Parque de Vale Faro

Parque de Vale Faro is a council park of about three hectares in Albufeira, opened in August 2001. Its centrepiece is a large lake. The water comes from the town’s wastewater treatment plant (ETAR) next door: treated water flows into the park and forms a wide sheet of water that the paths loop around. It’s a good story to tell children on the walk, and a real-life example of water being cleaned and reused.

The council describes different moods within the park, from patches of dense trees to open lawns. It’s a calmer place than the busy playground at Parque da Alfarrobeira, and it suits families who want to walk and play in the same outing.

• Play on the playground (parque infantil). The council lists it among the park’s facilities but doesn’t describe the equipment or the ages it’s designed for.
• Have a picnic at the picnic park (parque de merendas), which also has table tennis tables. Bring your own bats and ball.
• Try the fitness trail (circuito de manutenção), a set of outdoor exercise stations along the paths. Children tend to treat these as an obstacle course.
• Shoot hoops on the 3x3 basketball court (the council calls it “3x3 BasketArt”) or kick a ball on the five-a-side pitch.
• Ride the mini half-pipe on a scooter, skateboard, BMX or inline skates.

The ramp is the newer addition. It was built by the council with the parish council of Albufeira e Olhos de Água and opened on 5 November, close to the new basketball and football courts. The council describes it as one of the best mini ramps in the country and gives its size: 1.8 metres high, 7.5 metres wide and 10 metres long, taking up about 75 square metres.

A mini half-pipe is two curved ramps facing each other with a flat section in the middle. Riders roll back and forth, gaining height on each side. The council says it’s for skateboards, BMX, inline skates and scooters, and that it’s open to the public and free all year round. It also plans competitions, meet-ups and “have a go” sessions there.

For children, the appeal is having one ramp to themselves rather than sharing a big park. A seven-year-old on a scooter can start by rolling across the flat bottom and a little way up each side, and build up from there. At 1.8 metres, the top is high enough that dropping in from the platform is a skill for older, confident riders. Helmets and pads are a good idea: no rule is published, but falls on a ramp land on hard concrete.

Toddlers get the playground and the lake paths. Children aged 4 to 7 get the playground, room to run and the flat of the ramp on a scooter. Big kids and teenagers will spend most of their time on the ramp and the basketball court, with table tennis as a break. Parents get a lakeside walk and a picnic.

• Shade: the council mentions areas of dense trees, which helps in summer, but the ramp and courts will be in full sun. Go early or late in hot months.
• Water: don’t let children paddle or throw things into the lake. It’s fed by treated wastewater and is there to look at.
• Facilities: the council page doesn’t mention toilets or a café, so bring drinks and snacks.
• A bigger skate park: when the ramp gets too easy, the Skate Parque de Albufeira next to Parque da Alfarrobeira has a bowl, a snake run and a full street area.

The municipal pools and the electric go-karts at Albufeira Marina are both in town, and Zoomarine is a short drive away in Guia.

Is Parque de Vale Faro free?

Yes. It’s a public council park, and the ramp is free to use.

Can children use scooters on the ramp?

Yes. The council lists skateboards, BMX, inline skates and scooters.

How big is the Vale Faro skate ramp?

1.8 metres high, 7.5 metres wide and 10 metres long, about 75 square metres in all.

Is there a playground?

Yes, the council lists a playground alongside the picnic area and the fitness trail.

Can we have a picnic?

Yes. There is a picnic area with table tennis tables.