Faro Beaches & Beaches of Ria Formosa Natural Park

Beautiful remote Algarve beaches await you here, easily reached via regular ferries from Faro's ferry pier.

The ferry trip to the Blue Flag Ilha da Barreta beach takes around 20 minutes, and it's a great trip for Algarve birdwatching, as the boat crosses sand and mud banks. You'll spot flamingos for example here. Once at Ilha da Barreta you can expect to see sandwich terns, plovers, common terns, little terns and gull-billed terns.

Another of the island barriers off shore from Olhao is Ilha da Culatra. You need to catch the ferry for this one from nearby Olhao rather than Faro. Both beaches offer crystal clear waters and Blue flag beaches. Conditions are perfect for diving and scuba diving, and water temperatures are some of the warmest in the Algarve (in Summer around 21 to 22 degrees centigrade!).

See the Visit Algarve weblink right for a comprehensive guide to Faro and Ria Formosa beaches, and details on birdwatching and wildlife in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa Headquarters & Visitor Centre, Quinta de Marim, Olhao, Algarve. Tel: 289 704 134.