Family Friendly Ways To Explore The Rio Formosa Natural Park

Faro is an ideal destination for a fun loving family. From the resort you can visit Ria Formosa Natural Park, which offers countless activities and exploration opportunities. Complete with beaches, canals and islands, you will find your family spoilt for choice in this park. There is also a variety of fauna to be spotted in Ria Formosa, particularly a large variety of birds. You can see the park in a variety of ways; these are some of the most fun ways to discover Ria Formosa.

Segway

Exploring Ria Formosa by Segway might be the coolest way to do so, and it is surely one of the best activities in Faro for families.  These self-balancing electric machines might look a little daunting, but you will quickly get the hang of them. Kids will have a blast riding around the park, and parents will equally have a great time. Book an organised Segway tour of the park, such as a bird watching tour, to learn more about the area. A Segway birdwatching tour will allow you and your family to spot some unique birds local to the area, and also enjoy cruising down the paths of Ria Formosa.

Hiking

There is perhaps no better way to truly experience the Ria Formosa than by hiking. You will walk past pine woodlands, salt pans, marshes, and also have plenty of opportunities to spot some local birds. The varied landscape is bound to keep kids interested throughout the hike and they’ll also be able to learn a little more about this part of the Algarve, such as the method of salt extraction used here. If you’re lucky you may spot a Greater Flamingo, a beautiful bird that can be found in the area. You can opt for an organised hiking tour with a local guide, or choose to explore on your own. Either way, hiking is an ideal way to explore Ria Formosa.

Boat

A large aspect of the Ria Formosa Natural Park is water, and so seeing this spot via boat is ideal. From the boat you can see the many pristine beaches on offer as well as the local fishing villages and sea birds. The sea in this area is rich in small marine life such as seahorses; in fact, the world’s highest concentration of these sea creatures in found here. If you’re embarking on an organised boat trip, you will get the opportunity to snorkel in the clear water here – the perfect activity in Faro for families who love exploring the natural world.

How to Get There

You can easily reach Faro from the UK. There are regular flights operating from a variety of budget airlines and luckily the flight is around two and a half hours, meaning your kids won’t get too restless. Once you reach the airport, the most convenient way to get to Faro for families is via a pre-booked transport service such as Shuttle Direct. With plenty of budget options, you will get to Faro in no time.

Author Plate

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for ideas on what to do in Faro for families, Lukas and his colleagues can give you some excellent tips as well as get you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.