CR Adventures 110922: Culatra Island - Faro to Culatra via Hagares, Praia da Culatra and the Dune Boardwalk

The adventure starts with a beautiful ferry journey from Ohao port to Culatra Island (Ilha da Culatra).
Our destination is Farol the stop after Culatra as our planned hike is from Farol at one end of the island to Culatra at the other.






is a small barrier island on the edge of the Ria Formosa around 10km from Faro and 6km from Olhão. Ilha da Culatra, Culatra and Praia da Culatra, as their names suggest are all parts of the same island and you’ll hear all variations of the name frequently. On the western end of the island you’ll also find Ilha do Farol. Which, although its name suggests otherwise, is not a separate island. Culatra is widely known as a remote paradise island. With near-tropical white sandy beaches stretching in both directions and low-lying beach communities. There’s little development and a distinct lack of mass tourism here which makes it a fantastic place to discover.






Culatra Island is a barrier island located in the Ria Formosa in the Algarve region of Portugal. It has an approximate population of around 700 people divided across three communities of Farol, Hângares and Culatra.

The island is located 10 km from Faro, and 6 km east of the town of Olhão. Administratively, the island belongs to the freguesia of Faro. The island is around 6 kilometres in length and ranges from 100 to 900 metres in width. Public access to the island is possible by year-round ferry service from both Faro and Olhão.
Private water taxis are also available.

The island has an extensive sandy beach on its ocean side, while the lagoon side is used for anchorage for yachts and boats. Throughout the island is a range of protected sand dunes that are part of the protected area of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Access through the dunes is by several raised wooden walkways to access the main beach of Praia da Culatra. On the western tip of the island is the historic lighthouse of Farol Santa Maria.




The lighthouse of Cape Santa Maria dates back to the year 1851. It is situated on the southwestern tip of the island of Culatra, at the entrance to the port of Faro and Olhão. This lighthouse was the first to be built in Portugal, and it was installed on top of a cylindrical tower, 34 meters high. In 1922, the tower was 12 m and the original was replaced. In 1929, due to the natural elements, the tower began to oscillate, therefore major restoration work had to be undertaken. It has a range of 25 miles, and a characteristic group of 4 white light flashes which take place every 17 seconds. In order to get there, you can take a passenger boat from Olhao and Faro.

Despite the slower pace of life and beach paradise, Ilha da Culatra has some excellent walking routes if you’re feeling active. You can walk between Culatra and Farol. The hike is around 3.5km if you walk along the beach or around 3km if you walk through the dunes. If you opt for the dune route, around halfway you’ll pass the very small community of Hangares. It’s a former naval outpost and named after several seaplane hangars, that operated until the 1960s. Once you’re through the village, you’ll usually be alone in the dunes and it’s an incredible and almost otherworld like experience.

From both the beach, and the dune hike, you’ll easily be able to see the lighthouse rising in the distance. It’s located in Farol and is the lighthouse the community is named after. Farol being the Portuguese word for lighthouse. Cabo de Santa Maria lighthouse to give its full name, you can read more about the history of the lighthouse of Cabo de Santa Maria in our guide to Ilha da Farol.

Ilha do Farol is a small community on a barrier island on the edge of the Ria Formosa, around 10km from Faro and 6km from Olhão. Praia do Farol, or Ilha do Farol as it’s known locally, is actually located on Ilha da Culatra. Although the names suggest they are separate islands, they are two different parts of the same 6km long island. With extensive white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and an incredible desert island feel it’s a fantastic day trip.

Farol do Cabo de Santa Maria

The lighthouse Cabo de Santa Maria is the lighthouse this part of the island and community is named after. Farol being Portuguese word for lighthouse. A lighthouse on this part of the island first operated in 1851 but the structure today is a little newer than that. The original structure though, was reportedly the first lighthouse to be built in Portugal! It was modernised in 1949, when it was electrified, and a maritime radio beacon was installed. Today it stands at 46m high and is an imposing structure on the surrounding scenery. Now fully modernised, the lighthouse emits four flashes of light in a 17 second cycle and has a range of over 25 miles!

Although now the lighthouse is usually pictured together with the main opening to the Ria Formosa, the lighthouse actually predates this channel. The channel was opened in the early 20th century to allow better access to the ports in Faro and Olhão. It was at this point the Islands of Culatra, and across the channel, Barreta were created. As previously they were connected, and part of much longer island called Ilha da Santa Maria. When the island was split, they created Ilha da Culatra and Ilha da Barreta (locally known as Ilha da Deserta). This is where the lighthouse gets its name from, Ilha da Santa Maria. As it was originally named after the island it was built on. Although officially it’s now on Ilha da Culatra. It’s also why, across the channel, you’ll find the most southerly point of mainland Portugal, Cabo de Santa Maria.