Ria Formosa

Going to visit Ria Formosa? Discover the best things to do on your trip to the Algarve. Top tours, travel tips and verified reviews!

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Have you ever been to Ria Formosa?

One of the main places in Portugal and a point of reference in the Algarve, Ria Formosa is a lagoon complex composed of 2 peninsulas and 5 islands. This Algarvian paradise is even one of the 7 natural wonders of Portugal!

The Ria Formosa stands out for its fauna and flora, being a natural habitat for several species of birds that live here and that you can observe.

With 60 kilometers of coastline that extend through the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, Ria Formosa has a unique natural landscape that in total represents an area of ​​about 18 thousand hectares!

In this beautiful natural paradise, where approximately 20 thousand water birds live, you can do various activities, and below we will list a top 5 to serve as a reference point for how to explore this wonder!

It should also be noted, for the knowledge of the reader, that the 5 islands and 2 peninsulas that make up the Ria Formosa are: Armona Island, Tavira Island, Cabanas Island, Desert Island, Culatra Island, Ancão Peninsula and Cacela Peninsula.

Top 5 Things To Do In Ria Formosa

1 - Bird Watching

One of the main characteristics of the Ria Formosa: its fauna and flora. Here you can see thousands of bird species in their natural habitat. Take the challenge of trying to find the one that seems most rare!

2 - Beaches

The beaches that make up the Ria Formosa are absolutely magnificent. Of the 5 islands that are part of the Ria Formosa, just choose one, as they will all dazzle you.

3 - Dolphin Watching

Take a boat tour and watch the dolphins living and taking their always impressive dives! You should take advantage of the calm that this experience promotes.

4 - Hiking

Explore the Ria Formosa in the most free and adventurous way possible: through a walk along its various trails. Feel the nature and absorb its calm.

5 - Segway ride

Certainly a different experience, but guaranteed to be fun! Take a guided Segway tour to explore the vast, natural and beautiful Ria Formosa!

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Since the Ria Formosa is made up of 5 islands, there are several beaches along which you can take a dive.

The Ria Formosa stretches along a significant part of the Algarve coast, passing through 5 municipalities, these being Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. Then there are also 5 islands: Ilha da Armona, Ilha de Tavira, Ilha de Cabanas, Ilha Deserta and Ilha da Culatra.

There are several ways to do this. You can explore the Ria Formosa in a free and independent way, for example with hiking or cycling through several trails, or choose a guided tour and visit it, for example, by boat.

Yes. In all the islands that make up Ria Formosa there is at least one restaurant, making each island have the ideal conditions for a complete and perfect day.

No. All tourist activities promoted are completely safe for children, with only natural attention being recommended in some of them, for example, on boat tours.

What People Are Saying

★★★★★
"Nice trip with nice skipper, we have seen lots of flamingos "
★★★★★
"Très belle journée passée en compagnie de Carlos notre guide du jour! Un incontournable quand nous sommes à Faro ! Merci beaucoup !"
★★★★★
"Very good trip ! We enjoyed it ! Guide was good!"
★★★★★
"Did the Ria Formosa tour today with Nelson as our guide. We were a group of 5 and a mix of adults and children (youngest 10). The whole experience was great from start to finish, very welcoming, helped us to build confidence on the segways and took time to point things out, from the white flamingo to the carob to the multitude of golf balls in one area. The ride is really safe and seeing the houses of the rich and famous was really interesting! Everyone in the group loved it and we will definitely be back for one of the other tours next time we are in Portugal. Thank you!"
★★★★★
"Excellent service and exceptionally nice guide. Kids really enjoyed the trip . Would recommend for couples or families"
★★★★★
"First time on a segway, but it was very easy to control. Instructor was very helpful and described some local stories. Beautiful location, and this is a fabulous way of going throw it. Highly recommended!"

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