The southernmost point in Portugal, Ilha da Barreta or Ilha Deserta is one of the barrier islands in the Ria Formosa Natural Park that separates the salt marsh from the sea.
With a vast stretch of sand and a sea of clear waters, Ilha Deserta is a true paradise. The only permanent building on Ilha Deserta, located in the Ria Formosa, is the Restaurante o Estaminé.
The dunes have preserved their original vegetation and the flora is at its best, hiding the most fragile species on the inner slopes. Here, the fauna is also protected, and you can see Eurasian Terns , Garajaus, Swallows, Gulls and Chiretas.
From the boarding pier you can take an interesting environmental trail. This is a circular trail that starts on a wooden walkway (on the Ria side) and ends on the beach (on the Costa side).
Here you can contemplate the existing flora and fauna . On the beach, to the west of where the walkway ends, the Faro Municipal Assembly approved the creation of a Naturist area. A rare sanctuary, Ilha Deserta invites you to relax and unwind.
Praia da Barreta is located on Ilha Deserta, at the entrance to Barra Nova (Barra Faro-Olhão) and lives up to its name because it has no buildings and is not very busy.
Access is by sea, and on the way across you can see small mazes of sand, channels and salt marsh banks at low tide. Along the way, you should also look out for the various birds that feed here.
Praia da Barreta is one of the best preserved and least frequented beaches in the Algarve. Around 11 km of silence and quiet characterize the Deserta island, where everything seems to fit perfectly between worlds as different as land, sea and air.
The sand breathes with life, feeding several species of molluscs: clams, whelks and many other shells.
Ilha Deserta's beach is monitored and carries the Gold Quality Flag, which rewards bathing areas with "Excellent" water quality.
The island has two beaches: one facing the sea, the Atlantic Ocean; and the other facing the Ria Formosa.
On the island you can find the Estaminé restaurant. An excellent restaurant in a unique location, where you can taste the fresh flavors of the Ria Formosa.
In addition to boat trips, on this island you can also use the ferry or cab boats as a means of transportation.
On the beach, you can rent sun shades and beds for your comfort.
The Deserta island stretches for about 10km, and the walk along the footbridges is about 5km and is great.
Travel in small groups of 11 or 18 people, organized according to language, for a maximum of 2 languages per boat.
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Our local guides have years of skippering experience and knowledge of the region, and the whole team speaks four languages.
