Ria Formosa and Ilha de Farol - Faro
Introduction
The tour to Ria Formosa and Ilha de Farol starts at the Faro Marina. The boat passes under a low rail bridge and then into the Ria Formosa Lagoon. At the start, the boat moves beside the Old Town of Faro, on the left. It makes its second and only stop at the Arco da Porta Nova, it is also called the Portas do Mar (Doors of the Sea) to pick up more tourists. Many Water channels are cut naturally inside the Ria Formosa. Ria Formosa has also traditionally been an area of oyster and salt farming as well as fishing and shellfish harvesting.
Ria Formosa Lagoon
The lagoon is home to many coastal birds and many rare species breed here, others over-winter here and it also provides rest and replenishment for migratory birds. Apart from more than 200 species of birds that visit the park regularly, there are over 300 species of molluscs, 11 amphibians and 15 reptiles. This National Park in Ria Formosa was formed in 1987. It covers approximately 18,000 hectares and is made of 5 barrier islands and 2 peninsulas that enclose a system of tidal lagoons.
From East to West, a succession of beautiful places like Faro Islands, Barreta, Culatra, Armona and Tavira, with long sand coasts. The Culatra Island forms a barrier between the lagoon and Atlantic Ocean.
When, the boat was approaching close to the pier and wind had picked up and journey was becoming quite bumpy. A catamaran at the wooden pier had brought visitors from either Faro or Olhao in there. We are told by the captain to wait and hold tight, while waiting for the pier to be free. A bridge links the pier and village of Ilha de Farol. This village is famous for its sun kissed sandy beaches. There are no paved road or motorised vehicles on this tiny island.
Ilha de Farol
Ilha da Culatra has two small villages, one on the western side called Farol and the second on the northern banks called Culatra. Ilha de Farol village is peaceful and quiet, an ideal place to enjoy the serene beauty of lagoon and the ocean. The small village of Farol is home mostly to fishermen or cultivators of shellfish in the Estuary.
The Lighthouse of Farol can be seen from any corners of the village. It is also called the Lighthouse of Cabo de Santa Maria. From the village, a small walkway leads to the sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean. There are only few street in the village and most of them are more like walkways.
Barretta Island
From Ilha de Farol, the boat took us to nearby Barreta Island. This island is also known as Ilha Deserta, Deserted Island or Santa Maria Cape Island. This sandy island is around 7km (5 miles) long and only 600 metres wide at its widest point. The name Ilha Deserta comes from the reason because it is the only one of five islands that is uninhabited. There are no permanent inhabitants here and the only significant structure on the whole island is the surprisingly popular Estamine Restaurant at the eastern end of the island.
