Ria Formosa National Park

About

Stretching for 60 km along the Algarve coast, this labyrinth of canals, islands, marshland and sandy beaches, attracts a varied range of animal life including the rare purple swamphen. With a tidal range of almost 4 meters, the scenery and wildlife changes drastically throughout the day. The abundant bird life is best viewed from a boat or canoe or via one of the many guided tours. For visitors with a penchant for scales, the park is also home to chameleons, amphibians, snakes and lizards. Of course, you don’t have to have any vested interest in biology to enjoy a scenic walk along the park’s network of trails.