4 Stops | 3 Islands & Ria Formosa Natural Park - From Faro
4.9
4 Stops | 3 Islands & Ria Formosa Natural Park - From Faro
By Estrela da Ria Formosa Boat Tours
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 4–5 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
More
Highlights
Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- 10h00 - Morning Tour : 5 hours ( Time to lunch )
- 14h00 - Afternoon Tour : 4 hours ( Time to snacks )
- Professional SKIPPER / Local Guide
- Masks to snorkeling
- Life Jackets
What's not included- Lunch ( Morning Tour)
- Food & Drinks & Snacks
- Start:
- Cais das Portas do Mar, R. da Porta Nova, 8000-250 Faro, PortugalThe Boarding Place is located at Rua da Porta Nova, 8000-250 Faro The company's representative will be dressed in a Green T-Shirt. Stand Name : Estrela da Ria Formosa
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 20435P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Tours can be changed depending on sea conditions.
- A maximum of 12 people per booking.
- A minimum of 2 people is required per booking.
- Most travelers can participate
- Not recommended for people with motor difficulties.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 20435P2
From
$44.47
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- R. da Porta Nova, 8000-250 Faro, PortugalThe Boarding Place is located at Rua da Porta Nova, 8000-250 Faro The company's representative will be dressed in a Green T-Shirt. Stand Name : Estrela da Ria Formosa
- Pass byParque Natural da Ria Formosa
- 1
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- 4Pass byParque Natural da Ria Formosa
Top rated
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- andra_g3290 contributionsFamily boat tourIt's been a great boat tour, our guide John was very nice talkative guy, with whom even the children were not bored... I also recommend it to families with small children (babies)Written March 18, 2025
- Z4629MMklaudiak0 contributionsnice experiencevery good ambiance and good chef Oscar to explain and do the road with us - it was a pleasure to discover the islands. good timings as well!Written March 18, 2025
- V7303QLsteves0 contributionsTwo beautiful islands one excellent CaptainOscar took us on the best trip ever. I would definitely recommend this. Two absolutely beautiful islands. Oscar was a fun CaptainWritten March 18, 2025
- jeffreyrW9061TU0 contributionsGreat tourBeautiful way to see the islands and to know where to come back. Friendly boat operator/tour guide. Two stops give chance to walk aroundWritten March 16, 2025
- cjamieson260 contributionsGreat half day tourGreat tour from Joao who had a lot of local knowledge to share. Would recommend for anyone wanting a half day tour of the Ria and islands next to Faro!Written March 14, 2025
- jamietT4139XB0 contributionsGreat tour - even in the rain it was beautifulDesert idea was incredible and so was the second island- staff were friendly and tour guide was so lovely and helpful. Thank you Philip and Luca for a wonderful experienceWritten March 12, 2025
- Q933BSdaniellee0 contributions2 stop tripLovely boat ride and such a beautiful beach on the deserted island. It poured with rain but Filipe and Luca kept spirits high. Would certainly recommendWritten March 12, 2025
- joannawX4763LB0 contributionsGreat trip, despite the rainGreat dispute the weather! The deserted island was beautiful! Filipe and Luca were great tour guides, sharing lots of local knowledge.Written March 12, 2025
- 296dra_enb0 contributionsFun experience!Amazing time cruising on the boat and the islands we visited are so beautiful, 8t felt great to be around such calming nature. There was good music on the boat which made it even more fun!Written March 5, 2025
- patcI7408TV0 contributionsBoat trip to the islandsJohn and Lucia were wonderful guides on our boat trip. They were informative, entertaining and made the trip so much fun. Would definitely recommend this trip. Pat and Colette Cadogan IrelandWritten March 4, 2025
- chancelelisabethm0 contributionsGood experienceIt was truly very nice, and John is extremely friendly and helpful. A wonderful experience overall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Written February 23, 2025
- ameliapB6739EJ0 contributionsGreat experienceGreat boat trip. Very informative and lovely views. Jonny was a great guide with plenty of information and kept us entertained. Would recommend.Written February 23, 2025
- mattpY7845VM0 contributionsGreat boat tripGreat trip with Johnny, saw all around the island and lots of bird and other wildlife, would recommend to anyone coming to faroWritten February 23, 2025
- A7572UWvictoriap0 contributionsBeautiful boat trip in the sunFab tour with Johnny, lots of fun and great views! Even in Feb it was very warm and we got to see lots of bird life. Thanks very much.Written February 23, 2025
- Explorer080400614030 contributionsGreat tour with lots of infos and laughsWe visited a lot of places where our tour guide Filipe gave us a lot of information about the local fauna. Even though at one point it began to rain, the boat ride was still very enjoyable as there was a roof we could sit under. Overall I would really recommend this experience.Written February 23, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
2,452 reviews
Excellent
2,308
Very good
110
Average
16
Poor
11
Terrible
7
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
ADerrygirl
London, UK161 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Went on this trip two weeks ago when visiting Faro. Joao was our guide and he was very informative and engaging giving us a commentary about everything we passed by. The weather wasn't very great as there was quite a strong breeze bringing in Sahara dust. The water was quite choppy but we felt safe with Joao in control , he obviously knew the boat and the waters well.
We enjoyed our first stop at Ilha Deserta most. There is a good boardwalk to walk along to a beautiful beach. There are toilet facilities at the restaurant nearby. We would have liked a bit longer there as we had to hurry to get back for the departure.
Next stop was Farol and other than to walk to the light house and see the sea side of the island there wasn't much to do.
Docking at Culatra needed skill, expertly done by Joao, and he escorted those of us who had reserved a table to the Maresia restaurant for lunch. He showed us the sea cucumbers on the harbour wall as we walked. The restaurant is very reasonably priced - 2 euros for a glass of wine, but it doesn't do small/light meals. We had time to wander around afterwards but there wasn't much to see there either.
We enjoyed our day out and I am sure if the sun was shining it would have been really lovely.
We enjoyed our first stop at Ilha Deserta most. There is a good boardwalk to walk along to a beautiful beach. There are toilet facilities at the restaurant nearby. We would have liked a bit longer there as we had to hurry to get back for the departure.
Next stop was Farol and other than to walk to the light house and see the sea side of the island there wasn't much to do.
Docking at Culatra needed skill, expertly done by Joao, and he escorted those of us who had reserved a table to the Maresia restaurant for lunch. He showed us the sea cucumbers on the harbour wall as we walked. The restaurant is very reasonably priced - 2 euros for a glass of wine, but it doesn't do small/light meals. We had time to wander around afterwards but there wasn't much to see there either.
We enjoyed our day out and I am sure if the sun was shining it would have been really lovely.
Written April 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written May 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David M
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Friends
We had an amazing trip with our tour guide joao. He was fantastic, funny, charismatic and enthusiastic. He had excellent knowledge about the region, the history of the islands and even about the significance of protecting the wildlife in the marina. We explored the islands getting an opportunity to go snorkeling which was wondering, we seen plenty of fish and an octopus (a highlight of the trip). We got to explore the villages and try the wonderful seafood at a nearby restaurant in ilha da culatra. Highly recommended this tour to anyone wanting to get away from the crowded beaches and enjoy the peace and quite with majestic beaches.
We also highly recommend joao as a tour guide, he speaks multiple languages and is very fun with mixed groups. Wonderful character and a joy to have been able to explore the islands with.
We also highly recommend joao as a tour guide, he speaks multiple languages and is very fun with mixed groups. Wonderful character and a joy to have been able to explore the islands with.
Written August 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written September 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Magali P
9 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
Great outing with our guide/captain João.
João is a great guide who explained everything well in French.
He accompanied us to the restaurant on the island of Culatra and managed the delay of the restaurateur (attention little restaurant open the day we left - they were overwhelmed so little time to visit despite the two hours planned)
João is the joy of life, the pleasure of sharing your knowledge with us.
A real pleasure to share this day with him.
I recommend the exit
It is a mandatory stop for a stay in Faro.
The islands are beautiful
João is a great guide who explained everything well in French.
He accompanied us to the restaurant on the island of Culatra and managed the delay of the restaurateur (attention little restaurant open the day we left - they were overwhelmed so little time to visit despite the two hours planned)
João is the joy of life, the pleasure of sharing your knowledge with us.
A real pleasure to share this day with him.
I recommend the exit
It is a mandatory stop for a stay in Faro.
The islands are beautiful
Automatically translated
Written November 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Votre satisfaction est notre récompense.
Cela a été un plaisir de vous avoir sur notre bateau...
Revenez et amenez un ami!
Merci
Cristela Martins
(L' équipe des Verts )
Written December 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anita t
Geneva, Switzerland69 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
João our guide was amazing he spoke fluent French, English and Spanish. He made our multicultural group laugh all day as well as being very knowledgeable about the region. He chose a fabulous reasonable restaurant for lunch serving oysters at 2 euros each as opposed to 3- 4 in other places. Also, picked up a sea cucumber for us to see. Well done João we had a 29th wedding anniversary to be remembered fondly.
Written July 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written August 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chloe H
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
There was a mistake with the booking so we english speakers went with a French group. However everyone was still so friendly a d the tour guide made sure to repeat some information in English for us. The boat jour eys were comfortable and we enjoyed some walking and chill time at each spot whilst bird spotting. I recommend this company.
Written October 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written November 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sylmul41
Cork, Ireland8 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
We had a lovely boat trip to the islands - our driver/tour guide Joãn was very friendly & great fun but also very knowledgable and informative. Lunch was quite a memorable experience!!! This trip offers very good value for money & we would highly recommend it. 5 stars! 😊
Written October 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written November 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Justyna4
Aylesbury, UK24 contributions
Feb 2023
It was a somewhat disappointing experience as we had been expecting a more informative tour. Our "guide" gave us a minimum of information and wasn't really that interested. We did not have a fourth stop (unless stopping the boat for a minute to talk about oyster farming counts as a stop - we thought we would be getting off the boat).
I would advise against booking lunch a the restaurant on Culatra - it is much, much better to take a packed lunch and walk to the beach which is absolutely stunning. It is a bit of a walk so if you eat at the restaurant you might run of time to enjoy the beach. We are glad we went on the trip as we got some idea of the islands but we were disappointed to be given so little information. To be honest, you might just as well as take the ferries between the islands and it would work out cheaper.
I would advise against booking lunch a the restaurant on Culatra - it is much, much better to take a packed lunch and walk to the beach which is absolutely stunning. It is a bit of a walk so if you eat at the restaurant you might run of time to enjoy the beach. We are glad we went on the trip as we got some idea of the islands but we were disappointed to be given so little information. To be honest, you might just as well as take the ferries between the islands and it would work out cheaper.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written April 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marta F
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Nice experience at the hands of Joao, our guide, who made the ride very enjoyable and fun. At first we thought it would be something very touristy but then we saw that it is something worth doing. We visit Ilha Deserta, and two areas of Ilha de Culatra. They took us to eat at a restaurant where there was a lot of Portuguese and that suggests that in terms of quality and price it is good. We ordered a seafood cataplana and were not disappointed.
I 100% recommend doing the excursion.
I 100% recommend doing the excursion.
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Su satisfacción es nuestra recompensa.
Fue un placer tenerte en nuestro barco...
¡Vuelve y trae a un amigo!
Gracias
Cristela Martín
(El equipo verde)
Written September 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christian Goyens
Nieuwerkerken, Belgium42 contributions
Pleasant and very interesting.
The islands are beautiful, breathtaking views and the comments of the guide and commander of our boat are very informative.
The restaurant he recommended us is the best of our stay as well as the pastry chef also recommended by the skipper. It was just awesome.
Oscar our skipper is extremely kind.
The islands are beautiful, breathtaking views and the comments of the guide and commander of our boat are very informative.
The restaurant he recommended us is the best of our stay as well as the pastry chef also recommended by the skipper. It was just awesome.
Oscar our skipper is extremely kind.
Automatically translated
Written December 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Votre satisfaction est notre récompense.
Cela a été un plaisir de vous avoir sur notre bateau...
Revenez et amenez un ami!
Merci
Cristela Martins
(L' équipe des Verts )
Written January 4, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dom H
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
What a boat trip! This was mine and my girlfriends first time to Faro City and we decided to choose this boat tour to see the beautiful Ilha De Deserta, Culatra and the Ria Formosa. We did the morning trip which is 10am till 3pm. The weather was beautiful, and the beaches and small local villages were idyllic. Our tour guide Ivan was a legend - he really made the experience for us and was very friendly and knowledgeable. He had a clear passion for his job and a great sense of humour! We would highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting Faro City to appreciate how beautiful this part of Portugal is.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your satisfaction is our reward.
It was a pleasure having you on our boat...
Come back and bring a friend!
Thanks
Cristela Martins
( The Green Team)
Written August 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi I can see stops and how long on the islands, could you give a guide for how long we're at sea please.. not a great sea farer 🤣
Thanks
Written June 29, 2022
It’s about 5 hours back and forth including the stops. The trip to the first island is about 1 h and then shorter times between the other islands. The return trip is little bit longer.
Written July 1, 2022
crocolily
Brussels, Belgium
Hello,
I would love to go on the tour on Wednesday.
I would prefer to visit the beaches and especially swim. I visited the parque ria formosa itself this morning and we did the walk of 2 hours.
But we did nog have access to the islands or could not swim. So now I would especially prefer to do that. Which one of the 2 tours would you recommend then?
My bests
Kim
Written June 7, 2021
Aneesah Anum S
London, United Kingdom
Hi, I just booked the snorkeling afternoon option on the 2nd of June but I'm confused as to what it includes?
We will not be in a boat?
Written May 17, 2021
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