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 Desert beach , depending on the season. In the summertime, Deserta beach 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.

Discover 3 of Ria Formosa's barrier islands and admire the wonderful world of the fauna and flora of this part of the Algarve coast. Travel by hop-on hop-off boat and enjoy the flexibility to choose the time you want to spend at each of the islands. A professional team of boat skippers will be here to guide you and provide all the necessary information ensuring you'll have a pleasant and enjoyable stay. With regular departures scheduled from the pier in Faro, aboard a speedboat or ferry boat heading in direction of Desert Island which will be your first stop. Spend the day exploring the only uninhabited island and enjoy the tranquility of this peaceful place. Relax on the beach, observe the wildlife, or walk to Cape Saint Mary. Swim in the ocean’s clear waters, sunbathe or enjoy a memorable meal at Estaminé during your visit to Desert Island. Next, visit Farol Island and the small village of Farol. Take a stroll along the sea wall, visit the island's namesake lighthouse or enjoy a drink at one of the beach bars. At the last stop, visit the small fishing village of Culatra Island. During low tide, observe the oyster farms that are exported internationally. Visit the church and school, meet the locals, and observe traditional fishing gear before heading back to Faro.

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.

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.

Visit a traditional cork factory and learn more about the processes involved in preparing and packing cork with your audio guide tour. Next, visit a cork shop, where you can see some of the latest uses of cork in fashion accessories made of cork fabric. Cork is the bark of the cork oak, a noble tree with very special characteristics that grows in the Mediterranean and, most particularly, in Portugal, where there are more than 720 thousand hectares of cork forests, as well as a cork industry of considerable economic importance.

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.

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

This full-day trip around the finest of the east in the Algarve. Get started with the pickup in the hotels or meeting point in the Albufeira area and heading to the city of Faro. This is our first stop in the beautiful capital of the Algarve. Visit the Old town with spare time for shopping at the shops in the downtown. Next we will be heading to the city of Olhão, where you can visit the market of Olhão, which is the most famous market in the Algarve. Explore the Moorish fishing town of Olhão, with its bustling streets and shops. Tavira city it's the next stop, and you will discover the city of Tavira, with his cobbled streets, picturesque churches, and visit its Roman Bridge. In Tavira you will have spare time to have lunch. Last stop, it's the Vila Nova Cacela Velha city, where you visit the city and watch the panoramic views over the sea. This is where we conclude the tour, and we will make our way back to the hotels.

Take a full-day trip around the best of the east of Portugal. Benefit from pickup from your hotel, transportation around the historic sights, and take time to immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere. Begin your day with convenient pickup before heading to Faro. Admire the capital of the Algarve as you tour the historic 13th-century city center. Next, move on to the Moorish fishing town of Olhão. Stroll around its bustling streets or shop for local products in its traditional markets. Continue your tour to Tavirna. Explore a town of cobbled streets, picturesque churches, and visit its Roman Bridge. Climb up to its castle and photograph the views from its observation point. Take advantage of some free time for lunch in one of its many restaurants (own expense). Conclude your tour with stops at Villa Real de Sto- Antonio and Cacel Velha. Discover a village where the Ria Formosa meets the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, head back on the bus for the return journey and drop-off at your accommodation.

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.