Albufeira - Charts & Marine Publications
Looks like we do not have much content for this section - but be sure to check Related Businesses. Help us improve the content by sending your feedback and recommended businesses to editor@noonsite.com.
Next Section: Marine Services: Yacht Surveyors
Related to following destinations: Albufeira, Portugal, South Coast (Algarve)
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Portugal
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
In September 2019, coming from Spain, I found it bit pricey. But the entry is easy and the protection total. The friendly harbour people speak English. There is a small supermarket on the marina plus loads of eateries – including super-cheap full English breakfasts, which you don’t see in Spain. The marina is bustling with tourists during the day coming to use the marine activities (jet skis, tour boats, parachuting…), but calmer at night when these people return to the main town. Winter rates appear to be the cheapest and most flexible for this type of marina on the Algarve. A nice stop-over.
Dec 17, 2018 06:05 PM
We’ve stayed in Albufeira during Winter 2017/18. I’ve blogged about why we chose it versus the other Algarve places, and our experience there. Bit long for a comment, but you can read it here: https://sdfjkl.org/blog/2018-04-09-wintering-algarve/
Nov 26, 2018 06:31 PM
An update on what I last wrote. Although in Summer it is very frenetic, it is a lovely spot for wintering, again not least as it’s the cheapest marina between Lagos and Gib. RYA or Cruising Assn attracts a 15 per cent discount. You can pay for six months in stages, power and water are included and there is a discount on yard services along with four days free on the hard.
Like everywhere the internet is indifferent. I like that Albu is based on a fishing village so there is an element of reality and and old town. There is now a Spar in the Marina if you don’t fancy the walk up to the Intermarche or a little further for Lidl, Pingo and Continente.
Local buses are cheap and plentiful. 1.40 for a ticket, which lasts and hour. That doesn’t sound like much but it means you can keep the same ticket if you have to change buses to reach your destination. A rechargeable card brings the ticket price down to 80 cents.
I am enjoying my winter here.
Maybe my standards have dropped but I think the showers are fine, and far better than many in which I have risked foot infections and worse.
The staff are brilliant, especially Marta, and couldn’t be more helpful. A pleasant change.
My only negative would be, and I’m being diplomatic here,the absence of competition among the companies operating in the yard. I would certainly go elsewhere for major works.
Reported by Maria Wadsworth:
Albufeira marina – August 2017
Good recycling, showers are clean, but as mentioned below are under the car park, so they smell a little damp due to very little air circulation.
There are a small shop and a chemist across the road from the Marina. Well stocked but expensive supermarket about 15 mins walk away. In hindsight, it would have been better to walk to the larger supermarket. Uber operate here, albeit a bit slow!
Lots of reasonably priced restaurants but mostly catering for British holidaymakers! The Castelo do Mar restaurant is a bit more expensive but nice food.
I radioed in but still had to go alongside the welcome pontoon and check in first. It states on their website that there is room for 3 boats, but there was a 60ft motor cruiser in there and we just managed to get our Moody 425 alongside.
Probably 3 small boats! Count the finger berths to find your berth as the numbers are only visible if there is no boat in the berth. Town is a 20 min walk and is very much a European holiday destination – still worth a trip.
We didn’t mind the music from the bars in the evening.
Good recycling and a self-service launderette (outside!)
In 2008 and 2009, I spent several weeks at a time anchored in the port (of Split). In 2010, they started hassling boaters sporadically, kicking them out of the port.
On July 9, 2011, anchored in 2m of water near the Riva, I was woken up by a port official, demanding my boat’s papers. He told me to come to the office to pay a 1000 kuna (150 euro) fine. I arrived with 300 kuna in hand, stating that I wouldn’t and couldn’t pay any higher (my boat does have a hippie appearance).
The officer then invited me for a coffee at an adjacent cafe. After patiently waiting through two rounds of drinks, there was still no compromise.
Returning later with 1000 kuna, he again invited me out for coffee. Seems like he just wanted to chat with somebody. 1000 kuna poorer, I had my boat papers back, and he even said I could stick around for a couple more hours, as I was waiting for crew to arrive at the airport. I certainly let him pay the tabs at the cafes.
My take on it is that boats sometimes anchored in a way that disturbed the path of the ferries. Where I was anchored was 2m deep with excellent holding. There is ample room for boats to anchor that is clear of the ferries. Their approach was to just forbid anchoring anywhere within the port. One does wonder whether the nearby government-run ACI marina has something to do with this.
To convey the new rule that forbids anchoring, they posted a very small sign in a far corner of the port. I did mention that if they really didn’t want to have to fine people, they could post a more prominent sign.
Are there other countries that issue fines the way Croatia does?
It will be interesting to see whether EU membership in 2013 changes any of this nonsense.
Andrew Vik
s/v Geja
1976 Islander 36
Editor’s Note: noonsite does state under the docking section for Split – “Anchoring: It is not advisable to anchor anywhere in this harbour as yachts have recently been substantially fined for doing so”.
I stopped here August 2015 on the basis that it was the cheapest of the expensive quartet of Algarve marinas – Lagos, Portimao, Albu and Vilamoura. However, they display ex-vat prices so an 11-metre yacht is E40 a night, high season.
The marina is an artificial hole in the ground, surrounded on four sides by hills and buildings, so quite claustrophobic and very hot. Staff are incredibly helpful, the only palliative. Showers are in the gloomy car park exits like some sort of afterthought.
The town is very touristy indeed and the local waters infested with jet boat rides doing doughnuts, paragliders and other trip boats. Altogether not a great experience for the cruising boat. Annual rates are good though if thinking of a permanent base, although it would not be my cup of tea. I like a view of the sea…