Albufeira Big Weekend

Your weekend, day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   

   Boat party & cruise

   From about 15:00 · 2.5 hours

   Arrival day. The transfer brings the group from Faro to the accommodation, then the private boat charter in the afternoon, with the boat to yourselves. Be at the meeting point on time, wear deck shoes or trainers and bring a layer, because it is cooler on the water than on land.

   More about this+

   Boats leave from Albufeira Marina, about ten minutes' drive from the centre, or from Vilamoura Marina further along the coast. The public party boat is a Saturday-afternoon fixture from April to mid October: two hours from about 4.30pm, a DJ, swim stops and transport back to the Strip, and the onboard bar can be cash only. Private charters run three hours with an open bar and paddleboards, for groups of 12 to 60. Cave cruises towards Benagil carry water and soft drinks only. Check in 30 minutes early, and note that crews refuse boarding to anyone visibly intoxicated.

   You board at a fixed time and the boat runs a set loop, so latecomers are left on the dock. Onboard there is a bar and usually a DJ or a sound system you can plug into. Some are private charters for your group alone, others are shared with other bookings.

   What is included varies more here than anywhere else: some are entry only, some include a drinks package, some include food. Get that in writing before you pay.

   Deck shoes or trainers, nothing with a heel. It is colder on the water than on land, even in summer, so bring a layer.

2. 2

   Day 2

   

   Jet ski & speedboat

   From about 11:00 · 30 minutes

   A start by the pool, then the jet ski session late in the morning, after a safety briefing. Time on the water depends on the sea, and sessions can be called off if it is rough. Swimwear, sun cream and a towel.

   More about this+

   The fast-water option in Albufeira is a jet boat, or rocket boat, from the marina about eight minutes' drive from the Old Town. Rides last 30 minutes with a skipper at the controls, power slides and 360-degree spins, and a run along the cave coastline. Each boat takes up to 12, so a large group books more than one boat. It runs from April or May to October, between 10am and 6pm. You will get soaked: wear swimwear, bring a towel and use the watertight box for phones.

   Jet skis go out in a group behind a lead guide, after a briefing on the controls and the rules of the water. Sessions are usually thirty minutes to an hour, with one or two riders per ski. A speedboat is the other version: a driver takes the group out for a run along the coast.

   Both are weather-dependent and will be pulled if the water is rough. Get the cancellation terms before you book.

   Swimwear, a rash vest or a T-shirt and sun cream. Buoyancy aids are provided and compulsory. Sober, and most operators have a minimum age and a licence briefing.

3. 3

   Day 3

   

   Quad biking & buggies

   From about 11:00 · 1.5 hours

   The group heads inland for quad biking: a practice session on the controls, then the trail in a line behind an instructor. Old clothes and closed shoes, a change of clothes for afterwards, and sober riders. The evening is free for the Old Town strip.

   More about this+

   Quad and buggy tours start about 15 minutes' drive from the centre of Albufeira and run 90 minutes on the trails, two to three hours overall. Bikes and buggies are shared by two people who swap driving, and riding solo costs extra. A full driving licence is required, so bring it. Start times fall between 10am and 3pm, sessions are weather dependent, and the routes can be dusty or muddy, so wear clothes you do not mind losing. Some trails use sections of a rally course, and transfers can be added.

   You are taught the controls on a practice area, then you ride the trail in a line behind a lead instructor, with a sweeper at the back. Buggies are the two-seat version and are easier for anyone who does not fancy balancing.

   Sessions run from about an hour, and the course is mud, gradients and ruts rather than a track. It is slower than it looks and considerably dirtier.

   Old clothes, boots or trainers you do not care about. Helmets and overalls are provided. Sober, and most sites have a minimum age and a weight limit.

4. 4

   Day 4

   

   Group dinner & restaurant

   From about 19:30 · 2 hours

   The booked group dinner, with one table for the whole group. Confirm final numbers and any dietary needs with the restaurant ahead of the day. If the group is heading out afterwards, dress for the bars rather than the restaurant.

   More about this+

   Group dinners in Albufeira are mostly central, with two-hour table slots starting between 7pm and 11pm. Typical formats are an all-you-can-eat Brazilian rodizio of spit-roasted meats and sides, or a two- or three-course set menu, both often with half a bottle of wine or a jug of sangria each. Unlimited wings and ribs are popular for a cheaper night. A beachfront option sits about ten minutes' drive from the Old Town. Dress is casual. A 7pm table puts the group on the Strip in good time.

   A restaurant taking a large group will usually want a set menu, a deposit and final numbers a few days ahead. That is normal and it works in your favour: the food comes out together and the bill is per head rather than an hour of arithmetic.

   Tell them about allergies and anyone who does not eat meat when you confirm the numbers, not on the night.

   Dress code is the restaurant's. If you are heading to a club afterwards, dress for the club, because the restaurant is the softer door.