Isla Cristina Marshes and Salt Pans 🌿 Via Verde crossing

Great bird watching in the nature preserve protecting the wetlands and saltmarshes north of the pittoresque little town.
The coastal biketrail ViaVerde west to Ayamonte is good. To the East (to Redondela) don't bother: as of 2019 it is still unmaintained, overgrown, and sections are waterlogged.

The European flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the only flamingo species found in the wild in Europe and is a loyal visitor to the Algarve. From November to March they can be easily spotted in the lagoons of Quinta do Lago (west of Faro) and Salgados, also in the saltwater marsh of Tavira, the inlet of the Rio Arade in Portimão and in the river of Alvor. They do not breed in the Algarve.

Further on in the swamp area is a huge colony of flamingos.