The aim of this work is to couple vortex methods with the penalization methods in order to take advantage from both of them. This immersed boundary approach maintains the efficiency of vortex methods for high Reynolds numbers focusing the computational task on the rotational zones and avoids their lack on the no-slip boundary conditions replacing the vortex sheet method by the penalization of obstacles. This method that is very appropriate for bluff-body flows is validated for the flow around a circular cylinder on a wide range of Reynolds numbers.