Algarve Marinas – Chic waterfront living
The Portuguese have long been a maritime nation and the sea is in the blood of the Algarveans. For such a compact area of land, it enjoys a vast expanse of coastline. The climate and gentle waters of the Algarve ensure a pleasant voyage along its 150 kms of coastline, and the marinas and ports provide safe harbour and excellent facilities.
There are currently 5 marinas in the Algarve, all enjoying facilities such as restaurants and bars, and 3 future constructions in the pipeline including one in Ferragudo, one in Olhao and a second marina in Vilamoura.
Algarve waterfront property
VILAMOURA MARINA was the first in the Algarve. It features a working shipyard but is generally known as a vibrant, sparkling hub of entertainment within the tourist resort of Vilamoura. This marina is popular with local residents, tourists from over seas, and Portuguese holiday makers from outside the Algarve. It boasts many restaurants and a sprinkling of bars, including the bar owned by the Portuguese footballer Figo which has a football theme and shows all the big football matches on large screens. Vilamoura is also home to a marina and a nightclub, both open until the early hours, and many shops, and enjoys a lively, bustling atmosphere.
view properties for sale in the Vilamoura area, here.
ALBUFEIRA MARINA is a recent addition to the directory of marinas in the Algarve. Once seen, never forgotten, this marina is of a unique design involving an unusual use of pastel shades for the residences that line the bowl of the marina. Visitors can enjoy a few bars and restaurants but the marina is gradually building up its range of tenants so a more eclectic mix can be expected in the future. The marina is a stone’s throw from the bustling tourist town of Albufeira where you will find all the normal facilities associated with tourism, but if you look hard enough, some traces of the quaintness of the older Albufeira remain.
Algarve Marina
LAGOS MARINA has received many awards over the years and is currently titled a ‘5 Anchor Award’ marina. Within the marina you will find lots of residential, commercial, and leisure facilities, including health clubs, swimming pools, and adventure parks. The historical town of Lagos played an active part in creating the history of the world. It was from this port that the ‘caravelas’ of Prince Henry sailed to discover parts of our present world. The town has maintained a lot of its architectural charm and this, coupled with its popularity with the tourists, makes it a good location for food, drink, and entertainment.
PORTIMÃO MARINA, a neighbour of Lagos, features some 300 apartments, plenty of shops, a reserved beach, boating facilities with a shipyard, and a huge swimming complex. It is within walking distance of the beach of Praia da Rocha and the town of Portimão – a commercial area once known for its fish canning industry. The advantageous position of this marina provides excellent opportunities for wind surfing.
Algarve marina property
VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTONIA MARINA was opened in 1998. The port town itself was rebuilt in 1755 after a disastrous earthquake destroyed its previous buildings. Across the Guadiana River is the Spanish town of Ayamonte. This area also offers the opportunity to explore the Ria Formosa Natural Park. With many rare species of flora and fauna, this park covers some 60 kms of coastline and is home to rare breeds such as the Portuguese water dog.
Whether you are a boat lover or simply appreciate historical towns or modern nightlife, you are bound to find a marina on the Algarve where you can feel at home.
Algarve Beach Apartments
CABANAS: An excellent rental investment within walking distance to the waterfront and ferries to the beach. Currently under construction, this private condominium of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments is in a prime location just 100m from the waterfront and the fishing village of Cabanas. The apartments come with air conditioning, fully fitted kitchens, fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms, ample terrace areas, and underground parking. The complex is built around a tropical garden area which incorporates 2 private swimming pools. Some limited off plan properties are available.
BENAGIL: This unique development of 49 x 2 bedroom townhouses is in a prime cliff top location in this small but beautiful fishing village. Specifications include fully equipped kitchens with Zanussi appliances, double glazing, security entrance door with intercom, pre-installation for air conditioning, and an electric safe. The development has a communal swimming pool, parking, and automatic irrigation, and each townhouse benefits from a spacious roof terrace with sea views.
CARVOEIRO: This development consists of 80 x 2 bedroom townhouses in a great cliff top location close to the centre of Carvoeiro. The houses are sold fully furnished and with air conditioning, satellite T.V, and fitted kitchens, and many enjoy sea views. Facilities include tennis courts, communal swimming pool, gymnasium, health club, restaurant, and discounts on nearby golf courses. Quarter share options are available from just €49,500.
LAGOS: This luxury 5 star spa and beach resort is situated between Lagos and Praia da Luz, overlooking the picturesque Porto de Mós beach. The development comprises 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses, spa bedroom suites, and 2 bedroom townhouses, the majority with sea views. All are surrounded by beautiful secluded landscaped gardens with a bar and restaurant. The leisure facilities include a 5 star health and beauty spa, hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam rooms, gymnasium, aerobics studio, 1 indoor and 4 outdoor swimming pools, and 2 tennis courts.
Lagos development
LAGOS: This new development can be found just a few steps away from the town walls of Lagos and its historical centre, with breathtaking views of Lagos’s natural bay and sandy beaches. The development features a commercial zone, swimming pool, private parking and ample green spaces. The apartment comes with fully fitted kitchens, pre installation for air conditioning and with high quality wood finishings.
LAGOS: This private electric-gated condominium consisting of only 15 apartments is in an amazing location, just 100 metres from the beach. The heart of the apartments – the kitchen and living room – was designed in an open plan style and exudes space and light. The contemporary fixtures and fittings are of a very high standard with feature doors and furnishings. The ‘pièce de résistance’ of these apartments is a most beautiful communal roof top terrace, complete with heated swimming pool. The views are simply stunning – the longest stretch of beach in the Algarve, Meia Praia, over to the Monchique Mountains, and along the coast to Alvor and Portimão. The apartments also feature: elevator, satellite T.V, air conditioning, luxury kitchen with appliances, double glazing, electric shutters, and pre-installation for central heating, central vacuum system, and surround sound system.
PRAIA DA LUZ: Close to the heart of Praia da Luz and less than 200 metres from the beach, this complex comprises luxury studio apartments and 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. All the apartments are fully equipped with under floor heating, satellite TV, and a central vacuum system. The underground parking comes with a large amount of storage space. Leisure facilities include gymnasium, aerobics studio, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, café, bar, and restaurant. There is a poolside snack bar, a multi purpose sports area for tennis, basket ball and football, a playground, and outdoor swimming pools for both adult and children.
BURGAU: This brand new development of apartments with high quality finishings is ideally situated in the small fishing village of Burgau, just minutes away from the small bay and cafés and restaurants. The apartments benefit from private parking, a communal swimming pool, and some have sea views. Additional features include air conditioning, double glazing, and pre-installation of central vacuum system and surround sound system.
Penina, Portimao
Built in 1966, the 18-hole par 73 Championship Algarve Golf Course is Sir Henry Cotton’s masterpiece – the course by which he wished to be remembered. Originally paddy fields for rice growing rice has been converted into a flat challenging course and especially for the stronger player. Something short of half a million shrubs and trees were planted in the conversion. As the fairways are flat Henry Cotton introduced strategically placed water hazards to catch the unwary long hitter. This Championship Golf Course was the first course in the Algarve and it has been ranked ever since amongst Europe Top 100.
The resort also encompasses two 9-hole facilities, The Resort Course, a pleasant Par 35 with 2,987 metres; and The Academy Course, a Par 30 with 1,851 metres. The Hotel rises above the 360 acre wooded estate, providing beautiful views of the golf course and lush countryside with the backdrop of the Monchique range.
While Le Meridien Penina is recognised for its golf courses, it also offers an amazing range of other sporting and leisure facilities, with a choice of training programmes for all ages and abilities. These include a FIFA-sized football pitch, jogging circuit, Olympic size swimming pool and fitness studios with sauna and massage services, while The Tennis Academy has six floodlit courts and a resident pro. The Penguin Village is both fun and educational, where children are occupied while parents may relax or practice their favourite sport. A courtesy hotel shuttle runs to Alvor Beach in summer, where a private area is available for clients, equipped with sun lounges, shades and towel service.
Portimao is the Algarve’s main fishing port and both the fishing industry and tourist fishing trips thrive here. You’ve a choice of divine Algarve beaches around the location, including one of the best beaches on the Algarve – Praia da Rocha. There are historic buildings and stylish architecture as well as the new Algarve villas and additionally Portimao also benefits from a developing new marina offering a choice of more chic restaurants, bars and shops.
Click here for properties for sale in Portimao, Algarve
Castro Marim Golfe & Country Club
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Castro Marim Club
Castro Marim is located 30 minutes east of Faro and 10 minutes from both Tavira and the Spanish border having opened in 2000 in an area of the Algarve that until then had no golfing infrastructures at all.
It has a very relaxing setting in the peaceful atmosphere of the eastern Algarve and was in fact the first course to be built in this region, offering players beautiful views over the Atlantic Ocean, the River Guadiana and the nearby nature reserve. The design of the so-called “Atlantic Course” made use of the natural undulations of the hills and is sprinkled with many ornamental lakes. The fairways have been made with Bermuda grass, whilst the greens are made with the new Penn A4 grass. The course spans 6,250 metres and is a par 71.
Castro Marim Golf
From the very start, the overriding characteristics of this course are clear. At 375 meters downhill, the par 4 first may not appear too strenuous, but as you stand on the elevated tee you can soon see why it is rated stroke index 4. The fairway is narrow and lined with young umbrella pine trees. It drops away, but climbs to the elevated green. The contours of the land must be carefully kept in mind as you decide where to place your drive. The par 5 fourth is a dog-leg left, but a good drive may reach the lake on the right side of the descending fairway. The second and approach shots are uphill and the green is well protected by a bunker, young pines and the falling lie of the land.
On the back nine, the eleventh – a par 4 of 323 meters – can be deceptive. Once again, a well struck drive may find the water protecting the green. This is a good hole, but it is brain not brawn that will secure you a par here. The par 3 seventeenth (130 meters) is almost always subject to onshore prevailing winds off the sea. With bunkers in front and a lake behind, think carefully about what club to take.
Castro Marim Golf course
The impressive clubhouse resembling a medieval castle is known for its warm relaxing ambiance and boasts a golf reception, pro-shop, changing rooms and a restaurant-bar which has an enormous open air terrace with marvellous views over the coast of the Algarve and Guadiana River.
For those buying investment property including off plan property or alternatively their dream home, Castro Marim offers a number of property options from townhouses, villas apartments golf in buying property abroad.
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Balaia Village and Golf Course
Balaia Village, Algarve opened in April 2001 and is located close to Albufeira, between the villages of Olhos d Agua and Praia d Oura and only approximately 40 minutes drive from Faro airport. Balaia golf course is only nine holes with a par 27 but it is a great challenge for all handicaps. The course is designed to test ability and control of length and direction. This is a course to test every golfer, irrespective of handicap. You can go out and play eighteen holes to concentrate on your short game, without the drilling which time on a practice ground sometimes implies. Alternatively, you can just play nine, leaving plenty of time for things. Tee to green distances on the course range from 67 metres to 160 metres.
Though aesthetics are not exactly what Algarve golf is about, what you see from the first tee is indeed a pretty sight. An old wooden bridge divides two lakes just in front of the first green with the magnificent clubhouse just behind you aswell as hole number one being an opening hole to test the nerves. Amenities include a 60 base driving range, managed by a well known international Pro, covered bays for all-weather lessons or practice, practice bunkers, chipping and putting greens.
In the beautifully appointed clubhouse you will find a pro shop, reception, club hire, trolleys and rental locker facilities not forgetting a large sunny terrace overlooking the course, and a restaurant, with a capacity for 120 guests. Every week, on Wednesday afternoons, a 9-hole individual Stableford tournament is held, followed by a glass or two of cool Sangria. These events are open to all golfers.
Although Balaia Village is no more than 400 metres from two glorious sandy beaches and is a complex of 506 of low-rise self catering apartments and villas and enjoys several swimming pool areas for your exclusive use. There is a special pool for small children and even a heated pool specifically designed for year round use.
For a selection of Algarve properties in Albufeira, click on the link below
