Long dry summers, mild winters and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year make the Algarve the ideal venue for the whole spectrum of sporting and out-door activities. In addition, the region offers a wide choice of fitness centres and luxury spas offering a range of therapies and beauty treatments.

Tennis

The Algarve is well supplied when it comes to tennis facilities and caters to all levels of ability at a range of venues. Many hotels, apartment complexes and resorts are equipped with their own courts, in addition to facilities offered by local authorities. There are a number of tennis coaching centres in the region with Ocean Club, at Praia da Luz, being home to one of the most famous, the Jonathan Markson Tennis Centre, where you will find five championship standard courts, two of which are floodlit allowing play in the cool of the evening.

Golf

The Algarve is one of the great golfing locations in the world, possessing over two dozen superb courses including some of the best championship courses in Europe. The Western Algarve possesses six courses, all within a few minutes drive of Lagos. Only about 5 of the Algave’s courses are beyond an hour’s drive from this town. Many courses have their own academy with PGA qualified professional instructors, computer swing analysis, driving ranges and putting and chipping greens. Every year, the Algarve welcomes a host of national and international tournaments featuring top professionals, and is often the venue of the Portuguese Open.

Water Sports

Just about every type of water-related sport or activity you can think of is available throughout the Algarve including banana rides, water-skiing, jet skiing, sailing and all types of surfing. Praia da Luz and Sagres are excellent places to learn to dive, with a choice of local diving schools that will train you to the internationally recognised PADI certificate standard.
Big Game Fishing is available from Florida style game fishing boats, whilst for a more gentle excursion there are many boat trips along the Algarve coast to visit secret grottoes and magical sea caves or sightseeing cruises. Dedicated surfers tend to head for the fabulous surfing beaches of the Algarve’s “Wild West Coast.”

Horse Riding

Horse riding is an excellent way to observe the myriad flora and fauna and at the same time take in, at a leisurely pace, the breathtaking natural beauty for which this area of the Algarve is famed. There are several stables in the region with a range of equestrian activities on offer, from treks through the leafy interior to exhilarating gallops along the beach.

Water Parks

There are a great many activities for children in the Algarve and the western region’s two waterslide parks are always a favourite. Both “Slide & Splash” at Lagoa and “Aqualand” at Alcantarilha are situated within 30 minutes drive from Lagos. Each of these parks offer restaurant-cafeteria facilities in addition to a fantastic array of exciting ways to plunge yourself into the water. Both parks operate a dedicated bus services for day trips from Luz, Lagos or Portimão. Towards the other side of the Algarve, but still within an hour’s drive of Lagos, there are two excellent water parks, Aquashow and Parque Atlântico, near the town of Loulé.