Vilamoura's Marina Wins Award and Plans Expansion Of €23-Million Super-Yacht Docks

Visitors mooring at the Algarve’s flagship marina this summer will notice more than the usual bustle of yachts and cafés: Vilamoura has just collected its 14th consecutive “Best Portuguese Marina” award and unveiled a €23-million expansion that pushes the facility firmly into the super-yacht era. It is a timely double milestone that coincides with the marina’s 50th birthday and underlines Portugal’s growing appeal for international boat owners and coastal residents alike.

A prize cabinet that keeps filling up

In early July the Publituris Portugal Travel Awards once again crowned Vilamoura the nation’s top marina—a title it has defended since 2012. Jurors cited exceptional customer satisfaction, first-class services and an unwavering commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship. For foreigners who sail the Atlantic or follow nautical tourism, the distinction matters: Publituris is the Portuguese travel industry’s barometer, and repeated victories translate into global credibility even though the prize is domestic.

From sleepy shore to global playground

When construction began in the early 1970s, the coastline between Faro and Albufeira was dotted with small fishing villages. Half a century later Vilamoura Marina anchors a resort town that attracts Olympians, tech conferences and golf tournaments, embodying the Algarve’s shift from subsistence fishing to international leisure economy. The original basin now accommodates 825 vessels and has spawned a shipyard, a sailing academy and an annual calendar of regattas that draw crews from across Europe.

What the €23-million extension adds

November’s inauguration of the so-called New Vilamoura Marina brought three additional pontoons and 68 berths designed specifically for yachts measuring 20 to 40 metres. Each slip integrates high-capacity power hook-ups, fibre-optic connectivity and individual pump-out points—features that previously obliged many large vessels to bypass Portugal in favour of Spain or the Côte d’Azur. The new docks sit in the outer harbour, freeing up space inside the original marina for smaller craft and reducing congestion during peak season.

Technology with a lighter footprint

Sustainability was baked into the blueprints. Solar-ready infrastructure, remote metering for water and electricity, and a desalination plant commissioned late last year aim to cut resource consumption while allowing crews to replenish tanks with minimal environmental impact. Plans are also on the table for on-site photovoltaic generation, positioning Vilamoura to offer green shore power as the yachting industry shifts toward hybrid propulsion.

Why residents and would-be expats should care

For homeowners and entrepreneurs in the Algarve, a thriving marina is more than a pretty backdrop. High-spending yacht owners sustain local restaurants, marine services and property values, while the facility’s strict environmental protocols help preserve the very coastline that draws new residents. Authorities estimate that every additional super-yacht berth supports several on-shore jobs ranging from mechanics to luxury provisioning.

A busy calendar ahead

With the expansion complete, Vilamoura is doubling down on events. Organisers have confirmed that the International Boat Show will return in September, followed by winter training camps for European Olympic sailing squads—injecting off-season revenue into hotels and short-term rentals. The management team is also courting new transatlantic rallies, betting that the upgraded berths and sustainable credentials will make the Algarve a natural pit-stop for vessels en route to the Caribbean.

Staying on course

Isolete Correia, who heads the marina operator, describes the latest accolades as validation of a strategy that marries hospitality with green engineering. For the international community keeping an eye on Portugal’s coastal real-estate and lifestyle offerings, Vilamoura’s momentum signals that the country intends to compete at the highest tier of global nautical tourism—and to do so responsibly.