In addition to being a protected wetland replete with the likes of flamingos and all manner of birdlife, Ria Formosa Natural Park boasts some spectacular sandbar islands to boot. This day trip takes you to see four such islands up close with stops on Farol and Culatra.
The ferry will cast off from Olhão and take you gliding across this unique coastal lagoon, where marshes and wetlands thrive next to saltpans, dunes and barrier islands. Your first stop is Culatra Island, where you'll have free time to explore and find a nice spot for lunch. Then it's back on the boat for a glide past Hangares Island where you could spot oystercatchers and spoonbills.
On your journey to the next stop, Farol Island, you'll have the chance to spot more of the birdlife this natural park is famed for, like flamingos, then you'll skirt by the lighthouse which stands guard over it all. Finally, cruise past Deserta Island, which as its name suggests, seems just like a desert island with its large empty swathes of sand, before seeing the Tide Mill as you head back to Olhao.
Boat cruise