Ria Formosa

Ria Formosa is a magnificent natural park in Portugal, where there are entire labyrinths of water channels, islets, and lagoons. It stretches along the Algarve coast as much as 60 km and includes the beaches of Garrao and Manta Rota. Ria Formosa Park has recently been included in the list of seven wonders of Portugal.

The landscape of the park is quite changeable, as it is directly influenced by local winds and currents. Due to the diversity of ecosystems, there are many birds in the park. The Sultan bird lives here, which is a symbol of the entire park, as it is not possible to meet it anywhere else in Portugal.

Travel through the Ria Formosa Park should start from the tourist center, where you can find maps with walking routes, thanks to which you can easily navigate the area. You can stay in the local special shelters to enjoy watching life in the reserve. An unusual animal lives in Ria Formosa Park, which is a huge Portuguese water dog. This animal swims well underwater and helps to get fish out of nets.

A vacation in Ria Formosa Park is sure to appeal to travelers who prefer solitude, because it is usually not crowded here.

Boat tours that take place on traditional regional boats are very often in demand in the park. Of course, the guided tour will be useful and informative. You can learn a lot of new and interesting things from his story. Traveling along the water surface, you can observe the wildlife of the park in everyday conditions. Among the animals that are found on the way are turtles, dolphins, as well as various amphibians and seabirds. This tour usually lasts two hours, but there are shorter tours.

Hiking trails can take you on an exciting walk through the main attractions of Ria Formosa, which lasts an average of three hours. For a fee, you will be accompanied by a guide, as a result of which this route will also be informative. You can also hire an experienced ornithologist who will definitely show you the most reliable shelters where you can safely observe the world of birds. Ria Formosa Park has a very large number of birds, among which there are only 20 thousand different species.

There are many activities for tourists in this area, except for organized tours. It is easy to travel on your own here by renting a bicycle, catamaran or boat.