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Tour in Paradise: Ria Formosa

Albufeira, Portugal
  • 7 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Visit the Ria Formosa Natural Reserve and see local fishing villages that make their livelihoods off of the abundant waters. Stroll along the sand bars and soak up the sun as your guide describes the local traditions and culture of this coastal area. Enjoy a boat tour through the reserve and take in the beautiful scenery before heading back to your hotel.
  • Explore the Ria Formosa Natural Reserve on a full-day tour
  • Take a boat tour and learn about the fishing villages that dot the coast
  • Soak up the sun as you stroll along the sand bars
  • Enjoy complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off

What's Included

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Boat tour
  • Driver/guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in designated areas only
  • All visits.
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick-up and drop-off from your acomodation in Albufeira town centre. Pick-up and drop-off services outside central Albufeira will incur an additional charge of €5, which must be paid to the driver in cash. For pick-ups and drop-offs outside Albufeira, the price is on request. The pick up location must be confirmed with us at least 24 hours before departure, so that we can indicate the pick up time. If the vehicle have an unexpected breakdown during the tour, we will not refund the money, we will give the customer the opportunity to take the selected tour on another day.

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Meeting points

Select a meeting point
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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start time
.9:00 am

Itinerary

1

Faro

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

2

Olhao

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

3

Ria Formosa Natural Park

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Infant seats available
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Infant meals not included
  • Dress code is smart casual
  • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Sometimes we may have to change the order of the activities due to weather conditions or any practical impediment, but always with the highest quality guarantee.
  • Boat tour is not private.
  • We reserve the right to reschedule the tour or suggest a different experience available that day if the minimum number required is not available.
  • If the vehicle have an unexpected breakdown during the tour, we will not refund the money, we will give the customer the opportunity to take the selected tour on another day.
  • Children will be required to present an identification document to verify their age. Under our laws, the applicable age range mandates the use of age-appropriate safety seats.
  • The use of masks is mandatory. We have implemented all the safety and hygiene rules in our facilities, vehicles and personnel in accordance with the rules recommended by DGS and DGT
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0
based on 7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

Amazing tour and small town to explore

Carolina_V, Aug 2026
Our tour guide, Carla, was incredibly kind and fun to hang out with and have her as company. She shared super interesting bits of information of the area, from the best cafes to historic importance. The islands were truly magnificent, blue ocean and the most mesmerizing sand banks. Highly recommend!!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

On behalf of the whole team at Zebra Safari Tours, thank you very much for your wonderful review. It was a real pleasure to share our Algarve paradise with you. The Ria Formosa is a special destination where the sea and the estuary offer our visitors a variety of unique seafood and fish, as well as a sense of tranquillity all of its own. Olhão, with its strong Arab and French influences, offers visitors a truly genuine welcome. It was a pleasure to have you with us, Carolina. And as I said, if there’s anything you need from Portugal, just let us know.

Nature and local area

Makiko_L, Aug 2024
It was really beautiful and unforgettable. We visited 2 places. The first one was a natuer lagoon, and another one is a local island, where fishermans are living. The time during the boat was not long so we did not get bord. At the end we were able to walk around old town of Faro.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Good morning Mr. Makiko. Thank you for booking with Zebra Safari Tours, and for taking the time to provide a review. We were immensely happy to know that you really enjoyed your trip to the Ria Formosa and that you didn't find it boring. It is a magnificent place to visit, it is pure nature at its best. We hope to see you again very soon to do other activities with Zebra. A big thank you on behalf of the entire Zebra Safari Tours team.

Rio Formosa

ALBERTOMARIUS_M, Aug 2023
Everything it was ok,the boat driver,the privat guide from Zebra Tours,I recommend Zebra Tour and Viator, they are professionals.Excellent

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Good Morning Mr. Albert We are so grateful for your review of your day spent with Zebra Safari Tours. It was also a great pleasure to receive you, and we hope to see you again very soon to do other activities with the zebra. Thank you on behalf of the entire Zebra Safari Tours team.

Carla, we love you.

HansJuergen_B, Apr 2025
Unser Guide, Carla, ist eine sympathische und interessante Person. Wir haben viel erfahren und hatten eine Menge Spaß. Gerne wieder.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Bedank voor uw beoordeling! Ria Formosa is een paradijselijke plek die wij graag met u delen! En way julie betreft...want zijn Jullie mooie geliefden! Net levem bestaat uit permanente relaties. Kusjes voor Jullie beiden Carla🙏🦓😘
Member Pricing
From

$89.30

per person
Was $94.00(-5%)

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 20 days in advance.

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