Ilha Deserta and Farol Island: a small group boat trip in Ria Formosa from Faro
Description
Discover Portugal’s exotic natural wonders during this 3-hour catamaran trip to Ria Formosa from Faro. Board a comfortable catamaran with a small-group and discover the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Visit the Deserta Island and the Farol Island, looking out for birdlife and observing the daily lives of citizens in a local fishing village. This small-group tour is limited to 11 people, offering a more intimate experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The meeting point for your tour is at our offices at the ground floor of the building of Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro (Nautical Club of Faro). Please be so kind and check in for your tour or activity with our team members at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
The meeting point for your tour is at our offices at the ground floor of the building of Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro (Nautical Club of Faro). Please be so kind and check in for your tour or activity with our team members at least 10 minutes before the departure time.
Ilha Deserta is also known as Barreta Island. In this stop you can choose to explore the fauna and flora of the island along an easy walk or simply enjoy the sunshine and bath in the clear waters of the beach.
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, here lies the most southern point of Portugal - the Santa Maria Cape.
After the 2 stops, on the trip back to Faro be enchanted by one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal – the Ria Formosa.
The tours ends with stunning views of the old town of Faro along the way.
You can choose to disembark here, if you wish please be so kind to ask your skipper in advance.
Ending point of your boat trip.
Ending point of your boat trip.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
- A maximum of 11 people per booking
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Reviews(282)
The guide takes us to different islands of the Ria Formosa. The beaches are beautiful, but we have little time to swim, but it is possible to do so! The guide was very friendly and explained several things to us along the way.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful 5-star review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the different islands of the Ria Formosa and appreciated the beautiful beaches along the way. It’s especially rewarding to know that our guide’s friendly approach and informative commentary enhanced your experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another memorable boat tour. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
It was an amazing experience totally worth the money. Both islands are very unique and actually visiting them made us want to return and spend more time there! The guide was very friendly and shared loads of interesting information about the history of the city and the wildlife.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful 5-star review. We’re delighted to hear that you found the experience well worth it and enjoyed discovering the unique character of both islands. It’s especially rewarding to know that our guide’s friendly approach and insights into the local history and wildlife made your visit even more memorable. We hope to welcome you back so you can spend even more time exploring the beauty of the Ria Formosa. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
I enjoyed this visit and this setting, which is a bit timeless, between the sea and its various colors, the land, and the sand. On Desert Island, we were able to swim in a pleasant temperature. On Farol Island, we made a stop and discovered the only village on all the islands. This boat trip was very pleasant
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your 4-star review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the unique scenery of the Ria Formosa, from the changing colours of the sea to the peaceful landscapes of the islands. It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated the swim at Deserta Island and the visit to Farol Island, making your boat trip such an enjoyable and authentic experience. We hope to welcome you again on a future visit. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Great day out, nice comfortable boat lovely islands and peaceful beach with crystal clear water, JC was very knowledgable told us some great facts about the islands and wildlife, just wished we done the longer trip as we didn’t want to leave, thanks JC for our lovely trip.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the comfortable boat, the beautiful islands, the peaceful beach, and the crystal-clear waters. It’s especially rewarding to know that JC’s knowledge of the islands and local wildlife made your experience even more memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for the longer tour on your next visit. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Brilliant trip, very informative. Jc was knowledgable and great fun 🤩
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that you found the trip both informative and enjoyable, and that JC's knowledge and fun personality made your experience even more memorable. It’s a pleasure to know you had such a great time with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
It was a wonderful boat ride to the islands. Diogo was very nice and polite. He talked a little bit about fiddler crabs, sea horses and some of the birds and the ecosystem around the islands. It was not an in depth discussion but that was okay for us. The Deserta Island was wonderful. We were able to swim/walk to one of the other islands. My 13 year old loved that. We got some ice cream and walked around Farol Island. For us we would have enjoyed spending more time at Deserta Island and less time at Farol Island. Overall it was a lovely trip.
Dear Heather, Thank you very much for sharing your thoughtful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Deserta and Farol Islands, and that Diogo's insights into the local wildlife and ecosystem added to your experience. It is wonderful to know that your family, especially your 13-year-old, had such a memorable time exploring, swimming, and discovering the islands together. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the time spent on each island, as it helps us continue to improve our tours. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Great boat trip to see the Ria Formosa. CJ our guide was knowledgeable, funny and friendly. We had plenty of time on both islands. CJ gave guidance on where to go. Only 9 of us in the group which made it much more personal. Highly recommend this trip.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for recommending your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that JC's knowledge, friendly personality, and sense of humour made your visit to the Ria Formosa so enjoyable. It's also great to know that the small group size and the time spent exploring both islands helped make your tour feel more personal and relaxing. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Great trip with knowledgeable guide.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and that your guide’s knowledge helped make the experience even more rewarding. It is always our goal to provide informative and enjoyable experiences, and your kind feedback means a great deal to us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
Very nice trip with J.C., highly recommended
Dear Jasmin, Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the boat tour and that JC helped make the experience so pleasant. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback about your visit to the Ria Formosa. We hope to welcome you aboard again in the future. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
A great experience with a very knowledgeable guide. We now know everything there is to know about Ria Formosa thanks to JC. The 3 hours flew by and the trip was well worth the money.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your fantastic review. We are delighted to hear that you had such a great experience and that JC’s knowledge helped you gain a deeper understanding of the Ria Formosa. It is especially rewarding to know that the three hours passed so quickly and that you felt the tour was excellent value for money. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in the future. On behalf of the entire Formosamar team, we extend you our warmest regards!
![From Faro: Benagil Cave, Marinha & Carvoeiro [Full-Day Tour]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cdn.tripadvisor.com%2Fmedia%2Fattractions-splice-spp-720x480%2F10%2F36%2Fdc%2Fab.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
