Algarve Adventures quad tours

Algarve Adventures runs guided quad-bike tours (passeios de moto 4) from its base on the N125 at Quatro Estradas, inland from Quarteira. The tours leave the main road behind quickly and head into the hills, on dirt tracks through almond and carob groves, along the Algibre stream and up to the Cerro de Cabeço de Câmara.

For a child, this is the closest thing to riding a quad. They sit behind a parent on a two-seat quad, wearing a helmet and goggles, while the group follows a guide over rough ground. It is noisy, bumpy and dusty, which is exactly what most quad-obsessed children want.

Yes, as passengers. The operator’s rule is that only children over six years old or at least one metre tall can take part. Drivers must be 18 or over and hold a valid driving licence, so a teenager can ride behind a parent but can’t drive.

This means you need a two-seat quad for each adult-and-child pair. If you have two children and two adults, book two two-seaters. A family of one adult and two children will need to think about who goes, since each quad takes one passenger.

All three tours follow the same route: out from the base, through the almond and carob country, along the Algibre stream and to the Cerro de Cabeço de Câmara.

• Cross Country: 90 minutes, running from January to December. €90 on a one-seat quad or €100 on a two-seat quad, when checked in September 2026.
• Adventure Tour: 180 minutes on the same route, with more time out. €150 on a one-seater or €175 on a two-seater. From October to December it has two departure slots a day.
• Sunset Tour: 90 minutes in July and August, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 19:00. Same prices as the Cross Country.

Departure times change with the season, so ask when you book. The operator also runs buggy tours.

The route crosses the kind of farmland the inland Algarve is known for. Almond trees flower white and pink in late winter, and the nuts are picked in late summer. Carob trees are the dark evergreen ones with long brown pods; the pods are ground into a sweet powder that some people use instead of cocoa. Ask the guide to point out both. A child who knows what they are looking at gets more out of the ride than one watching the back of the quad in front.

For most families with a six-to-ten-year-old, the 90-minute tour is enough. Three hours on the back of a quad is a long time for a young child in the heat.

Each rider gets a helmet and protective goggles, and activity insurance is included. The operator asks you to wear comfortable clothes, bring a change of clothes and bring ID or a passport.

The website does not say anything else about what to wear. It makes sense to put children in long trousers and closed shoes, and to bring water and sun cream, especially on a summer morning.

This is a paid, guided activity, so booking ahead by phone or email is the way to secure a place. The base is on the N125, the main road along the Algarve, so it is easy to reach by car from Quarteira, Vilamoura, Loulé or Albufeira.

Quads are loud and fast, and the tracks are rough. A child who dislikes noise, sudden bumps or being dirty will not enjoy it, and neither will a very young child whose helmet doesn’t fit well. If your child is exactly on the one-metre line, ask the operator before you book.

Loulé is close by. Older children (six and up) can go underground at the Loulé rock salt mine, and Zoomarine at Guia is a short drive west along the N125. For a calmer outing after the noise, the Quinta de Marim nature trail in the Ria Formosa near Olhão has birds and a tide mill.

How old do children have to be for a quad tour?

Over six, or at least one metre tall. Children ride only as passengers.

Can my teenager drive a quad?

No. Drivers must be 18 or over with a valid driving licence.

How long are the quad tours?

90 minutes for the Cross Country and Sunset tours, and 180 minutes for the Adventure Tour.

What does it cost?

From €90 for a one-seat quad and €100 for a two-seat quad on the 90-minute tour, when checked in September 2026.

Where do the tours start?

At the operator’s base at N125 km 89.2, Quatro Estradas, Quarteira.