The natural delights of Faro

Closest to Faro is the renowned Ria Formosa nature reserve which is about 7km away from the capital. The lagoon covers more than 170 square kilometres of land which plays host to hundreds of different species of birds migrating to and from Africa during spring and autumn.  It’s also a nesting place for a whole menagerie’s worth other species, including storks, herons, flamingos, grebes and sand pipers.

The estuary also has a raft of natural habitats that provide refuge, feeding or breeding areas for wildlife including fish, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles and mammals such as otters.

Looking for a local ornithological spot? If you’re lucky you’ll see a sultan chicken which is the symbol of Ria Formosa. Also known as the common caiman, these birds are large with bluish feathers and bright red feet and beak. But beware - they’re pretty rare with a population of 20 at most in the reserve.

 

Ria Formosa is also home to a number of beaches including Vale do Lobo, Faro Island, Culatra, Barril, Tavira Island, Cabanas de Tavira, Cacela-Velha and Manta Rota. The Algarve is mild all year round and perfect for anyone making a beeline for the sandy shores - and some beaches even cater for different groups of holidaymakers; Barill and Cacela Velha are popular with the gay community while Tavira Island beach has its own campsite.

For those tourists looking to stretch their sea legs, other beaches can be reached from Faro’s ferry pier. It’s a 20 minute trip across sand and mud banks to Ilha da Barreta beach. You'll spot flamingos en route and once you arrive at Ilha da Barreta you can expect to see sandwich terns, plovers, common terns, little terns and gull-billed terns.

Ilha da Culatra is also worth a visit but you’ll need to catch a ferry from nearby Olhao rather than Faro itself. Both beaches are good for swimming and the crystal clear waters make them ideal for diving and scuba diving, too! Adrenaline junkies will also find them a good spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

 

If you fancy hiring a car for a day then the wonderful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is about 200km away from Faro, close to Lisbon. It’s home to the tourist centres of Cascais and Sintra, the town of Colares, the Raso and Roca Capes, the ‘Mouth of Hell’ and the Sintra Mountain. There are also plenty of beaches to choose from such as Foz do Falcao and Azenhas do Mar.
Sintra Mountain itself rises to an altitude of 529m at Cruz Alta and its microclimate is ideal for exotic gardens and various species of vegetation.

Alternatively, Costa Vincentina national park is about 90km from Faro and covers the south west tip of Portugal. The stunning coastline offers fantastic surfing conditions and is home to several schools for people aiming to sharpen their board skills. Walkers and bikers will also enjoy the meandering coastline.

 

And if you want to get away from it all, the fishing village of Salema in Costa Vincentina has all the charm of a Cornish town - but with that all-important Portuguese climate. Stroll along the beach, taking long lazy lunches or watching the fishermen. For the more adventurous traveller it’s ideal for kayaking and snorkelling as well as boat trips to more remote beaches.