Guided Nature Tour & Hop On Hop Off 3 Islands
Description
Feel free to explore the Ria Formosa’s barrier islands at your own pace. Departing from Faro, you start with a guided tour of 90 minutes with a marine biologist guide. Once arrival to the first stop - Ilha Deserta - you can take the boat circuit to the islands of the Natural Park, and you have freedom to travel between them, on the available schedules. The ticket is valid for 24 hours on all trips until you return to Faro. We have multiple scheduled pickup times in the three islands (hourly), giving you the flexibility to visit them all, choosing the time you want to spend on each one. Our boat skippers will be there to guide you and provide all the information you need during your journey. You can depart from Faro, spend the day exploring and traveling between the islands, and choose your return time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Ilha Deserta is a 7km barrier island between Atlantic ocean and Ria Formosa Natural Park and one of the most pristine ecosystems of the region. It is well known for the restaurant Estaminé open all year round and its natural conditions.
Ilha da Culatra is a fisherman village located in the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Farol island has one the biggest lighthouse of the region and its known for the local architecture and traditional houses.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
We had a fantastic day on this trip. Joaquin was very knowledgeable and so enthusiastic! He guided us round the Rio Formosa pointing out the huge variety of birdlife. This was fascinating. Then we used the hop-on, hop-off ticket to visit Ilya Deserta (where we walked round the island and paddled in the sea), Culatra and Farol. All were great. The day lasted about six hours but we could easily have spent more time and any of the stops. We would thoroughly recommend this day out!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a fantastic day exploring the Ria Formosa with us. It’s great to know that Jokin’s knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable, especially while sharing the rich birdlife of the lagoon. We’re also very pleased you made the most of the hop-on hop-off option to visit Ilha Deserta, Culatra, and Farol. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another memorable day in the Ria Formosa soon!
The tour through the Ria Formosa was accompanied in English. Lots of interesting details about the nature, the tides in the lagoon and the birds there. There was an answer to every question and it was felt right that the guide Joaquín cared about the lagoon. After the tour we were able to explore the islands at our own pace. Long walks, good food, beautiful beaches and exciting trips from pier to pier. It was a wonderful day and I would do it again anytime! For the price absolutely justified. You always feel personally accompanied and safe.
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare und ausführliche Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen die Tour durch die Ria Formosa so gut gefallen hat und dass Sie die spannenden Informationen über die Natur, Gezeiten und Vogelwelt genießen konnten. Besonders schön ist es zu wissen, dass Jokin mit seiner Leidenschaft für die Lagune zu diesem besonderen Erlebnis beigetragen hat. Dass Sie im Anschluss die Inseln in Ihrem eigenen Tempo erkunden konnten und einen rundum gelungenen Tag mit Spaziergängen, gutem Essen und beeindruckenden Landschaften hatten, bedeutet uns sehr viel. Wir würden uns sehr freuen, Sie bald wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen!
Enthusiastic guide, knows a lot to tell, good mate. To be recommended. Beautiful nature reserve. Enjoyed
Hartelijk dank voor deze mooie woorden. Fijn om te horen dat jullie zo hebben genoten van het prachtige natuurgebied en van de verhalen tijdens de tocht. Het is altijd een plezier om mijn enthousiasme en kennis te mogen delen. Graag tot een volgende keer.
The guided tour with Thomas was at the top, you feel that he is passionate about his work which makes the experience really very interesting and fun. He speaks English and French very well. A big thank you to him! The combo guided tour + Hop On Hop Off is a good deal for those who are interested in nature and want to take their time on the different islands.
Bonjour, Merci beaucoup pour votre magnifique retour! Nous sommes ravis d’apprendre que vous avez apprécié le tour guidé avec Thomas. Sa passion et son énergie font en effet toute la différence, et nous ne manquerons pas de lui transmettre votre message. Nous sommes également heureux que le combo tour guidé + Hop On Hop Off ait répondu à vos attentes et vous ait permis de profiter pleinement des îles et de leur nature. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une prochaine aventure :)
We did this tour, even though it was more expensive it was tottaly worth it. The guided tour was very interesting, our guide explained everything about Ria Formosa natural Park in detail, we loved it! Then we stopped on the first island, had lunch in Estaminé (amazing btw) and then carried to the other islands, Farol and Culatra. This day was the highlight of our holiday!
Thank you very much for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be a valuable experience. It is wonderful to know that our guide was able to provide you with detailed insights about Ria Formosa Natural Park and that you appreciated the stops at the islands, including your lunch at Estaminé. We are especially pleased that this day became the highlight of your holiday. We hope to welcome you again in the future :) Kind regards, Miguel
Excellent tour from Tomás. Perfect mix of information about the Ria Formosa, salt marshes, wildlife and the area. Good fun going along on the speedboat and Tomás was very knowledgable inviting questions and got on well with the whole group generating laughs and thoughtful 'hmms' and 'wows' along the way. We made good use of the unlimited hop on hop off on the days staying at Deserta for a long while then Farol and back to Faro city in the evening. The other boat captains were also very friendly and charismatic with one getting us back to Faro in extremely fast fashion! Well worth the tour and trips.
Good morning, On behalf of the whole team and especially Tomás, thank you for your kind words and review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and had such a memorable experience exploring the Ria Formosa with us. It’s great to know that the mix of information, fun on the speedboat, and the beauty of the islands made the day special for you. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon for more adventures in the Ria Formosa! Kind regards, Miguel
Booked the hop on hop off ticket and spent the full day exploring the islands. Well worth the money. Staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. There are a few boat trip companies in Faro but in my opinion this one was the best value for money. Highly recommendx
Dear Stuart, Thank you so much for taking the time to recommend our services! We are very grateful for your lovely review, it's so nice to get feedback from clients :) We look forward to your next visit :) Kind regards,
Thomas is handsome and professional，he introduced many interesting things to us, I hope I could be as attentive and nice as him in the future, and the sunset tour is really nice. Highly recommend for that！
Dear, Thank you so much for taking the time to recommend Animaris Ilha Deserta, your review is very kind. Our team members share the passion for Ria Formosa Natural Park, and we've been promoting it for more than 30 years now. We are happy to know that you enjoyed the Sunset Tour with our guide Thomas. Looking forward to your return :) Kind regards,
Fantastic nature tour and hop-on-hop off trip to the islands. It was so good my 12 year old son and I went back the next day for another nature trip! This time we stayed on Desert Island for the day to explore, and got the ferry back. Joaquin our guide was incredibly knowledgeable. He helped us identify several Osprey, curlews, great white egrets and many more waders - plus he taught us about the history and ecosystem of the Rio Formosa and other wildlife like the fiddler crabs. On the first trip we had lunch on Culatra and enjoyed walking around the island. I had the best tuna steak ever and it was reasonably priced. On Ilha Deserta there is only one choice of restaurant and it is more upmarket and therefore expensive. The seafood linguine was gorgeous! If you’re on a tight budget it’s better to eat at Culatra or take food with you. We walked around the whole of Ilha Deserta in a couple of hours - including a play on the beach. You could spent many more hours there if you wanted though. We hope to return in the future and would definitely book with this company again. Thank you, Helen and Edward
Dear Helen and Edward, Thank you so much for taking the time to recommend Animaris Ilha Deserta, your review is very kind. Our team members share the passion for Ria Formosa Natural Park, and we've been promoting it for more than 30 years now. We are happy to know that you enjoyed both Tours with our guide Jokin. Looking forward to your return :) Kind regards,
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