Coastal boardwalk in Loulé links Praia do Garrão and Quinta do Lago

Coastal Boardwalk

Coastal broadwalk Praia do Garrão to Quinta do Lago (Ludo) in the heart of Ria Formosa. The 4.8km boardwalk in the Loulé borough was brought to life as part of a €3.7 million project. Which also involved the construction of a new 427-space car park in Ancão. With an additional 16 spaces for people with reduced mobility and four spaces for motorbikes.

Future Plans

The plan is to extend the boardwalk to Quarteira. Making it possible to walk or cycle from the Vilamoura Marina. All the way to the external perimeter of Faro Airport.

“This is our dream, and we will certainly fulfill it,” said Loulé Mayor Vítor Aleixo.

Boasting six rest areas, the boardwalk was erected over the dunes and aims to provide locals and holidaymakers with a stunning natural environment to explore.

History

Since its introduction, the boardwalk has attracted many visitors. Stretching along the Ria Formosa from Vale do Lobo to Quinta Do Lago. From locals to tourists it has become an important feature for leisure and sports activities, as a result allowing people to discover the existing fauna and flora of this protected area.

Meanwhile, the environment minister, João Matos Fernandes, highlighted that Loulé is a borough that recognises the importance of having “such magnificent areas like these”.

While the project was brought to life via the government’s Polis programme, the boardwalk’s management will soon be transferred to the local council.

“We will manage it with care because we have an extremely important asset here for our tourism activity,” said the local mayor.
On the same day the boardwalk was inaugurated, a protocol was signed between the Institute of Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF) and the Algarve Municipalities Association (AMAL). Granting the councils of Castro Marim, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António co-management rights over the Ria Formosa Natural Park and Castro Marim and VRSA Sapal Nature Reserve