Ria Formosa (Faro & Olhao) - General Info
Description:
Faro lies in the north-west corner of Ria Formosa, which is on Portugal’s southern coast. The city has much interesting and ancient architecture. Particularly attractive, is the old part of the city, still surrounded by its Roman walls.
Olhao is in the northeast of the Ria. It is a major port and the largest fishing port in the Algarve. It is full of character with Moorish-style architecture.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
When approaching Faro from the West, be aware that there are tuna nets laid to the south of Faro. See report adjacent for further details.
Position:
36°57.8’N, 07°52.2’W (entrance).
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Related to following destinations: Portugal, Ria Formosa (Faro & Olhao), South Coast (Algarve)
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We have had a bad experience with Nave Pegos shipyard in Faro. We had decided to leave Neos on the hard for the winter.
We asked if the travel lift was wide enough to accommodate Neos’beam which is 4.7 m. We were told that there was no problem as the travel lift was 5m.
In fact, it was only 4.8m. We had just the space to insert lines along the side of the boat to protect the hull! We lifted the boat in October.
There were works to be done. In January nothing was done and we realized that nothing will be done.
So we decided to put Neos back to the water and move her to Sopromar in Lagos. They are professional but expensive.
May 2018. Entrance channel to Olhao well marked and plenty of depth (3 meters plus) even at low tide. Marina is under new ownership, efficient and friendly service.
We arrived without reservation, they went out of their way to accommodate us and were great help when docking in strong winds and currrent. The breakwater pontoon now has power and water.
Nice authentic town, great market on Saturdays, lots of restaurants, bars and supermarkets within walking distance. Make sure to contact marina before arrival for berth availability, there still is a long waiting list for permanent berths.
I deeply regretted leaving Culatra for an overnighter to stuffy, busy, dirty, Gibraltar, where I had harboured dreams of getting any kind of boat work done. Culatra is incredibly well-protected and has lovely thick gloop that anchors were made for.
Once in you won’t move an inch in any conditions.
You can save yourself all that tricky shoal draft pilotage by catching the ferries that run to Faro and Olhao.
They are very cheap (Olhoa E3.70 return). Or if you group together the boat taxis are just as economical. Bear in mind this. Drugs not normally available without prescription elsewhere are readily available and extremely cheap in Portugal.
I stocked up with gout pills at a quarter of the UK prescription price.
Culatra is a tiny village but fresh goods are still reasonable and restaurants and bars are cheap too.
Faro and the spectacular kaleidoscope of colour, life and variety that is the Olhao Saturday market will provide anything you need. I can’t comment on facilities for boats.
As commented above Faro has it all 🙂
We lifted out at Nave Pegos (Bruce’s Yard) on Aug 7, till we resume our cruise next Spring.
Ria Formosa is an excellent area to rest, visit, and accommodate family/friends to visit.
Easy grounds for short cruises east to Guadiana River or west toward Sagres, Lagos.
Many different safe anchorages depending on which island village/beach you want to visit.
For Faro itself, visiting or provisioning or airport cnx, go up the channel to buoy 23 and anchor or pick up avail mooring and dinghy in the Doca Recreio and tie up the far end wall (bad ladder or nice stone steps). Quite safe and right in town. 15 min walk up to supermarket lots restaurants, close by Meos cell phone shop for your sim card, etc.
Pierre and Dominique
S/Y Sibylline
Canada
Culatra Island – in addition to the above written: The small village, visiting by dinghy no problem in the fisher harbour has also a basic supermarket with fresh bread and fruits and a lot of good things to buy. There is a year-round ferry service to Faro ( 5 Euros for the round trip), Olhao and Isla Deserta.
Enough space for more than a hundred of ships to anchor, good holding in “gloopy, sandy mud”. From Isla Culatra you can walk to the open Atlantic coast with a wonderful beach and crystal-clear water.
Faro: a wonderful little town, a must, to spend one day or more in this area, you see also big birds in the entrance channel, where the little ferries are landing.
Olhao: Anchoring or Marina also available in Olhao, but not many places and not so nice.
With the dinghy its possible by high water to go from anchoring to Olhao, better than with the big ferry. There are two big halls with red roofs: one with a large fish market and second with a fruit and vegetable market during the week.
On Saturday morning visit the big open-air market in front of the halls. On the road behind the big halls you find some Ferreteria`s with some nautic parts and supermarkets when you walk easterly, but better ask for the way.