Whether it’s adrenaline-filled water sports or chilling out on a boat trip, the sea awaits you. The beaches along the Vicentine Coast have been blessed with some of the best waters for surfing in the Algarve. Arrifana, Amado, Cordoama, Ponta Ruiva, Beliche and Martinhal are just a few of the most popular beaches for surfing and bodyboarding. And you will also find activities along the Algarve coast that you need a licence or authorisation for, such as water skiing, jet skiing and power boating.
If you are looking for calm waters and good infrastructures for water sports, pay a visit to Ilha de Tavira and Ilha de Cabanas. These barrier island beaches offer pedal boats, canoes, banana boats, water skiing, surf bikes and much more. In Lagos, you can go on a guided boat trip to see some of the Algarve’s natural sea caves. For kitesurfing and parasailing, the places with the best facilities are Tavira, Faro, Loulé, Vilamoura and Portimão. Vilamoura Marina, with its Blue Flag, is a great starting or finishing point for anyone who has their own boat.
Portimão Marina, right next to Praia da Rocha, is a benchmark venue for international power boating competitions. In this area, Praia da Rocha is considered to be one of the best competition venues for formula windsurfing in Europe. But there’s more: the strong winds and flat waters at Martinhal, Tonel and Meia Praia beaches make these the best places to practise slalom, freeride and freestyle. Alvor Beach and the Alvor Estuary also have potential for these sports. As you can see, it will be hard to keep still.