Europe’s beautiful “desert island” has no homes or roads, and its secluded beaches are some of the quietest in the Algarve.
The strip of water disconnecting it from the mainland allows natural habitats to flourish, making Barreta Island a paradise for nature lovers, which seems a world away from touristy Faro.
Also known as the deserted island (Ilha Deserta), its only permanent residents are flamingos or terns, which can roam around the protected natural reserve of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
In fact, the biggest – and only – structure on the island is a beach restaurant at the end of a wooden boardwalk on the sand, which serves up fresh fish straight from sea to plate.
The solar-powered kitchen of the restaurant, Estaminé, creates dishes with “flavours, aromas, and textures that we inherited from our parents, grandparents, and friends, based on the resources that the sea and the Ria Formosa”.
After indulging in a deserted island feast, there’s over 7km of peaceful coastline to explore, where the most pressing issue of the day is deciding where to go birdwatching or renting a beach parasol from local fishers.
There’s also a the Santa Maria boardwalk for when your legs need a stretch, which leads through the special flora and birds of this place, such as Sardinian Warblers or elusive chameleons.
Here the water is so clear that rare seahorses can even be spotted by a lucky few while snorkelling on the north side of the island in warm waters.
There is a public ferry which journeys to the island from Faro everyday which takes about 35 minutes, or boats can be rented to make the trip.