Ria Formosa in the Algarve is 18,000 hectares of internationally significant lagoons, marshland, woodlands, islets, dunes, sandy beaches, saltpans, and wetlands. This Natural Park stretches for 60 kilometers along the Algarve coast between Quinta do Lago and Manta Rota and consists of five barrier islands and two peninsulas.
Those who enjoy the sun and the sea will find genuine paradises in the Ria Formosa estuary’s islands. Faro, Barreta, Culatra, Armona, and Tavira have extensive stretches of sand from west to east.
The sandbank islands of Ilha da Cultura and Ilha da Armona have some of the quietest and largest beaches in the Algarve.
Ria Formosa in the Algarve is a haven for wildlife attracted by the diversity of its eco-systems. Ria Formosa, a birdwatcher’s paradise, is one of the most important areas for aquatic birds in Portugal, hosting more than 20,000 birds on a regular basis during the wintering season. The region is also vital as a stopover point on migration routes connecting Europe and Africa.
Traditional activities of the local population in this area include salt extraction and shellfish and bivalves gathering (mussels, oysters, clams, razor). Shellfish farming is a lucrative business in the Ria Formosa’s tidal flats. This extremely hard labor accounts for nearly 80% of Portuguese clam exports.
