Ria Formosa Natural Park

Hiking and cycling paths are partly developed, sometimes also over wooden footbridges

The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a popular breeding ground for numerous bird species such as herons, spoonbills, cormorants, cranes and storks. Flamingos can also be seen here. The natural park is also home to purple gallinules, which can only be found in this part of the country.

The Ria Formosa, a wetland of international importance, is a labyrinth of channels, islands, marshes and sandbanks that stretches for 60 km, specifically between the beaches of Garrão and Manta Rota, on the Algarve coast.Its diverse ecosystems attract a wide variety of animals, including, of course, numerous species of birds such as the purple crake, the park's symbol. If you want to admire this bird with its magnificent plumage and learn all about the protected area, start your visit with a visit to the Marim Environmental Education Centre. There you will receive information on the most suitable hiking trails and the shelters where you can hide to observe the different species in their natural environment. The park also organizes trips on an old boat that was originally used for tuna fishing. visitportugal.com/en/content/parque-natural-da-ria-formosa