Hop On Hop Off 3 Islands: Deserta, Farol and Culatra
Description
Feel free to explore the Ria Formosa’s barrier islands at your own pace. Departing from Faro, 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. How does the Hop On Hop Off Islands work? 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 one of the 5 barrier islands in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, and the only uninhabited. The shape of Deserta looks like an arrow pointing south, between the Atlantic Ocean and Ria Formosa. The island has been kept pristine for many years, and today still surprises. From birds, to plants and flowers, crustacean, chameleons and others still to be found, Ilha Deserta is a hotspot of biodiversity. On island you'll find Estaminé Restaurant surrounded by the tranquility, it offers an authentic gastronomy experience, a quality service and spectacular panoramic views.
Ilha do Farol gets the name from the iconic lighthouse 'Santa Maria'. It is a mark among fisherman as safe haven and it has a small community on holidays and weekends.
Culatra is the only island with residency all year long. The highlights is the fisherman port, church, island school and community itself. To reach the beach it requires a 30 minute walk.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(62)
Impeccable service in punctuality, kindness of the staff, and quality of the means of transport
Grazie di cuore per la sua splendida recensione! Siamo davvero lieti che abbia apprezzato la puntualità, la gentilezza del nostro personale e la qualità del servizio. È un piacere sapere di aver contribuito a rendere positiva la sua esperienza. Saremo felici di accoglierla nuovamente! Un caro saluto da tutto il nostro team.
Impeccable service, friendly and very helpful staff
Grazie mille per la sua splendida recensione! Siamo davvero felici di sapere che ha apprezzato il nostro servizio e la disponibilità del nostro staff. Speriamo di poterla accogliere nuovamente per un'altra piacevole esperienza!
Excellent organization, everyone is on time. There was no explanation about the places because they simply drop you off and pick you up when you want according to the pre-established times. Deserted island is very beautiful, the one that is most worth it, Farol is cute, Culatra less so. Prepare yourselves for the freezing water.
Grazie per la sua recensione. Siamo lieti che abbia apprezzato l'organizzazione e la puntualità del servizio. Il nostro obiettivo è proprio quello di offrire la massima libertà, permettendo di visitare le isole secondo gli orari prestabiliti. Grazie ancora per aver condiviso la sua esperienza e speriamo di accoglierla nuovamente in futuro.
Our expierence with the staff Miguel Jesus was amazing , he was great person and provided and helped us book the right tours suitable for us
Hello, Thank you for your time and review! We´re very happy to know that Miguel Jesus helped you booking the right tour and we´ll make sure to share it with him. Once again, thank you and we look forward to welcoming you soon!
A great hop on hop off experience. The staff at the reception in the city of Faro provided us with plenty of information, with a smile, good cheer, and additionally in French. At the departure, everything went very well. The boat was on time, in good condition, with life jackets and always pleasant staff. The islands are great to explore, and we can stay as long as we like in the order we prefer. The boats are sufficiently available and on time. Everything went very well; it was a beautiful day.
Merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique retour! Nous sommes ravis d’apprendre que vous avez passé une si belle journée avec nous. Toute l’équipe sera très heureuse de savoir que l’accueil, les explications en français, ainsi que la bonne humeur de notre personnel ont contribué à rendre votre expérience encore plus agréable. C’est également un plaisir de lire que vous avez apprécié l’organisation des départs, le confort et la ponctualité des bateaux, ainsi que la liberté de découvrir les îles à votre rythme grâce au système hop on hop off. Merci encore pour votre confiance et pour avoir pris le temps de partager votre expérience. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir de nouveau très bientôt!
We had a wonderful experience with Animaris in Faro! I visited together with my friend, and the trip to Culatra and Ilha Deserta was absolutely beautiful. A special thank you to Captain João — very charismatic, professional, and with a fantastic sense of humor. He made the whole experience enjoyable and relaxing, and we truly appreciated his friendly attitude and knowledge. We also want to thank Michel, who welcomed us and helped with the tickets. The whole team was kind, organized, and very professional. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the experience and would highly recommend Animaris to anyone visiting Faro. We will definitely book again in the future! — Vera
Dear Vera, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing us. We are truly happy to hear that you and your friend had such a beautiful and enjoyable experience with us. Your kind words about Captain João mean a lot and we’ll be sure to share your compliments with him. We also greatly appreciate your recognition of Miguel and the rest of our team. Thank you again for your recommendation and trust. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future :) Warm regards, Miguel and Animaris Team
Unforgettable experience! Ilha Deserta, Farol and Cultura went above and beyond expectations, the speed boat drivers were skilled, funny and kind :) Ilha deserta easily one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited and the nature walk around the island is stunning
Hello! Thank you so much for your time and review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and it went beyond your expectattions. It is wonderful to know that our skippers were able to provide you with a skilled and funny rides. Ilha Deserta is really beautiful and we hope to welcome you again soon :)
Excellent Service. There were other taxi services and some even cheaper, but the frequency with which we had boat available was excellent, the boats were very good and fun. The staff is very friendly, attentive and fun. We loved it.
Muito obrigado pela sua avaliação tão positiva! Ficamos muito felizes por saber que apreciou o nosso serviço, a disponibilidade das embarcações e a simpatia da nossa equipa. Trabalhamos todos os dias para garantir a melhor experiência possível e é gratificante perceber que conseguimos proporcionar bons momentos. Esperamos recebê-lo novamente em breve :)
The beauty of it is being able to jump from one island to another, depending on how long you want on each island. The dinghies they take from one place to another are new and powerful, allowing you to “fly” over the water. Highly recommended trip, especially if driving the boat is Joaquin, very nice and competent
Ciao! Grazie mille per il tuo tempo e la tua recensione. Siamo felici che tu abbia apprezzato l'esperienza di visitare le isole e il comfort delle nostre barche. Un ringraziamento speciale da parte di Joaquín, che sarà molto felice di sapere che hai apprezzato la sua cordialità e professionalità. Speriamo di rivederti presto per una nuova avventura :)
we utilised the hop on hop off as we wanted to have flexibility in our day, and we're able to book the day of for the time we wanted. the lady at the marina desk was lovely and explained how it worked for us. I have cerebral palsy and therefore have mobility issues, but each time I was helped on and off the boat and felt genuinely helped; not rushed, as though I was an inconvenience, or made to feel less, and I didn't even have to explain my disability, that was the genuine approach. I was also apprehensive about being on a speedboat, but the journey was smooth, comfortable, and we had our life jackets checked to make sure they were on properly and fitted. all in all, I would absolutely recommend. each person was wonderful, the transport arrived exactly when it was supposed to, and it was an amazing way to ensure we had the day we wanted to have. definitely the best way to explore the islands.
Dear Kayleigh, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We're absolutely delighted to hear that our Hop On Hop Off service gave you the flexibility you were looking for and helped make your day exactly what you wanted it to be. It truly means a lot to us to know that you felt genuinely supported and never rushed or made to feel like an inconvenience because that’s exactly the kind of respectful and inclusive experience we strive to offer every single guest. We're also very happy to hear that the boat ride felt smooth and safe, and that our team ensured your life jacket was properly fitted and secure. Your kind words about our staff and service really made our day. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with the team, it’s always wonderful to hear how our crew made a positive impact. Thank you again for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back again soon :) Kind regards, Miguel
