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Carob Tree Villa • Vale do Lobo • Algarve • Portugal
The information here is fairly general, and intended to show you the range and extent of facilities that are available. You'll find more information and assistance when you arrive, but this may help you plan a few outings. Restaurants are good places to pick up leaflets and advice about attractions.
Sports facilities, of which there are a great many, are listed separately on the Sports page.
(Telephone numbers are quoted with the access code for Portugal [+351] and the area code [289]; locally, only the last 6 digits are required.)
Beaches
There are miles and miles of unspoilt golden sand beaches and quite a few beach restaurants and bars, stretching in either direction from Vale do Lobo. For swimming, there's also the main lake at Quinta do Lago.
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Restaurants
The resorts of Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura are home to many restaurants, including the Michelin starred Ermitage (2 minutes from Carob Tree Villa) and São Gabriel (a couple of minutes further). A Lareira (international cuisine) and India Tandoori are just a short step away from the villa and there's a handful of restaurants along the short journey into Almancil.
Shopping
There is a small supermarket just a few metres from the villa, open Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 8pm. Almancil is the nearest town and has a good range of shops, open 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday (usually closed for lunch 1-3pm) and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Almancil is noted for its ochre pottery. In the resorts the shops tend to stay open all day, and quite late into the evening in season.
There's a market each Wednesday in Quarteira, and usually a flea market in Almancil on alternate Sundays.
There are two shopping centres in Quinta do Lago: Buganvilia Plaza houses a bank, newspaper stall, several restaurants and a travel agent; Quinta Shopping is a rather swish affair with a choice of boutiques and restaurants.
Nature & Walks
The Ria Formosa Natural Park (Information Centre ) +351 289 704134) is a large (46,000 acre) area of wetlands and dunes at the delta of the Formosa river, with defined walks and an interpretation centre. This is an important area for migrating birds and a very popular area for birdwatching. Boats from Faro, Olhão and Fuseta will take you to some of the islands of the delta.
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The Quinta do Lago lake is also a popular place for nature rambles and birdwatching and there are nature trails throughout the Quinta do Lago estate.
Monchique, up in the mountains beyond Silves, is a popular destination for walkers, offering fine views across the Algarve and the coast. It is also famous for the waters.
Young People
There are many entertainments for younger visitors. Vale do Lobo hosts a disco on the seafront during July and August; The Vilamoura marina hosts a range of entertainments aimed at younger visitors; there's a water park 2 miles east of Almancil on the EN125; a similar distance to the west (on the way to Quarteira) there's another water park; the Watersports Centre on the main lake at Quinta do Lago, with qualified instructors and lifeguards, offers a wealth of facilties for children (and adults!).
Zoomarine () +351 289 560300) at Alcantarilha (on the EN125 just west of Albufeira and around 20 miles west of Almancil) is a water park with dolphin, seal and sea lion shows, very popular with kids of all ages.
Closer, on the way into Almancil, there's a karting circuit at Almancil Karting () +351 289 399899)
Culture
Silves (approx 30 miles west of of Almancil) is the ancient capital of the Algarve, with a castle, a gothic church, several museums and a history, and the latter can be explored in a slide and laser show projected onto the walls of the castle, followed by a multimedia show incorporating, amongst other things, fountains.
Faro, the capital of the Algarve, boasts a cathedral dating from the 13th century, several fine churches and a clutch of museums.
Tavira, east of Faro is a typically Portuguese fishing town largely unspoilt by modern developments. Known as the city of 37 churches, many of these date originally from the 13th century - but most were rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1755.
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Banks
Banks are open from 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Many cash machines accept Cirrus cards, making them compatible with most UK bank cards.
Car Hire
Car hire can easily be arranged, to meet you either at Faro airport or at the villa. There's more information on the Enquiries page.
Petrol
There are petrol stations on the way into Vale do Lobo, on the road to Vilamoura and a short way along the main EN125 road east and west of Almancil.
Medical Care
There are excellent English-speaking clinics in Almancil and Vilamoura, and medical centres in both Vale do Lobo () +351 289 398009) and Quinta do Lago () +351 289 398411) run by Dr Robin Thomson (Mobile: 91 721 43 26).
National Holidays
The following days are national holidays when many shops and facilities may be closed:
| August 15th |
| October 5th |
| November 1st |
| December 1st, 8th and 25th |
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