Vale do Lobo is a golf and beach resort in the parish of Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé, on the coast between Quarteira and Quinta do Lago. It forms one corner of the Golden Triangle.
The resort covers 450 hectares of landscaped grounds, with about two kilometres of beach, two 18-hole golf courses and around 1,500 properties. Its compact layout gives easy access to the beach from most of the resort.
History of Vale do Lobo
Vale do Lobo was founded in 1962 by two British companies, Trusthouse Forte and Costain, on a stretch of coast covered in stone pine forest and dunes. It was one of the first tourist resorts in Portugal. The same year, the government decided to build Faro Airport.
In 1968 the resort opened the Dona Filipa, the first five-star hotel in the Algarve, and its first two 9-hole golf courses, overseen by Sir Henry Cotton. Vale do Lobo hosted the Portuguese Open in 2002 and 2003.
Beaches in Vale do Lobo
- Praia de Vale do Lobo: beach below red cliffs, with the resort square and beach restaurants behind it.
- Praia do Garrão Nascente: quieter beach east of the resort, towards Ancão.
Golf in Vale do Lobo
- Ocean course: 18 holes formed from the two original 9-hole courses of Sir Henry Cotton, with holes running close to the sea.
- Royal course: 18 holes by Rocky Roquemore, based on Cotton's original design, crossing the resort from end to end. Its par-3 16th hole has views over the cliffs, the coast and the ocean.
- Golf Academy: practice facilities and driving range.
Leisure in Vale do Lobo
- Praça de Vale do Lobo: the resort square by the beach, with restaurants, shops, pools and nightlife.
- Tennis Academy: tennis and padel courts.
- ParTee Family Park: minigolf, yoga, dance and workshops for families.
- Dona Filipa Hotel: five-star hotel on Avenida do Mar, near the beach.
- Events: themed markets, cultural events and sports events through the year.
Services in Vale do Lobo
- Resort services: concierge, a medical clinic, a supermarket, a bank, wine shops and an art gallery.
Residential areas of Vale do Lobo
Avenida do Mar, the main road of the resort, leads to the Dona Filipa and the square. The Ocean course lies to the west and the Royal course to the east, with the residential areas around them.
- South and North Villages: the oldest areas of the resort, with two and three-bedroom townhouses.
- Miramar: apartments, townhouses and villas next to the beach.
- Mimosas: three-bedroom semi-detached villas with golf and sea views.
- Tennis Valley: apartments and townhouses around the Tennis Academy.
- Avenida do Mar: contemporary villas along the main avenue.
- Encosta do Atlântico: villas with sea views.
- Zone 9: modern villas with golf and sea views.
- Ocean Club: villas at the edge of the Ria Formosa.
- Vale das Flores: townhouses with golf and sea views.
- Royal Valley: the newest area, with large plots near the Royal course.
Places near Vale do Lobo
- Almancil (11 291 inhabitants · 62 km²): the parish town, reached by Avenida Almirante Mendes Cabeçadas.
- Quinta do Lago: resort to the east, founded in 1971.
- Quarteira (24 420 inhabitants · 38 km²): seaside town to the west.
Places to visit in the Algarve
