How to get to Culatra and Farol from Olhão

You catch the public ferry from Olhão pier and step off on Culatra Island. Culatra and Farol are served by the same boat: it leaves Olhão, stops at Culatra and continues to Farol. The island also has a third settlement, Hangares. There is no bridge or road, so the boat is the only way over. One thing to check before you set off: the time of the last boat back, which shapes your whole day.

A detail that catches many people out: the boat leaves from Olhão, but Culatra, Hangares and Farol belong to the municipality of Faro. Armona, on the other hand, is part of Olhão. That is why the official beach information for these settlements sits on Faro council's website rather than Olhão's.

Where to catch the boat

Public ferries to the islands leave from Olhão pier on the waterfront, near the market halls. Boats to Armona go from the same pier, so check at the ticket office which one is yours before boarding. The Culatra and Farol route is run by Guerreiro & Guadiana, the same company that operates the Armona service, and it is a single route: the boat calls at Culatra and carries on to Farol. Every route is gathered on our ferries page.

Tickets are sold at the ticket office at the entrance to the pier, which takes card payments. We could not find a fare table published by an official body, so we are not quoting prices here: check the fares posted on the day. If you are bringing a dog, a beach trolley or a bike, ask at the ticket office whether they need a ticket of their own.

Culatra and Farol ferry timetable

These are the times listed on Olhão Cubista, the page locals use to check the boats (checked on 5 October 2026). Departures from Olhão serve both stops, as it is one boat; on the way back, each island has its own departure times.

Winter (21 September to 31 May)

From Olhão	From Farol	From Culatra
7:00, 11:00, 15:00, 18:30	7:30, 12:45, 16:00, 19:15	7:45, 13:00, 15:30, 19:00

June (1 to 30 June)

From Olhão	From Farol	From Culatra
7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30	7:30, 10:00, 12:45, 16:00, 18:15, 20:20	7:45, 9:30, 13:00, 15:30, 17:45, 20:00

Summer (1 July to 20 September)

From Olhão	From Farol	From Culatra
7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30	7:30, 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 18:15, 20:20	7:45, 9:30, 11:30, 13:45, 15:30, 17:45, 20:00

In practice:

• Pay close attention to the last return boat from the settlement you are visiting. In winter it is 19:15 from Farol and 19:00 from Culatra; in summer, 20:20 from Farol and 20:00 from Culatra.
• Boats on the lagoon are at the mercy of the tides, and Olhão council warns on the Armona timetable that times can change because of them. If in doubt, ring the ticket office on +351 964 123 878.
• Our ferries page has the timetables for every island, with the next departure of the day.

What you will find at each stop

Culatra. The largest settlement. According to Faro council, around a thousand people live here, mostly fishermen and their families, and it shows: the village still lives off the lagoon and the sea. On the ocean side there are roughly five kilometres of sand. Walk east and you reach Barra Grande, where the tide leaves natural pools in the sand. There are several restaurants, a first aid post, and parasol and sunbed hire. More on our Culatra page.

Hangares. The island's third settlement, which has its own postcode, as do Culatra and Farol, since Faro council assigned them. Fewer visitors get off here, so tell the ticket office you want Hangares and check that your boat stops there.

Farol. Named after the Cabo de Santa Maria lighthouse. The beach stretches for about three kilometres, and Faro council lists restaurants, bars, a first aid post and parasol and sunbed hire. The council describes the crossing as a trip of around 30 minutes through the Ria Formosa. See our Farol page for more.

The whole island lies within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is why the advice on dunes and litter further down matters.

The Cabo de Santa Maria lighthouse

This is the tower that gives the settlement its name and that you spot from the water long before you land. According to the Lighthouse Directorate of Portugal's National Maritime Authority, it dates from 1851, stands 46 metres tall, has a range of 25 nautical miles and marks the approach to the ports of Faro and Olhão.

Portuguese lighthouses that are open to the public take free visits on Wednesdays, except on public holidays. Santa Maria, however, was closed to visitors indefinitely for renovation work when we checked the Maritime Authority's page on 5 October 2026. It is well worth walking over for a closer look, but do not plan on climbing it.

Other ways to get there

• From Faro. There are also regular boats to Farol and Culatra from the Portas do Mar pier, by the Porta Nova gate. According to Faro council, the service is run by Soldaria Algarve. Handy if you are staying in Faro, but it runs to a different timetable that you will need to check separately.
• Water taxi. Visit Olhão mentions water taxis in Olhão, available 24 hours a day if booked in advance. They are the answer if you have missed the last boat or are travelling as a group. Always agree the price before you board.

Practical tips

• In July and August get to the pier early: queues for the morning boats can be long.
• Set an alarm half an hour before the last boat back.
• Pack water, a hat and sun cream. On the open beaches you are exposed to sun and wind all day.
• Respect the natural park: stick to boardwalks and paths where they exist, keep off the dunes and take your rubbish back to the mainland.
• Outside the high season, check ahead that the restaurant you have in mind is open. For dinner back in town, see our suggestions on the eat page.
• Culatra and Farol are on the same boat route. If you want to see both in one day, ask at the ticket office how tickets work between the stops; to add Armona, check whether you need to go back to Olhão first.