Luxury, tranquility, sport and leisure - it must be Quinta do Lago

Quinta do Lago is a privately owned estate, about 20 minutes drive west from Faro airport. The 2000-acre estate is bordered on its southern and eastern boundaries by the Ria Formosa National Park.

Accommodation in Quinta do Lago has been built amongst the pine forests and lakes. It is made up of privately owned luxury villas and a collection of up-market, high quality small villages, each with its own facilities.

Development within the resort has always been strictly restricted and controlled in order to fit in harmoniously with the ecology and nature of the area. Thus, low-density villages have been built steadily from the 1970s until present, with only limited further development possible.

It reminds me in many ways, of an American style golf resort with its level of manicuring and landscaping, not to mention the four great golf courses it boasts. Because of its tranquillity, seclusion and its plethora of sporting and leisure activities, it attracts wealthy and successful people to live and holiday.

Is it a great place for a holiday?

Leisure and sporting activities are well catered for, particularly golf, with four championship courses within the estate. There are not many five star resorts to be found which have great facilities for children, but this is on of these places.

It is a tranquil place to be, with little traffic in the resort, and its residential developments hidden amongst the lakes and pine forests. It is also a very safe place to be. It is controlled 24 hours a day by security, but there is little crime, even petty crime. This makes it a great place for the family.

Resort accommodation is found in one of the eleven villages within the resort. Each village has its own atmosphere and qualities, but all have their own centralised facilities for use of the residents and guests. Most accommodation is to be found in an eclectic mix of villas, apartments and townhouses. There is also the five star Quinta do Lago hotel at the edge of the Ria Formosa.

The resort has many restaurants spread amongst its villages. If you enjoy fine dining then you won’t be disappointed. All styles of food are catered for from French, Italian, Chinese and Portuguese. Most restaurants are of an international flavour, but if you’re after traditional Portuguese cuisine, then you are probably best heading off resort towards places like Almancil.

If luxury and designer shopping is your bag, then you won’t be disappointed in Quinta do Lago. There are two shopping centres. These are Buganvilia Plaza, at the entrance to the resort and adjacent to it is Quinta shopping centre. Here you can find fashion boutiques, an art gallery, designer jewellery and number of restaurants and pubs.

At the Buganvilia shopping centre you there a number of restaurants (Italian, Chinese, and a Sushi & Steak house). There are also a couple of nightclubs catering for diffrent ages.

Quinta do Lago villages

Facilities include a large outdoor swimming pool and bar surrounded by palm trees, two floodlit tennis courts, a gym, sauna, health and beauty centre and Tucano's restaurant, specializing in fresh fish and seafood.

Four Seasons Country Club
Located in-between the Quinta do Lago golf courses, in the heart of the resort, the Four Seasons Country Club offers visitors the choice of luxury villas and apartments.

You’ll gain temporary membership of the Four Seasons Country Club by staying here, which will entitle you to the benefits provided by the clubhouse and other facilities, including guaranteed tee-times and a 50% discount on the Quinta do Lago golf courses as well as discounts on other Algarve golf courses (including Pinheiros Altos and San Lorenzo golf courses).

Four Seasons Fairways
Based in the heart of the resort, this ‘private members’ resort offers a range of quality cluster villas and hillside apartments with pools or Jacuzzis. As with its sister, the Four Seasons Country Club, with temporary membership of the Four Seasons Fairways club, you’ll get guaranteed tee-times and 50% discount on the two golf courses and many others throughout the Algarve.

Facilities include clubhouse with outdoor and heated indoor swimming pools, gym, sauna, snooker, hair and beauty salon, mini-market, and during school vacations, a children’s club. The clubhouse houses the bar and the Flora da Quinta restaurant, serving international cuisine. It also has a weekly entertainment program. At the other end of the village are two floodlit tennis courts.

Lakeside Village
The Lakeside Village borders the lake on the south west side of Quinta do Lago. There are some great views across the lake towards the Ria Formosa tidal inlet and nature reserve. On two sides it is bordered by the Quinta do Lago North golf course. The village consists of villas, townhouses and apartments of various sizes, the larger villas having their own private swimming pools.

The villages position next to the man-made lake, gives it the advantage when it comes to water sports watersports centre operating nearby. There are tennis courts and the Hipico horse riding centre is just a few minutes walk from the village.

Monte da Quinta Club
South of the Four Seasons Fairways resort is the up-market village of Monte da Quinta. It is made up of townhouses and villas and a five star apart-hotel with health club, pool, restaurant and bars is also being built and is due to open in 2007.

The clubhouse has an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and a Kids Club and a Health club with indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, steam bath, gymnasium and a massage room. There you can find a coffee shop and an Italian trattoria, reports of which are okay, but not outstanding. Not to worry, as there are plenty of restaurants around Quinta do Lago.

Monte da Quinta also has a yacht for the exclusive use of its clients, so if your feeling flush, why not hire it out for a full or half day trip along the Algarve coastline.

Pinheiros Altos village
In the heart of Pinheiros Altos golf course is the village consisting of high quality villas, townhouses and apartments. These are all privately owned, but some are available for rent. Facilities for guests include the use of the magnificent communal swimming pools, two restaurants and a bar.

Quinta do Lago Country Club
Quinta do Lago Country Club was Quinta do Lago's very first development, built in the early seventies. Located in the south west corner of Quinta do Lago, the club has beautiful views over the lake, the sea and the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve.

The club operates on a timeshare basis and has 36 apartments of various sizes. Communal facilities include two outdoor swimming pools (one of them for children), and indoor pool, two tennis courts, a gym, sauna and snooker room.

The bridge across the Ria Formosa inlet leading to the beach is only a few minutes walk away, where a variety of water sports are available.

São Lourenço
This development of 94 quality freehold located on the San Lorenzo golf course, and is probably one of the most exclusive villages in Quinta do Lago. The apartments are a mix of sizes, set in beautifully landscaped grounds with views over the golf course or the lake which forms part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. There is a large communal pool and a tennis court.

Vale dos Pinheiros
This is the newest development in Quinta do and consists of 55 one and two bedroom townhouses, with their own facilities. The resort is located in a quite corner of Quinta do Lago, in between Encosta do Lago and the horse riding centre opposite Lakeside Village.

Victory Village Club
Located close to the beach, the Quinta do Lago Hotel and the water sports centre, the Victory Village Club is a residential area comprising luxury apartments, semi-detached and terraced villas/townhouses. Many of these many have views over the San Lorenzo golf course or the lake and Ria Formosa.

For the use of owners and residents there are two large swimming pools, a pool bar and two tennis courts. The beach, reached by the bridge crossing the nature reserve is about a 15-minute walk away. You’ll also have access, often with discounts, to most of facilities within Quinta do Lago, including Hotel Quinta do Lago and a 25% reduction on green fees.

Victory village is a great place to say if you are keen on water sports as it is close to the windsurfing and sailing centre on the lake. If you’re here for the golf, then you can get a 25% reduction on green fees at the 2 Quinta do Lago golf courses.

Vilar Do Golfe
Vilar do Golfe has a mix of apartments and town houses set in landscaped gardens and backing onto the north golf course.

Facilities in Vilar do Golfe include a swimming pool centre, with two pools for adults and one for children, saunas, a squash court and gym, supermarket and gift shop. There is also the Bobby Jones Bar & Grill, and a shuttle service is available to run you between the resort and the beach.

Vilar do Golfe is a good place to base yourself if you are here for the tennis, as the Jim Stewart Tennis Academy is attached to the resort. As a resident you’ll be eligible for half-price lessons and court hire. You can contact the Jim Stewart Tennis Academy on +351 289 398848.

Quinta do Lago Sporting and Leisure activities

Quinta do Lago golf courses - Quinta do Lago is probably most famous for its golf, and is home to four golf courses. The Quinta do Lago club consists of two courses, the Quinta do Lago North (also known as the Ria Formosa course) and Quinta do Lago South course (previously a venue for the Portuguese Open).

Staying in Quinta do Lago should entitle you to significant discounts and preferential tee-times on the Quinta do Lago golf courses as well as discounts on other Algarve golf courses.

There are two other courses within the estate. These are the San Lorenzo golf course, which is owned by the Meridien Dona Filipa hotel (based at Vale do Lobo) and Pinheiros Altos golf course, which is owned by the same company which owns the Ria Formosa Hotel (located in-between Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo). I mention this because the courses are primarily for the use of the guests of these hotels. Not that you can’t play them, but the best rates and ability to easily book tee-times may not be available to you.

Tennis is also well catered for. All the villages within Quinta do Lago have tennis courts. These are generally for the exclusive use of residents and owners in those developments. If you take your tennis more seriously, there is the Jim Stewart Tennis Academy in the Vilar do Golfe complex. This is open to everyone and coaching and competitions are available. If you need equipment then it can be hired here. Telephone: 289 398 848.

Quinta do Lago offers a large range of water sports including windsurfing and water skiing to dinghy sailing and scuba diving. Tuition by qualified instructors is available for all of these and more. The Water sports Centre on the beach and on the lake. Telephone: 289 394 929

Horse riding lessons and trecks can be organized at the Centro da Hipico Riding Centre. This is a five minute walk from Lakeside village. Lessons can be arrange for all ages and levels, and if your ability allows, then there are miles of riding trails in the surrounding countryside. Telephone: 289 396 099.

The terrain in the resort is relatively flat, which makes it perfect to explore the area on one of the very pleasant cycling trails in Quinta do Lago. Bikes can be rented from Vilar do Golfe Resort Club and The Quinta do Lago hotel.

If you fancy something a little less strenuous than the many sporting activities on offer, then why not spend some time on the beautiful long sandy beach. It stretches for 3 ½ km and located beyond the famous wooden bridge, which crosses the Ria Formosa lagoon near the car park adjacent to Hotel Quinta do Lago.

The Ria Formosa Nature Park is the perfect place for bird watching or enjoying the wide variety of wildlife and flora and fauna. There are a couple of nature trails meandering through the heart of the resort.

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