Day 1 in Vilamoura

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Vilamoura and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Explore the expansive Vilamoura Marina complex, which includes lots of retail shops, restaurants and bars. Pick a place to eat and decide between two options: beach or town. For people who want to stay in town, continue exploring the Marina complex, and see the state-of-the-art Vilamoura Lighthouse. Head northwest and spend some time viewing the partially-revealed Roman ruins at Cerro da Vila. Then go east past the Marina complex to the town of Quarteira. The resorts of Vilamoura were built around the already-existing city of Quarteira, so tourists can feel and experience the historic quarter in an urban area that usually feels shiny and brand new.

Those who want to go to the beach have three options near Vilamoura and Quarteira. Northwest of Vilamoura, Rocha Baixinha Beach is considered one of the most beautiful and elite beaches in all of Portugal. Closer to the resort complexes, Vilamoura Beach is a pleasant urban beach, positioned just off a main traffic artery. Then, at the southeast edge of Quarteira, there`s Forte Novo Beach, the site of a 16th-century fortress. Whether you chose beach or town, wrap things up this evening with dinner, a stage show and gambling at Casino Vilamoura before returning to your resort.

Day 2 in Vilamoura

The Algarve is known for their water parks, and we recommend three within an hour`s drive from Vilamoura. Aqualand Algarve is seventeen miles to the west, and on the way to Aqualand there is another water-themed amusement park, Zoomarine Algarve. Aqualand is the country`s largest water park, and is home to an impressive number of thrilling water slides. Zoomarine is a cross between the theme parks Busch Gardens and Sea World -- where people can see animals and marine life up close. Right outside Vilamoura, there is Aquashow, another amusement park-water park hybrid, which boasts one of the longest rollercoasters in Portugal. Choose one park to visit for the morning and early afternoon.

Upon leaving the park, drive north to the 12th-century Paderne Castle, one of the oldest surviving castles in the country. Tour the storied grounds and view the ruins of a fortress built by the Berbers. If there is time left in the day, stop at the Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura on your way back to your resort. If you want to take an early evening bike ride and view an Algarve sunset, this is the perfect time to look into bike rentals.

Day 3 in Vilamoura

People vacation in Vilamoura to spend time on the beach and enjoy the water, and we recommend a full beach day. Begin the day at Vilamoura Marina if you are considering renting a yacht or wishing to participate in parasailing or jet-skiing. If you want some sun, there are three options apart from the beaches we have already recommended. The first beach, three miles west of Vilamoura Marina, is Praia da Falesia. Set in between a series of cliffs, the popular Praia da Falesia is known for its relaxing atmosphere and great restaurants. Five miles southwest of the Marina is Praia de Vale do Lobo, a ritzy beach located in front of the first five-star resort in the Algarve. Two miles down the coast, Praia do Ancao, located in Ria Formosa Natural Park, is a beach that is particularly in-demand with the European celebrity set. Head back to Vilamoura and take in a show at Casino Vilamoura before returning to your resort for the night.

Additional Days in Vilamoura

The provincial capital of Loule offers history buffs some of the most exciting sights in all of the Algarve. A settlement was first built in the area now known as Loule in the Paleolithic era, and has been a continuous settlement since the time of the Romans in the second century before the Common Era. The current city boundaries (based on the city`s Medieval-era walls) date from the eighth century and the rise of the Moors. Loule Castle was built in the eighth century, and is now preserved and open to the public as a national monument; preservation has also been undertaken on what remains of Loule`s city walls. Visit Loule during the winter carnival, the June Mediterranean music festival and bazaar, and the August `White Night` which transforms the city into one buzzing party.

The late author James A. Michener once wrote in the novel The Drifters that foreign people desire to visit the town of Alte `to know Portugal at its best`. Indeed, it is one of the most unspoiled towns in all of the Algarve. Whitewashed houses and buildings abound in this village of 2,000. Sights in Alte include the Fonte Pequena waterway, where a set of azulejo tiles were installed to commemorate the life of Candido Guerreiro, a poet who was born in Alte in 1871; the Igreja Matriz, the largest church in the village; and the Cafe Regional, perhaps the hub of social life in all of Alte.

Close to Vilamoura is the bustling city of Albufeira. The `castle on the sea`, Albufeira was a prime naval port first conquered by the Romans, and then fortified by the Moors and the Portuguese royal family. Now Albufeira is better-known for its status as a sun-and-fun resort destination, bringing over 300,000 people to the city every year. The historic Old Town is jam-packed with buildings many hundreds of years old. Just up the road is the popular road known colloquially as `The Strip;` with lots of shops, restaurants and bars, it is a tourist`s dream. Visually and intellectually stimulating, Albufeira will have your full attention from morning to night.

Your Last Day in Vilamoura

Depart your hotel and head to the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer; if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.