Natural reserve in Faro
The Ria Formosa is a lagoon system and barrier island chain stretching along 60 kilometers of the Algarve coast, with salt marshes, mudflats, and deserted beaches. The park trails near Faro are free to walk. Cheap ferries run from Faro to the barrier islands (Ilha Deserta, Ilha de Faro) with free public beaches. Budget travelers take the ferry to Ilha Deserta and swim on one of the most empty and beautiful beaches in southern Portugal.
Practical
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Faro's old town (Cidade Velha) is a compact walled enclosure entered through the Arco da Vila, with cobblestone streets, orange trees, the Se Cathedral (free entry to nave), and the curious Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones, small fee). Free to walk.
Working out what Faro costs?
The whole of Faro