Top 15 Portugal Island Hopping Tours

1.4 Stops | 3 Islands & Ria Formosa Natural Park – From Faro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,080 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $48Our pick

Cruise Faro’s Ria Formosa Natural Park in a small catamaran with a local skipper such as João, JC, or Ivan. Visit Deserta, Farol, and Culatra, watch for herons and spoonbills, see oyster beds, and choose a morning trip with time for a typical island lunch.

“Pretty neat but not super exciting. It was a chill day and we had a nice guide. A bit chilly in the morning when we left so bring a jacket!”

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2.Ria Formosa Faro Islands Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,588 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Cruise Faro’s Ria Formosa Natural Park in a modern boat with up to 11 people. Guides such as Antonio and Ricardo point out birds, tidal channels, and local history, then give you free time on Deserta and Farol islands for walks, swimming, and optional lunch.

“Loved this trip, gave a snap shot of the island which made us want to go back and visit for a day to explore more. The guide was very good and whilst other boats whizzed past, he took the time to explain about the Rio Formosa and stop at many points to show us different birds, insects and beaches. Thought it was great value for money. We did the 3:15 trip and we got the advantage of going out at a lower tide and seeing the nature reserve one way and returning on a high tide so it looked different. Thank you Ricardo for a great day.”

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3.Ria Formosa – Boat trip to the 3 Islands: Armona | Culatra Island | Lighthouse

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,872 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $48

Spend about five hours exploring the Ria Formosa from Olhão in a shaded boat limited to 18 people. Guides such as William, Claudio, and Gabriel share local stories as you visit Farol, Culatra, and Armona or Praia Deserta, with time for beaches, village walks, and lunch.

“Tour guide was really awesome, but felt like this tour is little bit repetitive. Wish we spend more time at last island. Tour guide squeezed maximum out of this tour.”

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4.Ria Formosa Natural Park and Islands Boat Cruise from Faro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,314 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $51

Set out from Faro Marina with a multilingual guide such as Antonio, Ricardo, or Miguel. Cruise the tidal channels of Ria Formosa, stop at Barreta Island for beach time, then explore Farol’s sandy lanes and houses. The three-hour trip suits anyone wanting nature, swimming, and island time in one outing.

“Very good experience. Nice guide, full of humour. Two différent islands, both interesting We recommand”

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5.4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,129 reviews · 5 hours · from $47

From Faro, cruise the Ria Formosa with a multilingual guide such as João or Pedro. Visit Ilha Deserta, Ilha do Farol, Hangares, and Culatra, with time to swim, walk, spot birds, see oyster farming, and enjoy an optional seafood lunch.

“Informative of Ria Formosa & most importantly it was enjoyable pleasant experience. Joao the Guide from Estrela da Ria Formosa boat tour was exceptional. The boat trip was good which I'm sure all tours could provide but it's a huge bonus to have an exceptional guide. Highly recommended to have Joao & go for all the islands provided.”

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6.2 Stop | 2 Islands & Ria Formosa Natural Park – From Faro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,045 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $42

Cruise Faro’s Ria Formosa Natural Park in a group of up to 12, stopping at Ilha Deserta for a swim or snorkel and Farol Island for its lighthouse, beach, and Cabo de Santa Maria views. Guides such as Sergio, Ivan, and John add local tips, though time at each island is brief.

“Estamos encantados con esta excursion, Sergio el guia y conductor del barco, excelente. Nos explicó la fauna de la zona y costumbres. La zona espectacular, te haces un poco la idea de como es. Repetiria sin pensarlo, pero tal vez como ya tenemos una vision de todo, la próxima cogería un taxi y pasar el dia en illa deserta.”

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7.Deserta Island and Farol Island Catamaran Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 955 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

From Faro Marina, you’ll cruise the Ria Formosa by catamaran, watch for herons and storks, spend an hour on Farol Island, then pause on peaceful Deserta Island. Guides such as Miguel, Diogo, and João are known for lively local and wildlife commentary.

“Great island hopping trip, with plenty of wildlife along the route to see. The beach island, only inhabited by one small fishing home, was idyllic, peaceful & calm. The crystal blue sea, & the powdery sand was stunning. The second island, with colourful houses, and beach cafes & restaurants was very interesting & fun to walk around, boasting another spectacular beach! Don't forget your sun cream! cover up's and cash for the bars & restaurants as some can not accept card payments.”

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8.Catamaran Boat Trip to Deserta Island with Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 636 reviews · 45 min · from $11Best value

Take a catamaran from Faro’s Porta Nova pier through the Ria Formosa to Ilha Deserta, also called Barreta Island. You get free time for the beach and 2-kilometer boardwalk, plus optional food at Estaminé Restaurant. Choose from several return crossings and stay a few hours or all day.

“Great. Went primarily for the nude beach which was excellent but it was just a really good place for a steill on the boardwalks. Lots of nice nature to see. Fare seemed pretty reasonable to me.”

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9.Peniche: Berlengas Island Round-Trip Ferry with Island Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 596 reviews · from $28

Ride from Peniche to Berlengas Island, about 16 kilometers offshore, then explore at your own pace. See the São João Baptista Fort, Elephant Rock, and Praia do Carreiro do Mosteiro. Bring water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes. The boat ride can be bumpy.

“Exceptional standards of service. Kind, professional people who explained everything clearly and check up on their passengers throughout the bumpy ferry to Berlenga. 100% recommended. Muito obrigado.”

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10.Boat Tour of 2 Ria Formosa Islands: Culatra and Armona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 426 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $36

Cruise the sheltered waters of the Ria Formosa from Olhão with a local captain and guide, stopping at Culatra for its fishing village and Armona or Deserta Beach by season. Binoculars, shaded seating, maps, and free time for swimming, food, and walking are included.

“Nos gustó mucho la isla de culatra. Muy peculiar y bonita su vida. Pudimos bañarnos en sus aguas limpias y frescas.”

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11.Pico Island: Azores Whale & Dolphin Watching on Zodiac Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 408 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $53

From Lajes do Pico, you’ll join an English or Portuguese-speaking guide and skipper on a Zodiac RIB to search for more than 25 cetacean species. Expect a safety briefing, waterproof gear, coastal views, and a short refreshment stop after the wildlife search.

“So plenty of dolphins and Whales. The guides were friendly and informative.”

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12.Ria Formosa: Armona and Culatra Islands 3-Hour Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 407 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

From Olhão, your captain guides you through Ria Formosa’s marshes, sandbars, oyster beds, and barrier islands. Stop at car-free Culatra and peaceful Armona for walks, food, photos, or a swim at Praia Deserta. Small shared boats, private cruises, and multilingual guides are available.

“The islands we visited were beautifu, and we learned a lot about the history and culture of Armona and Culatra from our excellent guide, William.”

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13.From Olhão: Ria Formosa Sunset Island Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 302 reviews · 2h 30m · from $35

Set out from Olhão with guides such as Claudio, William, Carlos, or Ivan for a 150-minute sunset trip across Ria Formosa. Visit Armona, Praia Deserta, or Culatra depending on the season, with time for swimming, walking, drinks, wildlife spotting, and sunset views. Shared and private boats are available.

“Great trip, great value for money. Great way to spend a few hours before sunset”

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14.Dolphin Watching + 2 Islands Tour – From Faro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 281 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $72

Set out from central Faro at 8:30 a.m. with a skipper and up to 11 other passengers. Search the Atlantic for dolphins, seabirds, and turtles, then visit Ilha do Farol and Ilha Deserta, with time for a swim. Guides may include Filipe, Alex, or the Thiagos.

“Saw only 1 dolphin. Boat trip was lovely with very good English speaking guide. But after searching for dolphins, they simply dropped us off at 2 different islands for 45 minutes at each. Just enough time to get a quick look. Seeing the 1 dolphin was exciting, but the islands part was a waste of time.”

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15.Ria Formosa Hop-On Hop-Off 3 Islands Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 272 reviews · 1 day · from $47

From Faro, use a one-day hop-on hop-off boat pass to visit Desert Island, Farol, and Culatra. Swim, walk to Cape Saint Mary, see oyster farms, meet local fishing communities, and choose how long to stay on each island. Boats run regularly, with multilingual staff and a 24-hour ticket.

“Very good fast boat experience with a good lunch on the island”

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