I have been travelling to Portugal for over 40 years and had no idea how stunning the Ria Formosa was. Victor was our guide and he was finny and engaging. What a great day and superb value for money





Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Faro
Sail privately through the Ria Formosa Natural Park on this sightseeing cruise from Faro. Journey through the Ria Formosa channels on a modern and comfortable catamaran and make stops at the islands Farol and Deserta (half day tour). Come and celebrate with us a special occasion! The tour is operated by a multilingual guide. Snacks and drinks are not included. If you would like to have it, you need to pay a supplement.
Visit the Ria Formosa Natural Park with a local guide.
Free time on the island
Free time on the island
Private Ria Formosa Natural Park Boat Cruise from Faro lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
Prices start at $473 per person for this Faro experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is About 10 meters in front of Eva Senses Hotel. A representative in a red shirt will be waiting for you. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in PT, EN, FR, ES.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 11 travellers can book together.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Children must be accompanied by an adult
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
I have been travelling to Portugal for over 40 years and had no idea how stunning the Ria Formosa was. Victor was our guide and he was finny and engaging. What a great day and superb value for money
A very pleasant visit and a great captain
Very well received, both by the young woman at the kiosk and Captain Antonio... Everything was clear and the trip to the 2 islands even left us time to swim and we were so excited that upon leaving we booked the dolphin watching cruise with the same captain....Brilliant.
A very late afternoon on Desert Island with a swim next to the mullet and a very pleasant visit to Lighthouse Island. The typical houses are beautiful and walking through the streets without cars is a good feeling. The Maramais cafe has a very lively and friendly atmosphere. André was very friendly and an excellent guide and sailor. Showed the fauna and flora of the Ria and explained navigation details. Very good!
Excellent day, I cannot recommend enough. Our captain Ricardo was brilliant and even found the flamingos for my daughter to see.
Dear Toby Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had an excellent day and that Ricardo helped make it such a special experience 😊 It’s especially lovely to know that he managed to find the flamingos for your daughter: moments like that create unforgettable memories! Thank you for your kind recommendation, it truly means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you and your family again soon! Warm regards Sandra
We did a private tour on Saturday 2nd May as part of a Hen Do on the Ria Formosa and stopped at Farol and Deserta. The trip was great from start to finish. Communication with the company via WhatsApp ahead of the day was really informative and organised and then Andre was amazing on the day. We brought food and drinks onboard and were able to play our own music through the boat by bluetooth. The boat is also really comfy!
Dear Becks Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that your private tour was such a great experience from start to finish, especially for such a special occasion 😊 It’s great to know that our communication before the tour was helpful and that André made the day even more enjoyable. We’re also happy you could relax, enjoy your own food and music, and make the most of your time on board! Thank you for choosing to celebrate with us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Warm regards Sandra
Wonderful trip with a great Captain Antonio. Very knowledgeable of the area.
Dear Michael, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a wonderful trip and enjoyed Antonio’s knowledge of the area. He’ll be very happy to read your feedback! We hope to welcome you aboard again soon. ⚓🌊 Warm regards, Sandra
A wonderful experience with our family including grandchildren. Trip around Rio Formosa Natural Park with stops to explore Desertas & Farol Islands is to be recommended. Staff were friendly & helpful with parking. Ricardo was excellent, very knowledgeable about area & bird life.
Dear Sandra Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you and your family, including the grandchildren, had such a lovely experience exploring the Ria Formosa Natural Park and visiting Deserta and Farol islands. It’s great to know that our team was helpful with parking and that Ricardo’s knowledge about the area and birdlife made the trip even more enjoyable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you all aboard again soon! ⚓🌿 — The Islands 4 You Team
Guide Antonio is a lot for the note. Ride a little expensive compared to the price of the existing shuttles to go to the islands
Cher Eric, Merci beaucoup pour votre retour ! Nous sommes ravis de lire que vous avez apprécié l’accompagnement d’Antonio — il sera très heureux de savoir que son travail a contribué positivement à votre expérience. Concernant le tarif, notre tour inclut bien plus qu’un simple transport : des explications guidées, la découverte de la Ria Formosa, des arrêts commentés et une expérience plus personnalisée. Nous comprenons toutefois votre remarque et vous remercions de l’avoir partagée. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau à bord. ⚓🌿 Cordialement, Sandra
The tour started on time and there was ample explanation about bird species we encountered on the way to the 2 islands. Antonio presented himself as a confident captain interspersing his comments with humor and self deprecation that made the trip memorable! The 2 beaches were pristine! An excellent experience for the family!
Dear customer, Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We’re glad the tour started on time and that Antonio’s confident yet humorous commentary made the trip memorable. It’s wonderful to hear the bird species explanations, pristine beaches, and that the experience was excellent for the whole family. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another great adventure. Safe travels!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Private Ria Formosa Natural Park Boat Cruise from Faro | 3 hours | 4.8 (60) | $473 | |
Algarve to Lisbon Private Transfer Up to 4 Stops | 3–8 hours | 5.0 (3) | $213 | View |
Sunset Tour | Ria Formosa - From Faro | 1 hour | 5.0 (838) | $35 | View |
From Faro: Benagil Cave, Marinha & Carvoeiro [Full-Day Tour] | 8 hours | 4.9 (885) | $65 | View |
Ria Formosa - Boat trip to the 3 Islands: Armona | Culatra Island | Lighthouse | 5 hours | 4.9 (2,079) | $47 | View |
Ria Formosa Natural Park and Islands Boat Cruise from Faro | 4 hours | 4.9 (1,466) | $50 | View |
Small Group Dolphin and Wildlife Watching Tour in Faro | 2h 30min | 4.9 (651) | $77 | View |