Rio Formosa, Faro

Ilha Deserta (Desert Island) is one of the 5 barrier islands in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and located in the southerrnmost point of Mainland Portugal. As the name indicates, it is one of the most remote and deserted location in the Algarve. Even at the height of summer, there will only be a handful of people on the beach. The island is unhabited and is acessible only by boat.

Ilha Deserta is a hotspot of biodiversity where you can find birds, plants and flowers, crustacean, chameleons and etc..

Pristine beaches with barely anobody there. There will be no Urban development here so it will also be deserted.

Across the shore is Faro island not to be confused with the town of Faro.

View of Faro Island from Desert Island.

Crystal clear water

A sea cucumber on the beach.

Sea shells

More sea shells...

Walking toward the end of the beach.

Incredible view with nobody in sight.

The beaches on the island stretch for about 6 miles with exceptionally clean and clear water.

Sandy beach..

The water is crystal clear.

The island has a rich fauna and Flora with about 200 different plant species.

From the beach, you have to climb up a bit to reach the wooden boardwalk through the sand dunes.

We are now on the boardwalk looking at the beach.

Gorgeous view from here.

Wild flowers.

The boardwalk is about 1.25 mile long.

Flowers are thriving in the sand dune.

Wild daisy

Sea beans can only grown in salty environment. I have seen chefs using it but it is so hard the find in our area.

Here they are plenty of bushes and they produce beautiful purple flowers.

Wish I could take so home...

I am so surprised to se parsley growing in the sand dune.

There are a lot of parsely everywhere.

On the right is a scarecrow.

The only hut on the island

I was told this is a resting point for all the fishermen. They can come and have lunch and leave their equipment here.

The brown building you see is the only restaurant on Desert Island.

Solar panels perched atop and alongside the building now produce energy, all year-round, and collected groundwater purified by reverse osmosis comprises the restaurant’s water supply.