Ria Formosa - the Algarve’s must-do experience
Algarve, Portugal
This half-day boat tour of the Ria Formosa was the highlight of our trip to the Algarve, Portugal. Here's why.
Sailing across the turquoise inlet, pale sandbars rising from the waters and the wind whipping my hair, I could have been somewhere in the Indian Ocean.
In fact I was in the middle of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a protected lagoon system best known for its maze of canals, islands and rich birdlife, only a few minutes by boat from Faro on Portugal’s Algarve coast.
We paused alongside some of the tiny islets to watch wetland birds including egrets and spoonbills, before sailing to the first of two island stops on the trip.
Desert Island was true to its name, with its castaway beach, rolling surf and shoreline littered with beautiful shells. Only the boardwalk running between beach and dunes, leading to a small ice cream shack and café gave it away as a little known but very beautiful tourist spot.
Later we docked at Ilha do Farol (lighthouse island) – actually not an island in its own right but the tip of Culatra Island - one of the larger barrier islands in the lagoon. With its fine sand beach, crystal clear waters, village homes with bright blue and yellow trim and charming fish restaurants you could easily believe you were in the Caribbean.
Top things to see there include the Farol de Santa Maria, a 164 foot (46 meter) red-and-white lighthouse erected in 1851. It was closed the day we visited, but on Wednesdays it opens to the public and you can climb its 220 steps for panoramic views of the entire island and surrounding lagoon.
We headed to Praia da Ilha do Farol, a wide, Blue Flag sandy beach facing the Atlantic Ocean, featuring soft white sand, clear waters, sun loungers and seasonal lifeguards.
But the highlight of the day was definitely lunch at MarAmais, a hip beach bar overlooking a tiny curve of sand. I couldn’t resist trying the toasted banana, cheese and cinnamon toastie from their quirky menu and washed it down with a Pina Colada mocktail while gazing out to sea.
I’d never heard of this place before and the whole experience was as surprising as it was unexpected. I was completely blown away by it. All I can say is, if you’re visiting the Algarve, don’t miss it.
