Do not let them fool you, for this summer, or for any time of the year, go to Yumping if you need help to choose for one option or another jet ski in the area of Faro, in the heart of the Portuguese Algarve, one of the most popular tourist destinations for foreign visitors. What will this region have that makes everyone who comes crazy (in a good way)? Well, we’re going to tell you about it to conquer you once and for all: when a rich and varied cuisine is brought together, the affable character of the people here, an architectural legacy that is condensed into countless towns, a paradise coast and a multitude of attractions, we understand that this proposition is, by all means, irresistible. And that’s where Yumping makes its stellar appearance, with the purpose of paving the way when you have to choose what is the offer of jet skis that best suits your preferences.

Where are the best areas to carry out this activity in Faro?

• Albufeira Marina: The Albufeira Marina is an extension in the form of a marina of the town that gives it its name. Over the years, it has been set up to offer the user leisure and restaurant services of proven quality. In this complex we can find traditional taverns with typical Portuguese dishes, shops, a yacht club, supermarkets and countless entertainment activities. So much so, that it was recently awarded the European Blue Flag Award for excellence and won the 5 Gold Anchors Award given by the Port Yacht Association and the British Navy Federation.

As for the core activities, in Marina we can find various suggestions such as karting, with races that run in an underground parking, or boat rides, some of which are characterized by adrenaline, making use of super speedboats, or for the tranquility, with boats that have glass floor on the deck to observe the seabed. Check out our entire Yumping catalog if you want to request information about these plans.

On the other hand, the excursion in jet ski that we have in Marina has a particularity compared to other similar offers: the tour is carried out in a closed circuit, quite singular, that is circumscribed in the perimeter of the enclosure. Something unusual that only increases the value of living a different experience. And Yumping, as always, puts it on a silver plate for you to be the first one to try.

• Armação de Pêra: There are places that do not need to be presented, given their popularity, while others need an introduction to make them known to the respectable, often eclipsed by the mermaid singing that come from other directions. This is the case of Armação de Pêra, a small fishing village that has risen from its ashes to become one of the biggest claims in the region. The summer months are frequented by many local and foreign tourists who discover the spell that surrounds it.

Apart from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos, deep, and its imposing cliffs, it is imperative to make the Route of the Seven Suspended Valleys that runs on top of these rock formations, Armação de Pêra stands out over the rest for hosting some of the most spectacular beaches in the entire region. Just like that. For example, the beach that receives the homonymous name of the city, is a pearl that hides caves and natural reef shelters, ideal for diving. Perfect, too, for a nice jet ski ride.

• Portimão: Almost on the west end is located Portimão, with traces of the Neolithic as attested by the necropolis of Alcalar. Nowadays, after Lisbon and Funchal, it is the place that receives a greater number of passengers from cruises, something that undoubtedly speaks to us of the importance of this town of the District of Faro, one of the nerve centers of the national tourism. However, it also treasures buildings of interest such as the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, of Manueline style, or the Igreja do Colégio, the largest in the country.

Equally, it is extremely pleasant to complete the route of the promenade or Ribeirinha, which were the old fishing docks, which links the Portimão Museum with the Visconde Bívar square. But, the most remarkable, without doubt, is its relative proximity to the Benagil Caves, famous throughout the national geography for its peculiar open hole to the outside, pointing to the sky, in the vault of the lair. A particular excursion goes to this point while two more suggest to get to know the bay of this part of Portugal.

• Lagos: Like so many coastal towns in the region, Lagos was able to adapt to the changes, going from a town whose main livelihood was the fishing industry to become one of the standard bearers of mass tourism from the 1960s, when the Algarve begins to take importance. But and that is a plus, unlike many other neighboring towns, Lagos retains its original charm thanks to the preservation of its historical heritage, in excellent condition. In this way, we will discover authentic jewels such as the Castle of the Governors; the Parish Church of Santa Maria de Lagos; the Church of San Antonio, with a baroque interior of great preciousness in which some polychrome wood carvings of dazzling beauty predominate; or Fort Ponta da Bandeira, a place chosen by the Portuguese as a defensive stronghold during the War of Restoration against the Hispanic Monarchy.

To enjoy a jet ski tour, we will have to travel to da Luz beach, 15 minutes-drive from the city center, an oasis of sumptuous sand with crystal clear waters, calm and shallow stretching from the steep cliffs of Rocha Negra to the tip of the Fortaleza da Luz. The only drawback, to say something, is that the sea temperature is somewhat cold, does not exceed 18 degrees in summer, but nothing that does not solve a thermal wetsuit like those provided by companies operating in this area.

• Praia da Galé: Being so extremely long it is divided into two parts, the east part (accredited with the Blue Flag award) and the west, according to its location. Galé is located between two overhangs that act as a parapet, although to the west it is not so covered. Be that as it may, on both sides it is surrounded by golden escarpments, the typical of the Algarve windward, which give it such a picturesque tone. Having a calm sea, of exquisite quality, it is usual that here several water sports come together to the delight of the user. Next to this beach, is the aforementioned Albufeira, a destination with infinite possibilities for fun, both day and night.

• Vilamoura: This tourist complex, with enormous potential, can boast of housing a docking port for more than a thousand boats. Today, after having been an important production center in Roman times of a fish mass known as "garum", it measures its importance in relation to the exorbitant growth it has experienced since it was planned in 1966. Thus, without prejudice to extend beyond what is strictly necessary, Vilamoura is an impressive recreation area, the most refined of all the resorts that fill the Algarve thanks to the confluence of luxury restaurants, Superior hotels or sophisticated nightclubs where you can have a drink or dance to the music.

What types of jet ski-related activities are available in Faro?

- Trip or stroll with an instructor: It is not uncommon to find routes that go to a certain point in the region, more or less long, in which a monitor acts as a guide with his own bike and directs the motorcade following a marked itinerary. The offer to the Benagil Caves or Armação de Pêra are two paradigmatic examples.

- Unlicensed: Similarly, as we shall see below, Faro companies require the user to prove a valid document to take a jet ski, there are also other companies that allow the interested person to get on one of these bikes without the obligation to show a license. In exchange, they adhere to other criteria relating to the age or height of the applicant.

- Rental with license: There are certain occasions in which one of the conditions to get on one of these boats, is to prove that the main driver has a valid license that enables him to do so. A couple of offers from the list, those of 3 and 6 hours spent in Portimão, take care to apply this rule in both cases, in order to obey the current legislation.

- Two-seater motorbike: The excursions in Marina de Albufeira, Galé Beach, Portimão or de Armação de Pêra beach sponsor circuits in a two-seater jet ski, suitable for two people, which draw two alternatives: or take turns driving the ship, in the event that both comply with some of the conditions established by the company, or, in return, occupy the back seat of the vehicle.

- Different durations: This type is always present in any activity, regardless of the sport to which we refer. Here, in the case of routes or rentals of jet ski in Faro, we can contemplate an interval of durations ranging from 15 minutes to 6 hours, being the usual exact half hour as it happens in the prices of Marina de Albufeira, da Luz beach, Armação de Pêra, Galé or Vilamoura.

When is the best time to go on a jet ski in Faro?

Here, especially, more than in other places where this activity is offered, it makes up for coming during the summer to catch a jet ski due to the huge amount of leisure, night plans and other activities, whether recreational, sports or cultural, that are available. In this way, the user can combine it with the previous and feel fully realized at the end of the day or their days off. We already know that the climate in this region of Portugal is Mediterranean, which means that summers are arid, short and clear and winters long, windy and partly cloudy. Based on the beach/pool score, experts say, without discussion, that the best time to visit Faro is on the stretch that runs from June to September.

However, on the contrary, it could happen that the user wants to release adrenaline away from the hustle and bustle of the summer occupation, the overcrowding and the traffic of bathers, which sometimes hinders the normal development of these activities, in which case we strongly recommend that you come outside the central calendar months. Leave the prejudices at bay, and whether you are a beginner or an advanced level, Yumping suggests you hire one of the many options related to jet ski, for all budgets, that puts in the palm of your hand.

What requirements are mandatory to carry out the activity?

We have discussed this before, albeit briefly. In Portugal, in the Algarve area, some jet ski schools abide by the law by requiring an accredited license while others are laxer when it comes to consolidating their criteria, basing their foundations on what concerns age (such as minimum 16, mostly 18 years) or height (at least 130 cm. tall). The dilemma of choosing one or the other will depend on many subjective factors: self-confidence, in the company itself, the proximity or distance to the place of activity or the layout that each circuit covers. Everything remains, irremediably, in your hands. At Yumping, luckily, we guide you so that the process is not so complex.

Is it safe to get on a jet ski?

Of course, there is not even the slightest doubt. All water sports centers in the Faro area impose the use of a life jacket for all passengers, for individual use and mandatory throughout the entire journey. Likewise, there are two other circumstances that only complement the degree of security that these excursions have: on the one hand, always, except for private rentals that require a valid license, they are accompanied by the presence of a qualified instructor who supervises the development of the activity; from another, this same monitor or another professional trained to do it, before departure, gives a briefing in which he explains some key concepts and guidelines that must be adopted.

What to bring on the day of the activity?

Being an aquatic activity, which takes place entirely in a watery environment, it is inevitable to come with a comfortable swimsuit, not too tight, a towel to dry off after the activity, and sunscreen to avoid the direct incidence of the sun's rays, especially in summer. Because let's not fool ourselves, it is most likely that you contract one of our offers during the summer or, failing that, on holiday dates, which usually coincides with Easter or Christmas.

On the other hand, the temperature of the Atlantic is generally low, even more so in winter or early spring, so it would not be so unreasonable to wear a neoprene suit for those who can't stand the cold stupor. The most common thing, then, is to wear light clothing, appropriate for the summer season, in which maximum temperatures of up to 30 degrees are recorded, a short-sleeved shirt and flip-flops for the beach.