Ria Formosa Nature Park: A Hidden Gem Of Hiking Trails and Quiet Islands

If you fly into Faro and happen to sit on the right-hand side of the plane, you will receive your first glimpse of the impressive Ria Formosa Nature Park, one of the greatest gems of the region. Stretching for 60km along the Algarve coast, the bird’s eye view is a magical one, but will not prepare you for what you will be blessed with when your feet are finally and firmly planted on the ground. With its striking aquamarine lagoons, secluded islands, salt marshes and bird colonies, this natural beauty has turned into one of my favourite places to explore and was the highlight of my trip to southern Portugal. 

It is a paradise of diverse ecosystems, sandy trails and boardwalks that weave their way around the park, and it is no surprise why Ria Formosa Nature Park has been named one of the country’s Seven Natural Wonders. In fact, one of the highlights of the wetland that make it a natural wonder is that it is a habitat for the rare “galinha-sultana” / sultan hen, which can’t be found anywhere else in the country (therefore, it also happens to be the Ria Formosa symbol).

Yet, as bizarre as it may sound, the park remains unknown to most as tourists tend to visit Algrave purely for the blue flag beaches and dramatic caves. I wouldn’t complain though, because the more hidden this attraction is, the better – both for the flora and fauna and travellers like us who enjoy venturing out into the unknown. 

Are you ready to disappear into a world seduced by exquisite nature and serene settings?

Fun fact: in 1755, a destructive earthquake and consequent tsunami damaged many areas in the Algarve (from villages to coastal fortresses), however Faro was completely spared due to the protection provided by the sandy banks of the Ria Formosa lagoon.

When To Visit Ria Formosa Nature Park

Ria Formosa can be visited throughout the year because Faro is blessed with pleasant weather almost all the time. It naturally draws more crowds over the summer when Algarve is bursting with tourists and when you can guarantee beautiful sunsets and twilight strolls, but the off-season is just as glamorous. 

To be honest, I might be bold enough to say that the Portuguese autumn and winter is the best time to visit. Tranquillity fills the air, and the colourful collection of flamingos, storks and purple swamphens stretch out as far as the eye can see as these coastal birds use the reserve as a migratory stopover between Europe and Africa.

I made my way here in January, and not only did it feel as though I had the entire park to myself, but the nature was unspoilt from months without holidaymakers, there was a range of fauna to photograph, and the morning flew by in a sea of blue skies, empty trails, and hypnotising views. Imagine being able to soak up the blissful sounds of nature in the early morning despite being near a busy airport – there is nothing quite like it. 

How To Explore Ria Formosa Nature Park

Figuring out how to explore Ria Formosa was my biggest question when booking my trip to Faro. Due to it being an off-beaten attraction, information online was unclear, but here is a list of the several ways to uncover this spectacular landscape:

• On a walking tour or hiking on your own 
• With an e-bike tour or cycling on your own
• Segway tours
• Solar-powered boat tours 
• Kayaking or paddle boarding tours 

Each style will bring you an exciting adventure and a wonderful way of discovering everything the park offers, including more than 100 bird species. The tours, in particular, are great for anyone wishing to gain in-depth knowledge of the region and can be booked online or the day before in Faro.

If you choose to tour the area from the peaceful waterways, kayaking and paddle boarding will bring you up close and personal with the wildlife, however, I think the best way to admire your surroundings is by foot. There are several, easy hiking trails within the park that start and end at different points and allow you to wander the specific charms on display at your pace. 

The Best Hiking Trails In Ria Formosa

The Ria Formosa is vast, so it should not surprise you that there are many hiking trails worth exploring. Here is a list of some of the best routes to enjoy, starting with my absolute favourite:

The Ludo Trail

The 7km loop is almost completely flat and is situated between Faro and Quinta do Lago Golf Club – making it the most popular route. Take the #14 or #16 bus from Faro to Ludo to be dropped off at the trail’s entrance, and begin a wonderful walk past salt flats, around a golf resort, across wetlands, on boardwalks and through lush pine forests. The ambience is one to adore, I promise.

The route offers excellent opportunities to spot birds as it passes through the nesting area of the Purple Swamphen and where flamingos forage in the salt pans. Herons, magpies, pelicans, and so many other species can be spotted here as well.

Beware that this rail is not way-marked, which means you can get lost, but 4G connectivity is available throughout, so use Google Maps to keep you on track if necessary. However, getting lost (which I did) is all part of the fun and is how I ended up on many different, beautiful trails without realising it. 

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The São Lourenço Trail

Starting from Ponte da Quinta do Lago, the São Lourenço trail is 3kms long and stretches out from the nearby beach and into the park where it partly overlaps with the Ludo trail. It is surrounded by the San Lorenzo Golf Course on one side and the wetlands on the other, which means you will see many of the same habitats and birds, but in a shorter time frame. It is most popular with birdwatchers. Along with the vegetation, this route passes by Roman-era salting tanks and a fresh water lake.

Many people tend to extend their hike of the Ludo Trail by incorporating the other part of this trail, therefore leading their way to Praia da Quinta do Lago for a refreshing drink at the beach bar.

Quinta do Lago Boardwalk

The Quinta do Lago Boardwalk is the latest addition to the Ria Formosa hiking routes, and is a 5km linear coastal path that starts in near Praia do Ancão and connects to the São Lourenço and Ludo Trail via Praia da Quinta do Lago. It is especially popular with cyclists but is also great for birdwatching because this is where the fresh waters of the river and the salty waters of the sea mix, giving rise to a beautiful marsh that offers magnificent conditions for flourishing water bird habitats.

The map I’ve created below showcases how these three hiking trails connect and where they start. It is not a perfect representation, but I hope it helps you visualise the area.

Explore The Barrier Islands: Ilha Deserta and Ilha da Culatra

The delicate nature of the Ria Formosa is protected by a series of lovely barrier islands: Ilha Deserta, Ilha da Culatra, Ilha da Armona, Ilha da Tavira and Ilha da Cabanas. So, alongside the incredible nature trails, make sure to have enough time to explore a few islands and their golden beaches.  

I recommend completing the hiking in the morning and then visiting the island in the afternoon/evening to catch a breathtaking sunset over calm waters.

The islands can only be accessed by a ferry service available at Porta Nova, with ticket prices varying according to the number of islands you want to visit. The usual route includes visiting:

• Ilha Deserta (10 euros)
• Ilha Deserta and Ilha da Culatra (25 euros) 
• Ilha Deserta, Ilha da Culatra, Ilha da Armona (35 euros)

Taking a speedboat is also an option, but this style of transport is a lot more expensive.

Ilha Deserta, a.k.a Barreta Island

As the southernmost point of continental Europe and an uninhabited space in the middle of the Mediterranean, the island is a heaven for anyone searching for untouched landscapes and complete serenity. It is one of the more isolated in the Algarve and is, before anything else, a serene habitat for birdlife. 

Taking the ferry here allows you to disconnect from the rest of the world and brings you to clear waters perfect for swimming and a lovely 2km boardwalk with unobstructed panoramic views. This is where you must bring your island girl fantasies to life.

Ilha Culatra

With approximately 1000 inhabitants and 6km of land, this quaint island thrives on fishing and tourism in a rustic environment. With no paved roads, a collection of whitewashed cottages, and a few seafood restaurants, Culatra is a retreat for adventure seekers and scenery chasers.

Besides lying on the sandy beaches, visitors can take on the picturesque Ilha da Culatra Hiking Trail, which consists of a few kilometres of deserted routes that cross a vast dune system and several salt marshes.

Scuba Diving And Snorkelling In Ria Formosa

I am an advocate for visiting Ria Formosa Nature Park in the off-season and on foot, but if you happen to plan your trip around the warmer months, why limit your fun to outside the water? Join a scuba diving or snorkelling crew and discover the wealth of underwater wildlife prospering in this region from a distance that does not disturb their environment. Besides fish and crustaceans, Ria Formosa has the largest population of seahorses in the world!