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Vilamoura – Guia

56 km road cycling loop332 m climbing2–3 hoursGPX

Vilamoura, Faro, Portugal · Road

A rolling 56 km road cycling loop from Vilamoura, Faro through Roja-Pé, Patã de Baixo and Guia, with 332 m of climbing.

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At a glance

Best for
Rolling day rides
Distance
55.9 km
Loop
Elevation gain
332 m
6 m per km
Riding time
2–3 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
96% paved · 0% unpaved · 3% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
23.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 3.1 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 5 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
135 cafés and restaurants · 35 shops · 8 water points · 14 petrol stations · 4 public toilets · 5 bike shops
Best months
Feb, May to Jun, Sep to Oct
Vilamoura climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Vilamoura

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
332 m
Distance
56 km
020406080100m0 km204056 km92 m · highest, at 34.1 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Vilamoura
  2. Roja-Pékm 11
  3. Patã de Baixokm 11
  4. Montes Juntoskm 26
  5. Guiakm 30
  6. Malhada Velhakm 35
  7. Patã de Cimakm 42
  8. Boliqueimekm 45
  9. Benfarraskm 48
  10. Vilamourakm 56

Starting in Vilamoura at 6 m elevation, the route heads northwest passing Roja-Pé and Patã de Baixo at 10.5 km, then reaches Albufeira at 19.1 km. It continues through Montes Juntos, Guia, and Valverde before arriving at Boliqueime at 44.9 km and returning to Vilamoura at 53.9 km. The highest point is 92 m at 33.1 km near Malhada Velha.

The route surface is 96% paved with no gravel sections. It uses a variety of roads: 43% main road, 30% minor road, 14% quiet street, 6% roads with cycle lanes, plus 4% path and 3% cycle path. The main road sections total 23.4 km with none having cycle lanes, and 3.1 km of roads have posted speeds over 80 km/h. The longest named roads are EN 125 (9.4 km) and EM 526 (7.8 km).

Climbing is gentle with only 0.5 km above 5% gradient and no steep long climbs. The first half contains 56% of the total climbing. The longest descent is 1.5 km dropping 34 m starting around 17.6 km. Water points and cafés appear regularly, with the longest stretch without a café, shop or water being 4.3 km from 37.4 to 41.7 km. Bailout stations at Albufeira-Ferreiras (37.3 km) and Boliqueime (45.8 km) provide options to shorten the ride.

Highlights

  • Passes through Albufeira at 19.1 km
  • Highest point 92 m near Malhada Velha at 33.1 km
  • Bailout stations at 37.3 km and 45.8 km
  • Route follows main roads EN 125 and EM 526

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Roja-Pé 10.5 km
  2. Patã de Baixo 10.5 km
  3. Albufeira 19.1 km
  4. Montes Juntos 26.2 km
  5. Guia 29.8 km
  6. Valverde 31.7 km
  7. Malhada Velha 34.8 km
  8. Ferreiras 36.5 km
  9. Patã de Cima 41.8 km
  10. Boliqueime 44.9 km
  11. Fonte de Boliqueime 45.3 km
  12. Benfarras 48.2 km

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (23.4 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
43% main road · 30% minor road · 14% quiet street · 6% road with cycle lane · 7% other roads and tracks
Main roads
23.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
3.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
EN 125 (9 km), EM 526 (8 km), EN 269 (4 km), Avenida Engenheiro João Meireles (3 km)
Surface
Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved and 3% has no surface data.
Gradient
17% climbing · 15% descending · 68% flat
Steep sections
0.5 km over 5%

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 135 cafés and restaurants, 35 shops, 8 water points, 14 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 5 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0.2 kmSpar · supermarket · on the route
  2. 1.3 kmHospital dos Lusíadas Vilamoura · clinic · 190 m off route
  3. 6.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route
  4. 7.5 kmGuilty · restaurant · 50 m off route
  5. 17.4 kmCafé · 50 m off route
  6. 18.3 kmAldi · supermarket · 60 m off route
  7. 19 kmFarmácia Alves de Sousa · pharmacy · 140 m off route
  8. 22.6 kmO Luís · café · 60 m off route
  9. 25 kmAliSuper · supermarket · on the route
  10. 29.8 kmT Cáffe · café · on the route
  11. 36.4 kmTaberna da Olivia · café · 60 m off route
  12. 37 kmCamper Verzorging · water point · 70 m off route
  13. 41.7 kmAntiquários Dos Leitões · restaurant · 40 m off route
  14. 47 kmAlho · café · on the route
  15. 48.5 kmFunbike Algarve · bike shop · 60 m off route
  16. 50.6 kmDrinking water · on the route
  17. 53 kmIntermarché · supermarket · on the route
  18. 53.7 kmToilets · 210 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 37.3 km — Albufeira - Ferreiras (station), 370 m off route
  • 45.8 km — Boliqueime (station), 490 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 12.5 km — Parque de Merendas de Vale de Navio (picnic site)
  • 29.7 km — Ponte Romana (ruins)
  • 47.3 km — Parque de Merendas da Maritenda (picnic site)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Vilamoura. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
The Punter (520 m), Cervejeira Marisqueira Vilamoura (270 m), Grogan's Irish Bar (270 m)
Shops
Spar (200 m)

Know before you go

  • 23.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 3.1 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
  • Longest no café, shop or water stretch 4.3 km from 37.4 to 41.7 km

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

About this route

Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Vilamoura (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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