facing the marina. Visitors can opt for a professional operator or take an informal trip with a local fisherman. Not to be missed is the two-hour trip to the grottoes beneath Ponta da Piedade or take a longer coastal cruise or even a one-day big fish voyage into open seas.
There are also trips on traditional schooners with drinks, picnics and stops for swimming and snorkelling. Other options include five-hour bay cruises and a full-day sail to Sagres with a minibus tour of Cape Saint Vincent. And finally, for a special tour take the glass-bottomed aqua-bus and watch the local underwater world of seahorses, octopuses and mermaids.
This British microlight training school, adjacent to Lagos and just 1km from Meia Praia beach was set up to take advantage of one of the most stable weather regions of Europe.
The centre is run by Gerry Breen whose long and illustrious aviation career includes as a stunt pilot and as pilot trainer for a James Bond film and ace administrator Karen Steven.
Training includes in weightshift and three axis microlights as well as aerobatics in an Acrosport biplane. (Tel 282 762 906)
Burgau Sports Centre offers squash, a heated swimming pool, tennis and aerobics during the day and at night there are weekly barbeques, live music and dancing. The centre also runs children’s sports mornings and has a snack bar.
