Islands Tour: Half Day Cruise in Ria Formosa Natural Park

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Faro, Portugal

Great choice

10+ bookings last month.

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Make the most of your time exploring Ria Formosa Natural Park by traveling with a guide on this half-day excursion. While you move through the canals of Olhao, the Barrier Islands, and the bay of Armona, learn about the area’s ecosystem and history through guided commentary. Make a stop for lunch (own expense) in the tiny fishing village of Cultura, where you can get a restaurant recommendation or picnic on the beach.

Commentary and navigation by a guide
Comprehensive tour of the Olhao area and Ria Formosa
All transportation provided
Lunch stop in Cultura with free time

What's Included

Live commentary on board
Local guide
Tour escort/host

Drinks
Food and drinks
Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Avenida 5 de Outubro
Av. 5 de Outubro, 8700-408 Olhão, Portugal
In Front of the Hotel Real Marina, stand number 5

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.13:00

Itinerary

Ilha da Culatra

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ilha Do Farol

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Pushchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 63 travellers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveller's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveller's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveller's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveller's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveller's review)

Reviews

4.3

based on 169 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Amazing

sallyann_m, Jul 2024

All of the boat trip was amazing, the tour guide was fantastic. Ria Formosa is so beautiful. Me and my daughter had a great time. Thank you

Pleasant cruise, but no lighthouse visit.

Keith_F, Apr 2024

This was an enjoyable cruise around the islands south of Olhao. It was a bit disappointing not to be able to land at the famous Santa Maria lighthouse, and I think a short visit here could be added, with a shorter lunch stop further along the island.

Good experience

Dionne_C, May 2019

The trip is great and the boat is adequate. The tour guide did his best to get around everyone and share information about the islands as we travelled, however there is no announcement systems so he travels round group to group to repeat the details. He was great at explaining the history and present day information once he became available. The stop over on Culatra and Aromona islands was lovely and we had a fantastic lunch. I would say the only improvement is he space available to visitors on the boat (somewhat limited outdoor) the boat is very small and when other boats passed by we commented that we had hoped to be on a similar vessel. That said it was cheaper, perfectly safe and enjoyable day.

Magnifique et magique 🤩

Caroline_D, Sept 2024

Tout était parfait. Le paysage, le guide. Les conseils. Le resto. Les vues La balade en bateau Le soleil en prime

Bof

Guenola_T, Aug 2024

Guide ne parlant pas français. Explication via un enregistrement en 3 langues et on entend pas grand chose étant donné le bruit des gens et du moteur !

Mooie ervaring

Robert_W, Aug 2024

Goede boot, allerlei informatie over gebied. Stop bij Armanda had langer gemogen. De gids heeft weinig inbreng / toegevoegde waarde. Chatfunctie wordt te laat op gereageerd, vroegtijdig een bericht gestuurd en werd tijdens de toer pas op geantwoord… Terwijl de meiden op kantoor, voor de toer, wel tijd hebben om met elkaar te ‘chatten’

Simpatica gita nel Parco Nazionale Ria Formosa

Martino_L, Aug 2024

Una simpatica e rilassante gita nella laguna di Faro Ria Formosa. Belli la vista del Parco Nazionale e le due fermate nelle isole di Culatra e Armona.

Excelente dia

Alicia_F, Oct 2023

Gostei imenso do ambiente, do tempo ☀️ excelente que houve nesse dia, a nossa paragem na ilha da culatra para almoçar uma dourada 🙂 Foram 4h bem passadas obrigada

Apres midi bateau

Alexandre_D, Sept 2023

Super journée. Bonne prise en charge. Haut-parleur 4 langues dont francais et explication individuelle en 4 langues dont francais par le guide Joao qui est au top du top. Je recommande a 100%.

Nice to see.... thats all

Heike_B, Sept 2023

Schöne Tour durch die Landschaft, man sieht viel von der Natur Die Zeit zum Erkunden auf den Inseln ist natürlich zu knapp, aber man gewinnt einen ersten Eindruck. Der Guide war nichts wert, die paar Brocken Englisch waren nicht zu verstehen, hätte man drauf verzichten können Wichtige Infos fehlten auch, bspw zu Toiletten, Restaurants etc Das Boot ist ähnlich ner kleinen Fähre, null Komfort aber überdacht wenigstens

Inintéressant

s_D, Mar 2023

Bien que excursion réservée en Français, la guide ne parlait pas 1 mot français ! En plus , elle n était pas du tout sympathique ni souriante. Lorsqu on lui demandait de répéter plus lentement (nous comprenons très mal l anglais) on avait l impression de l embeter ! Nous devions visiter 3 îles nous nous sommes arrêtés seulement sur 2 . Juste deposes et après débrouillez vous ! Pas grand chose à voir de toutes façons. 1 etoile pour le côté typique des petites habitations , seule chose positive de la sortie Expérience très decevante !

No era lovque esoeraba

Carlos_S, Aug 2020

Demasiado tiempo de navegación en el barco. El barco con poca visibilidad desde los asientos con lo que no puedes disfrutar del paisaje. La excursión era de 4 horas, una hora de navegación , una hora y media en isla Culatra, unos 20 minutos ida y otros 20 de vuelta andando si querías ir a la playa, un baño corriendo y vuelta para comer algo a todo correr para volver a coger el barco. Otra media hora de navegación y media hora en isla Armona.....y vuelta al embarcadero. Hubiera elegido otro tipo de excursión pero ya no quedaban plazas para la que nos hubiera gustado. El guía, Joao , muy agradable...explicó todo en Portugués, Francés y Español...los idiomas de la gente que ibamos en la excursión.