Quinta do Lago is a golf and residential resort in the parish of Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé, at the western edge of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. It forms one corner of the Golden Triangle, with Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura.
Large villas stand among golf courses, stone pines and lakes, between the ria and the Atlantic. The resort is about 20 minutes by car from Faro Airport.
History of Quinta do Lago
The developer André Jordan founded Quinta do Lago in 1971 on the Quinta dos Ramalhos, a 550-hectare estate of stone pine forest next to the Ria Formosa. The first facilities opened between 1972 and 1974, starting with the old farmhouse, rebuilt as the Casa Velha restaurant, and a 27-hole golf layout by William Mitchell.
The resort hosted the Portuguese Open for the first time in 1976 and several times afterwards. Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna kept a villa here as his European base, and one of the resort's avenues carries his name.
Beaches in Quinta do Lago
Praia da Quinta do Lago: wide sandy beach backed by dunes, inside the Ria Formosa Natural Park, reached by a 500-metre wooden footbridge over the ria.
Praia do Ancão: beach west of Quinta do Lago, towards Vale do Lobo.
Casa Velha: the original farmhouse of the estate, rebuilt in 1972 as a restaurant.
Ruínas Romanas de Quinta do Lago: remains of a Roman fish-salting site from the 1st and 2nd centuries.
Nature in Quinta do Lago
Ria Formosa: the lagoon separates the resort from the beach dunes, with walking paths along its edge and the salt pans.
Birdlife: the resort lies on the East Atlantic Flyway, a migration route for birds, and birdwatchers record species such as the purple swamphen, the glossy ibis and flamingos around its lake and the ria.
Ludo Trail: path of about 7 kilometres through lagoons and salt marshes, from the resort towards Praia de Faro.
Golf in Quinta do Lago
Quinta do Lago South: 18 holes by William Mitchell, still close to his original design.
Quinta do Lago North: 18 holes, redesigned in 2014 by Beau Welling and Paul McGinley.
Laranjal: 18 holes opened in 2009 on a former orange grove in the Ludo valley, about 2 km east of the resort, with five lakes, stone pines and cork oaks.
San Lorenzo: 18 holes beside the Ria Formosa, with a path shared by walkers along the lagoon.
Pinheiros Altos: 27 holes in three 9-hole courses, Pines, Corks and Olives, next to the resort entrance.
Paul McGinley Golf Academy: golf academy of the resort.
Leisure in Quinta do Lago
The Campus: sports centre with a gym, a football pitch, tennis and padel, on Avenida Ayrton Senna.
Sailing club: reached from Avenida Ayrton Senna, near the lake.
Hotels: the Hotel Quinta do Lago, the Conrad Algarve, the Wyndham Grand Algarve and the Martinhal Quinta family resort.
Shopping and services in Quinta do Lago
Quinta Shopping: fashion and jewellery shops, a supermarket, cafés and banks at the main entrance roundabout.
Buganvília Plaza: real estate and financial services, a supermarket, restaurants and coworking offices, next to Quinta Shopping.
Services: a post office, a bank, a medical centre and 24-hour security inside the resort.
Residential areas of Quinta do Lago
Avenida André Jordan, the main road of the resort, links six roundabouts from the entrance to the bridge over the ria. The residential areas lie along it, around the golf courses.
Quinta do Lago North: villas around the North course, between the lake and the Four Seasons Country Club.
Quinta do Lago South: villas around the South course and the driving range, with views over the Ria Formosa.
San Lorenzo and São Lourenço Village: villas around the San Lorenzo course, near the ria.
Pinheiros Altos: residential area around its golf course, next to the entrance.
Condominiums: The Reserve, Encosta do Lago, Vale dos Pinheiros, Lake Side Village, Vilar do Golf, Four Seasons Fairways and Victory Village, with villas, townhouses and apartments.
Places near Quinta do Lago
Almancil (11 291 inhabitants · 62 km²): the parish town, with the azulejo church of São Lourenço.
Vale do Lobo: resort to the west, founded in 1962.
Faro (67 622 inhabitants · 203 km²): regional capital to the east, across the Ria Formosa.
