Ria Formosa Island Ferries

Marina

Ferry services to the Ria Formosa barrier islands operate from several points along the Algarve's eastern coast, with the principal terminals at Faro, Olhao and Tavira. The islands, which form a chain stretching roughly 60 kilometres from Ancao to Cacela Velha, protect the lagoon from the open Atlantic and offer some of the finest beaches in Portugal.

From Faro, ferries run to the Ilha Deserta (Barreta) and the Ilha da Culatra, with the Praia do Farol being the most popular destination. From Olhao, services reach the Ilha da Armona, the Ilha da Culatra and the Ilha do Farol, each with its own character. Tavira's ferry crosses the narrow channel to the Ilha de Tavira, whose beach extends for several kilometres of clean sand.

The ferries are simple, functional boats that carry passengers and, on some routes, bicycles. Journey times range from 15 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the route, and services run frequently during the summer but are reduced in winter. Tickets are inexpensive, typically a few euros for a return trip, and can be bought at the terminal or on board.

The islands themselves range from the almost uninhabited Ilha Deserta, which has no permanent residents and only a single restaurant, to the Culatra settlement, a fishing village of around 1,000 inhabitants with whitewashed houses, a school, a church and a grid of sandy streets. The beaches on the ocean side of all the islands are backed by dune systems and face the open Atlantic, offering clean, uncrowded sand that stretches to the horizon in both directions.