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Five islands make up the Ria Formosa in Portugal’s Algarve, including the picturesque Armona Island, a small island just a short ferry ride from the town of Olhão, between Culatra Island and Tavira Island, in the district of Faro. Armona is searched for by natives and tourists chasing an escape from hectic Algarve hotspots. Aside from the populated area on the west end, the rest of the island remains untamed, with 9 kilometres in length of unspoiled nature to explore.
Armona Island is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a vast protected lagoon system and one of Portugal’s most important ecosystems. Winter is an especially magical time to explore this area, as migratory birds gather here during the colder months. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in general will delight in spotting flamingos, spoonbills, and other exotic species that make this region their temporary home.
The journey to get there
One of the advantages of visiting Armona Island is its accessibility. From the port of Olhão, you can get the ferry to the different islands. The ferry between Olhão and Armona which runs four times a day during the low season, takes only around 15 minutes and provides an amazing perspective of both Olhão and Armona Island. Although the journey is relatively short, it is more than enough to make you feel like you are completely isolated and away from the mainland, making you realise you will be on an island soon.
The serenity of a car-free island
Once you get to the island and you are free to roam around, the first thing you will notice is that Armona’s charm lies in its simplicity. The island is completely car-free, meaning you can leave behind the stress of traffic and enjoy the freedom of walking or cycling with everything being a short distance away. This pedestrian-friendly setup encourages a slower pace of life, which is undoubtedly one of the best parts of spending some time on this island.
Winter amplifies this sense of serenity as the island’s summer crowds disperse, leaving the natural beauty and quiet lifestyle fully intact. This is also the time to get to interact with the locals and learn more about the island’s culture and traditions, as they will make up for most of the people around at this time of the year. During the summer months, Armona’s beaches fill with visitors, but in the off-season, the island transforms into a quiet haven, with kilometres of golden sandy beaches, often with no one else in sight. Armona Island offers a river beach facing the Ria Formosa (Praia da Armona-Ria) which is closer to the populated area of the island, and three sea beaches - Praia da Armona-Mar, Praia da Fuseta and Praia da Barra Nova - all of them worth a visit.
What to do on the island
The island’s network of trails and sand dunes invites visitors to explore on foot, especially when is not scorching outside. If you feel like walking, then you can take a leisurely walk to the eastern tip of the island to find stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean or venture to the tidal flats where you can observe the ebb and flow of the lagoon’s waters. If you are fancying water-based activities, besides swimming in the mild-temperate waters then kayaking and paddle boarding are great options. Also, don’t miss the sunset!
No trip to Armona would be complete without indulging in the local cuisine. The Algarve is renowned for its seafood, and the island’s proximity to the Atlantic ensures the freshest catches. The busiest part of the island is undoubtedly the café and restaurant area, located next to the port of the island, so basically as soon as you step out of the ferry. Even in winter, the restaurants and cafés on Armona which are still open during the low season, serve up mouth-watering dishes such as cataplana (a traditional seafood stew) and octopus.
Lodging on the island
Armona Island has neither hostels nor hotels, which helps to keep the island’s identity alive. However, there are a few options if you plan to spend some days at this idyllic location. One of them is renting private properties available for that purpose all year round, or staying at the ‘Orbitur Ilha da Armona’ and renting a bungalow (closed between mid-October and the end of February). You can always opt to stay in Olhão and then take the ferry back to the island – however, you will miss the ‘waking up to sand at your front door’ part.
Even if you are not the biggest fan of beach environments, you should give Armona Island a try. More than the perfect beach setting for people with all tastes, Armona Island offers tranquillity that you will hardly find anywhere else, besides an authentic culture and identity, occupied by friendly locals, exotic birds and overwhelming landscapes.
