Ihla Deserta

Ilha Deserta, officially known as Ilha da Barreta, is the southernmost of the barrier islands that shelter the Ria Formosa lagoon, and it lives up to its name by being almost empty. It is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a protected landscape of sandbanks, marsh, and channels that runs along the eastern Algarve coast. The island has no hotels and no roads, and the main infrastructure is a wooden boardwalk and a small restaurant, so people come mainly for sand, water, and quiet.

The island is a long, narrow strip of dunes, about seven kilometres from end to end, with a beach facing the open Atlantic on one side and calmer lagoon waters on the other. The sea side has broad golden sand and a lively swell, while the lagoon side is shallow and sheltered, which suits young children and paddling. Behind the beach, the dunes are fragile and covered with plants adapted to salt and wind, so visitors are asked to stay on the marked paths.

The lagoon is important for wildlife. Waders and other shorebirds feed on the mudflats, and the Ria Formosa is known for the purple swamphen and for seahorses living in the seagrass, while the dunes shelter the Mediterranean chameleon. Offshore, boat trips sometimes meet dolphins. None of this is guaranteed, but a calm walk with binoculars often turns up something.

Getting there takes a boat. Ferries and taxi boats run from Faro, usually by way of the lagoon channels, and the trip takes around half an hour; other operators sail from Olhão. Services are strongest in summer and reduced outside the season, so check times before planning a day trip, especially the return crossing. There is little shade and little shelter, so bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and food, although the restaurant is open for meals in season.

The island suits beachgoers who want space, families who enjoy shallow water, and nature lovers. Combine it with the old town of Faro, the Sé Cathedral and its bell tower, and a wider look at the Ria Formosa for a rounded day. Leave nothing behind, because the island has no bins at some points, and the environment is delicate. It is quiet and wild, and a very different kind of Algarve beach.