View of the Natural Park of Ria Formosa near Faro Beach which is characterized by its sand banks. We can also see the city of Faro and the mountainous hills of the hinterland area.

Ria Formosa - Faro visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Ria Formosa' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Algarve.

The Rio Formosa is a lagoon along the eastern Algarve coast of Portugal. It is formed by small, barrier islands, stretching along the coast from Faro, past Olhão to Cacela Velha village near Tavira. It is relatively recent, being created by the 1755 earthquake that devastated much of southern Portugal and is continuously being re-shaped by the sea.

Ria Formosa was declared a nature reserve in the mid 1980's and is a protected breeding site for many sea birds as well as all kinds of fish and marine life. Near Olhao is the Quinta de Marim Environmental and Nature Conservation Center, which contains informative displays and exhibits about the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. The center also contains an information kiosk for visitors. Some of the land is set aside for salt harvesting and the clean waters are also used for shellfish and small-scale fish farming.

Some of the island in the Ria Formosa chain are only accessible by boat. There are 5 natural openings from the lagoon to the sea, with a 6th man-made opening created to allow easier access for shipping to Faro harbour.

Ria Formosa contains a number of beautiful beaches, the most popular of which are Vale do Lobo Beach, Faro Island Beach, Culatra Beach, Barril Beach (nudist beach), Tavira Island Beach, Cabanas de Tavira Beach, Cacela-Velha Beach and Manta Rota Beach.

Centro de Educação Ambiental de Marim
Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
8700-206 Olhão, Portugal
Phone: 289 704 13

Car: Ria Formosa visitor center is about 12km east of Faro. Take the N125 through Olhão and then follow signs.
Train: Olhão Station, then walk 2.2km east along R. Calouste Gulbenkian.