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Faro Island tours

Our most recommended Faro Island tours

Faro: Ria Formosa Faro Islands Catamaran Tour

1. Faro: Ria Formosa Faro Islands Catamaran Tour

Sail to the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park by catamaran, with regular departures scheduled from Faro. The journey follows the Ria Formosa channels and includes stops at the magical islands of Farol and Deserta. See the imposing Santa Maria Lighthouse in Farol and enjoy time to explore and try island cuisine. In Deserta, admire the rolling dunes and unique landscapes. Look out for unique flora and fauna, including the chameleon. Enjoy plenty of swimming opportunities on both islands, with secluded beaches and pristine shores. On board, learn about the islands and the park with insightful commentary from your guide in various languages.

From Faro: 4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

2. From Faro: 4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

Enjoy a catamaran tour in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Discover its 3 islands with 4 stops included. Swim and snorkel in crystal clear waters, explore a traditional fishing village and see how oysters are farmed. Start your tour by crossing the channels of the Ria Formosa to observe the seabirds feeding on the edges of the marshes. Enjoy your first stop for 45 minutes at Ilha Deserta and swim and snorkel in the crystalline waters. Then, head to the next stop, Ilha do Farol for another 45 minutes to discover the lighthouse and take pictures of the typical Algarve houses around it. Sail towards Ilha da Culatra for the third stop, a fishing community, for 2 hours of free time. Enjoy the option to have lunch at a traditional restaurant on the island where the main course varies between fresh fish and seafood. Finally, make your last stop where you can observe oyster farming in the Hangars. Admire the tide changes at the Ria Formosa.

Olhão: 4-Hour Ria Formosa Islands Tour

3. Olhão: 4-Hour Ria Formosa Islands Tour

Navigate the waterways between the barrier islands of Ria Formosa off the coast of Olhão and discover a paradise of nature. Enjoy great views of the Farol Bar and Santa Maria Lighthouse on Farol Island. Stop for lunch in the fishing village of Culatra, home to about 1,000 residents with shops, a school, church, medical office, and even its own football pitch. Savor the local fresh fish at a typical restaurant or go for a nice picnic on the beach. Continue to Armona Bay and island, where you will stop for another 30 minutes to appreciate the nature. Return to Olhão, passing close to several tuna factories and the fishing harbor. See a larger area of Ria Formosa than most other tours, and benefit from the expert knowledge of your skipper to learn about the flora and fauna.

From Olhão: Ria Formosa 3-Island Full-Day Tour

4. From Olhão: Ria Formosa 3-Island Full-Day Tour

Begin your island-hopping trip with your captain who will act as your tour guide. First, stop at Lighthouse Island, where you can visit its village, get a drink, go to the beach, and explore the neighborhoods of beautiful houses. Continue on to Culatra Island for a few hours for a picnic lunch or visit one of the local restaurants. Culatra Island has beautiful swimming areas, if you prefer to play in the water instead of eating here. Stop on the island for 2 hours to enjoy lunch and to explore the village. Next, make your way to Armona Island or Deserta Island, depending on the season. In the summertime, Deserta Island hosts a beautiful, wild beach with no buildings. Explore either the Ria Formosa for a swim, or take in the Atlantic Ocean side of the island. The beautiful Armona Island is inhabited all year-long with locals and vacationers. Discover its deserted beach and take in the tranquil surroundings.

Olhão: Ria Formosa Boat Cruise

5. Olhão: Ria Formosa Boat Cruise

Set sail from the port of Olhão and travel through the Ria Formosa National Park. Discover beautiful scenery and rich biodiversity with your expert crew. Learn more about the national park and local culture with your expert captain. Cruise by marshes, barrier islands, islets, dunes, and sand bars which are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Spot local birds, marine life, and beds of clams and oysters during low tide. Stop at Culatra Island where 1000 people live and no cars are allowed; experience this European sustainability project that will be completed by 2030. Then, visit Armona Island and enjoy the serenity of a tranquil location accessible only by boat. While there, enjoy some time to explore the island or for a swim and take amazing photos

Faro: Deserta Island and Farol Island Catamaran Boat Trip

6. Faro: Deserta Island and Farol Island Catamaran Boat Trip

When you’re in Portugal make sure to experience this exciting catamaran boat to Deserta and Farol islands that will take you through the spectacular nature of the Ria Formosa. Come see why this region was elected one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal. Depart from the Marina of Faro sailing slowly through the channels of the Ria Formosa to fully enjoy the beautiful landscape. Along the tour you will see birds like the Grey Heron, the White Stork and many other birds that use this area as a feeding habitat. As you approach the islands and beaches you see the lighthouse of Culatra Island where you make our first stop. Looking around, one can observe the hard work of the people in the oyster and clam farms. A closer look towards the coastline and you will notice the market of the city of Olhão - an important fishing town. And off toward the ocean you can glimpse one of the most important sea entrances of the Ria Formosa. The next stop is Farol Island. Here, you can enjoy a walk around the streets of this small but friendly community. When passing by the lighthouse, go on until the very end to admire an extensive beach of fine white sand washed by calm warm waters. Leave the Farol Island and make your second stop at Deserta Island. This island is also known as Barreta Island. Here lies the most southern point of Portugal - the Santa Maria Cape. In this second stop you can choose to explore the fauna and flora of the island by an easy walk or simply enjoy the sunshine and bathe in the clear waters of the beach.

Ria Formosa Boat Tour : Explore Armona & Culatra Island

7. Ria Formosa Boat Tour : Explore Armona & Culatra Island

In this wonderful boat trip you will get a vast knowledge of the Ria Formosa and the Islands. Learn about the history and rich biodiversity of the region from the captain as you sail through its natural waterways. Leaving Olhão, sail through the channels to observe the nature of the Ria Formosa and stop at the Desert Beach for 1 hour. Next, visit Culatra Island and take 1.5 hours to explore the fisherman's island, home to only 1,000 people all year. Sample delicious local cuisine in one of the cafés or restaurants, your captain will be happy to recommend the best spots. Then, sail through another channel towards the city of Olhão and observe more of the Ria Formosa natural park.

Olhão: 3-Hour Ria Formosa Boat Tour

8. Olhão: 3-Hour Ria Formosa Boat Tour

Observe the nature reserve of the Ria Formosa while being navigated through its channels.  Stop on a desert island where you can swim, relax, and walk on its white sandy beach. You can also stop at one of the island communities Ilha do Farol or Ilha da Culatra. Explore the Ria Formosa area and listen to the detailed explanations that your skipper has to share throughout the tour. Learn about the fauna, flora, and fishing activities.  Discover this unique coastal lagoon that is constantly changing due to the continuous movement of winds, currents, and tides. It is also one of the most important areas for ornithology in Portugal, hosting more than 20,000 birds during the winter season.

From Olhão: Ria Formosa Sunset Tour

9. From Olhão: Ria Formosa Sunset Tour

After boarding your boat, head out into the sheltered waters of Ria Formosa. Depending on the season you will get to discover one of two islands. In May, stop on Armona Island and drink a coffee on the beach or take a swim and explore the island. From May to September your first stop will be at Praia Deserta, one of the most pristine beaches in the Algarve. From the beach, head to the village of Ilha da Armona and enjoy a refreshing drink while you contemplate the amazing views. The final stop on your tour is at a deserted beach on Culatra Island, a small community of 1000 people that is to be a sustainability project by 2030. Here you can relax and, in summer, enjoy some swimming. After about 40 minutes to enjoy the beach and the sunset, you'll board your boat for the return trip to Olhão.

From Faro: 2-Island, 2-Stop Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

10. From Faro: 2-Island, 2-Stop Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

On this 3-hour tour on a comfortable catamaran, sail through the most beautiful waters in the Algarve, always with professionals local guide. Discover the two main islands of Ilha Deserta, 11 kilometers of beach at the southernmost point of Portugal Condimental and Ilha do Farol, a former fishing island that has become a holiday pardisiacal island around the lighthouse. 1º Stop : Deserta Island, where you will make a 45 minute stop ,where you can swim or walk along the ocean ; 2ª Stop : Farol Island with another 45 minute stop to see the lighthouse and its community.  Make the most of the tour to observe our natural beauties, the resident birds and when the tide is low, the shellfish gatherers.

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What people are saying about Faro

Overall rating

3.9 / 5

based on 384 reviews

This was an amazing tour, not only was the tour guide excellent with the amount of knowledge she had on all the islands we visited, she was soo welcoming and open to any additional questions we all had. The islands and the people on it were so beautiful and the food was amazing. I recommend the seafood, so freah and flavourful.

Miguel was our captain for the trip. Excellent knowledge of the lagoon, the sea life and the history of the islands. Brilliant sense of knowledge too! Couldn't fault the 3 hour trip at all

We really liked the boat tour with stops in beautiful places. The guide was nice and told us about the place he grew up in. The 5h tour passed very quickly. I recommend the activity !

Enjoyable, relaxing trip on a sunny day! Plenty of local info from the captain (very good sense of humour!). Lots of time on the islands to explore.

A wonderful day on the water. Great guide, perfect timing.