THE ALGARVE · RIA FORMOSA ISLAND TOURS
Behind Faro and Olhão the sea becomes a lagoon and the beaches become islands. These 15 boat trips run out to Armona, Culatra, Farol and the empty sand of Deserta, some with a stop for clams and a guide who can name the birds. Tide, not timetable, sets the route.
Sail Faro to Ria Formosa’s islands by catamaran, spot birds and learn oyster culture, with optional Culatra lunch and snorkel time.
“I had a great time on this boat trip. Great weather and lots of time to explore the islands and grab a snack. I had captain JC and he was fantastic, funny and charismatic guy and made the trip even better! Definitely recommend!”
Small-group boat tour from Faro through Ria Formosa channels, with time on Farol and Deserta islands, bird spotting, and swims.
“Miguel, our Skipper/guide was wonderful. He shared stories of the fishermen and the marine life. Very enjoyable - excellent price for this adventure/tour.”
Shaded small-boat trip from Olhão through Ria Formosa’s 3 islands, with bird and fish guidance, beach time, and Culatra lunch options.
“Tour guide was really awesome, but felt like this tour is little bit repetitive. Wish we spend more time at last island. Tour guide squeezed maximum out of this tour.”
Small-group boat cruise from Faro through Ria Formosa Natural Park, plus Barreta and Farol islands with bird spotting and swim time.
“Ricardo was a wonderful tour guide. We had a great time exploring the islands. I would recommend this excursion here in Faro.”
Half-day catamaran through Ria Formosa Natural Park with Ilha Deserta and Culatra, swimming, snorkeling, oysters, and fresh-fish lunch options.
“An unreal experience. Our guide/captain JC was full of knowledge and was just generally great fun! Best decision I made was booking this boat trip and that was mainly down to JC's energy and enthusiasm. Would 10/10 recommend, unreal value for money. And no I was not asked to write a review, I just wanted to! Hahahaha”
3-hour catamaran island hopping in Portugal’s Ria Formosa from Faro, with stops at Ilha Deserta and Farol Island for swims and lighthouse views.
“It is worth the excursion and the visit to the 2 islands, our guide Pedro was great, made the trip very enjoyable and we enjoyed his indicationsAuto-translated”
Small-group boat tour from Olhão to Farol, Culatra and Armona or a boat-only desert beach, with beaches, village time, and wildlife views.
“Ivan was an excellent Captain and we had a memorable adventure😀.”
Catamaran from Faro through Ria Formosa Natural Park, then Farol and Deserta islands for lighthouse views, birdlife, and swims.
“Nice day out in the boat - stopped at 2 islands with time to swim and enjoy the beach”
Sunset catamaran on Ria Formosa from Faro for small groups up to 12. English, life jackets, wildlife views, great photo angles.
“Amazing to see the marshes change over an hour of lowering tide. Recommend to bring a binoculars to see the birds closer. Lots of them. We were lucky to see a few flamingo at this time of the year. Sunset was nice even though it was blocked partly by clouds. We enjoyed the boat ride with wind in our hair and sun on our face.”
4-hour boat tour from Olhão through Ria Formosa, stopping at Culatra and Farol Island. Lighthouse views and local fish for $29.
“Good tour and get to see all the islands. We enjoyed a nice beverage on the hidden beach.”
Catamaran from Faro to Ilha Deserta, cruise Ria Formosa channels, relax on a 2-km boardwalk, and eat at Estaminé.
“Amazing experience worth every penny, we even got to see dolphins”
Boat tour from Olhão through Ria Formosa to Culatra and Armona, with wildlife talk, binoculars, and free time on two islands.
“Beaux paysages. Belle promenade. Changement d heure au dernier moment mais prévenu par téléphone. Merci”
Solar-powered bird watching in Faro’s Ria Formosa. See feeding canals, nests, and more with binoculars and a local guide, 2 hours.
“We loved this tour! Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. We saw lots of birds and learned a lot. :)”
One hour small-boat tour in Faro’s Ria Formosa Lagoon with a local guide, live commentary, and classic Faro views from the water.
“Joan was a very experienced and excellent guide, with a great sense of humour. He gave clear and interesting information. We appreciated his professionalism and attention to safety.”
1-hour Faro sunset cruise on a quiet solar powered boat through the Ria Formosa with bilingual guides, birds, and photo-ready views.
“Very fun and thrilling. Guide was well spoken and interacted well with the group of French and English.”
Pick a coastline, pick a kind of day, and see what it costs.
