About Quinta do Lago

Exclusivity is the word!

Quinta Do Lago sits like the rich and famous’ playground of the Algarve. Founded in the early’70's, Quinta do Lago is a symbol of sophistication, with lavish villas and apartments overlooking lush golf courses, serene woodland, tranquil lakes or unspoilt golden beaches. As part of the UNESCO Ria Formosa bird sanctuary, there is a strict 8% building restriction.

The area between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, Almancil is referred to as the’Golden Triangle'.

In Quinta do Lago there are numerous facilities - restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclub, spa, pools, gymnasiums, golf, mini golf, tennis, newsagent, shops, bank, car rental, wine shop, cash machines, numerous water sports, hairdresser and beauty salons. Everything is available so you never have to leave the resort!

The objective in Quinta do Lago was to create a luxury estate offering owners and guest’s privacy, tranquillity and seclusion, combined with an active social and sporting life and a wide range of leisure and sporting facilities.

See all our villas in Quinta do Lago and apartments in Quinta do Lago.

Things to do in Quinta do Lago

Quinta do Lago has a range of excellent cafés and restaurants offering a selection of international gastronomy. Quinta do Lago Resort hosts regular live music and dance shows at the resort's main square as well as classical concerts and art exhibitions at the resort's auditorium... there is something to suit everyone. See things to do in Quinta do Lago.

Quinta do Lago Resort has excellent sports facilities including: two 18 hole championship golf courses, the largest tennis academy in Portugal with 14 courts, public swimming pools and 2 well equipped gymnasiums with sauna and physiotherapy services. Golf and tennis teaching programmes are offered at all levels for adults and children.

Why do we recommend a holiday in Quinta do Lago? Because its perfect if you are looking for an activity filled holiday (Golf, Tennis, Shopping, Kids Entertainment, Spa, Fitness & more!). However it’s also perfect if you want a ‘I-won’t-leave-the-Beach holiday’ (Algarve has the best beaches in Portugal).

And if you are like Joe, our resident runner – you will love Running in Quinta do Lago.

UNESCO Protected Ria Formosa Natural Reserve in Quinta do Lago

One of the most important aspects of Quinta do Lago is its guardianship of the UNESCO protected, Ria Formosa, which is a series of large lagoons separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a coastal dune system broken up by various natural and artificial inlets used for salt farming.

The Ria Formosa is a protected area carrying the status of ‘Natural Reserve’. It was legally established as such in 1987 with its own management plan and with the objectives of preserving the lagoon system, fauna, flora and migratory species thus contributing to its economic, social and cultural progress. This protected area extends through the districts of Loulé, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António covering an area of approximately 18,400 hectares along 60 kilometres of coastline

In Quinta do Lago, the Ria Formosa includes a narrow strip of land and a series of coastal dunes running almost parallel to the mainland, formed by peninsulas and sandy islands which serve to protect the salt marshes, channels and islets.

Quinta do Lago has created several nature trails (one which trails alongside the San Lorenzo golf course giving you the opportunity to get up close to the greens and fairways of this most famous course). The nature trails are flat and easily walkable and you will often see runners and cyclists enjoying exercising in the fresh air.

The nature trail is a delightful way to spend time with the children and allowing them to roam and enjoy the environment will be a highlight of their holiday. Along the route are enclosed bird watching areas with identification charts that are placed en route. The trail has been designed to enhance awareness of the environmental value of the area. Also keep a look out for the ancient roman ruins during your stroll!!

Every year in winter, around 30,000 migrating birds of many different species come to nest here, one of the last surviving coastal habitats in Europe for them to do so. Particularly rare and important is the sultan chicken, the bird chosen to symbolize the estuary park, but we are down to only twenty remaining living birds.

Since the natural park came into existence, work has been done to protect the sultan chicken and also the native water dog, which had become almost extinct. The area is teeming with marine life having more than fifty species of fish, rare shellfish, frogs, lizards and snakes as well as mammals such as otters.

The Ria Formosa is not only for bird watchers but is one of the primary industries of the Algarve (albeit very quiet and low key!). The Ria Formosa is famous for its salt and often on the walking trails through the salt lakes you will see large white pyramids, glinting and glimmering in the sunshine. Nope, it’s not the Egyptians leaving calling cards but the Romans who were responsible for starting this industry here over 2000 years ago.

The Romans fancied themselves as handy fishermen and tuna was their catch. Today the Ria Formosa continues to produce delicious shellfish and is abundant with fish often on your plate by lunchtime. If you see lots of people hunched over on the sands at low tide, you can be sure that they are ‘clamming’ and these may just end up as your dinner within a few hours.

So back to our salt hills...the Ria Formosa’s famous gourmet, whole sea salt, is one of the best salts in the world. It is as Nature intended - unrefined, unprocessed, uncontaminated and harvested in the same simple way as practised by the Romans. Unlike most other sea salts (which are often 98-99% sodium chloride thanks to the way they are harvested and refined) it contains the natural levels of many of the salts, including magnesium and potassium, minerals and vital trace elements found in seawater. Take some home with you, a momento of your holiday here and every time you taste our delicious natural product think of Quinta Do Lago.

Celebrity spotting in Quinta do Lago

Favoured by the world's elite, many of the world’s wealthy entrepreneurs and celebrities are have homes here. The Brazilian F1 racing driver, Ayrton Senna owned a villa in the area and after his tragic death in 1994 a road was named after him,’Avenida do Ayrton Senna da Silva'.

Play Golf in one of Algarves best golf courses - Sao Lorenzo

The Sao Lorenzo golf course is world famous and has been voted in the top 20 Golf courses in Europe. Sao Lorenzo combines modern luxuries with natural beauty. Most properties have views over the Sao Lorenzo Lake and lying at the beautiful communal pool, you can enjoy the peace and quiet around you. Talk a walk down towards the beach and make your way around the trails and across the dunes to the fabulous sandy stretch where you can pull up a lounger and lap up the sun! Be indulged in nature and yet close to all the amenities you will need on your holiday.