Deserta Island Catamaran Boat Trip from Faro

Faro Old Town and Porta Nova pier

Your trip starts at Porta Nova pier, beside the sea gate in the medieval walls of Faro Old Town, the Cidade Velha. Behind the walls are cobbled lanes, the cathedral square and the Arco da Vila gateway, so it is worth arriving early or returning in the evening to explore. The pier is less than five minutes on foot from Faro Marina and the city centre.

Faro is the capital of the Algarve and the gateway for most travellers flying into the region, which makes this one of the easiest island day trips in southern Portugal. Many people search for how to get to Ilha Deserta from Faro: the catamaran from Porta Nova is the simplest way, with no car or transfer needed.

Ria Formosa Natural Park by catamaran

Ria Formosa is a protected lagoon that stretches for about 60 km along the eastern Algarve, sheltered from the ocean by a chain of barrier islands and peninsulas. The 45-minute crossing follows its winding channels past salt marshes, oyster and clam beds and sandbanks that change shape with every tide.

Keep an eye out for seabirds: egrets, herons, gulls and, in the cooler months, flamingos feeding in the shallows. The lagoon is calm, so the crossing is smooth and pleasant even for children and for those who do not enjoy open-sea trips. A Ria Formosa boat trip is one of the best ways to understand why this area is one of Portugal's most important wetlands.

Ilha Deserta, the untouched island

Ilha Deserta, also known as Barreta Island, is a long, narrow barrier island with no permanent residents, no roads and no cars. Only reachable by boat, it feels remarkably wild for a beach so close to a city: on one side lies the calm lagoon, on the other a seemingly endless stretch of fine Atlantic sand backed by dunes and coastal plants.

A 2-km wooden boardwalk crosses the island and lets you walk among the dunes without damaging the fragile vegetation. Is Ilha Deserta worth visiting? For anyone who wants space, quiet and clear water, absolutely; even in high summer you can walk a few minutes from the jetty and find a quiet spot.

Cabo de Santa Maria and lunch on the island

The island's southern tip, Cabo de Santa Maria, is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal, a fun fact that many visitors like to mark with a photo on the beach. The Atlantic here is clear and usually calmer in summer, and the beach is ideal for swimming, beachcombing and long walks.

Near the jetty an eco-friendly restaurant runs on solar power and serves traditional Algarve flavours such as grilled fish and seafood; meals are paid on the spot and booking ahead in summer is wise. The best time to visit Ilha Deserta is from late spring to early autumn, when several crossings run each day, and you can catch any return boat that suits your plans.