{"id":135842,"date":"2023-12-21T14:35:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T14:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/?p=135842"},"modified":"2023-12-21T14:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T14:35:49","slug":"tiny-island-just-hours-from-the-uk-with-flamingo-spotting-and-the-best-beaches-in-the-algarve-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/lifestyle\/tiny-island-just-hours-from-the-uk-with-flamingo-spotting-and-the-best-beaches-in-the-algarve-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny island just hours from the UK with flamingo spotting and the 'best beaches in the Algarve' | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

EUROPE is home to hundreds of tiny islands, many of which remain unknown to most Brit holidaymakers.<\/p>\n

While islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Capri are well-known tourist hotspots, there are plenty of other islands waiting to be discovered. <\/p>\n


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One of those places is Tavira Island, a tiny Portuguese island located inside the Ria Formosa Natural Park. <\/p>\n

Stretching for around 60km, the Ria Formosa Natural Park is a nature reserve that's been protected under Portuguese law since 1978. <\/p>\n

The natural park is home to five barrier islands, including Tavira Island. <\/p>\n

For nearly 50 years, the five inlets have created a unique ecosystem where both plants and animals thrive.<\/p>\n

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Despite being protected under Portuguese law, holidaymakers can visit the island. <\/p>\n

Tavira Island is located just a few miles south of the Portuguese city of Tavira on the Algarve Coast. <\/p>\n

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Tavira Island was an important centre for tuna fishing. <\/p>\n

While holidaymakers can still spot old fisherman cabins on the island, its space is largely occupied by restaurants and other tourist facilities. <\/p>\n

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One of the island's biggest draws is its beaches, which are said to be some of the most beautiful in the Algarve. <\/p>\n

According to The Algarve Tourist Guide: "[Tavira Beach] is considered to be one of the best beaches in the\u00a0Algarve Region." <\/p>\n

While Travel in Portugal added: "Tavira Island has a well-deserved reputation as one of the\u00a0best beaches on The Algarve."<\/p>\n

Stretching for a whopping 11km, Tavira Beach is a sandy beach where holidaymakers can rent parasols, sunloungers, kayaks, and paddleboards. <\/p>\n

There's also Barril Beach, which is home to an Anchor Cemetary where abandoned anchors from the tuna fishing era are displayed on the sandbank.<\/p>\n

In addition to the plants and animals, the nature reserve is also home to around 20,000 different species of birds, including pink<\/span> flamingos. <\/p>\n

According to the local website Tourism in the Algarve, visitors to the island might be able to glimpse a flamingo, or two, during the ferry crossing from the mainland.<\/p>\n

Holidaymakers can also book themselves onto guided Flamingo Spotting tours from Tavira, which cost \u20ac30 (\u00a326) per person.<\/p>\n

The tiny Portuguese island is also home to a handful of restaurants, including Museu do Atum, which serves salads and fish dishes. <\/p>\n

Tavira Camping Park is the island's only overnight accommodation for holidaymakers.<\/p>\n

Located underneath an area of pine trees, the camping park can sleep up to around 1500 holidaymakers. <\/p>\n

Because the island is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the building of new houses is not permitted. <\/p>\n

The law also restricts tourists from staying in homes and houses overnight. <\/p>\n

Six daily ferry crossings operate from Tavira Town to Quatro \u00c1guas, with return tickets costing \u20ac2.50 for a full-paying adult. <\/p>\n

Water taxis also operate from the mainland to the island, with journeys typically costing \u20ac18 for a one-way trip. <\/p>\n

These journeys must be booked in advance online.<\/p>\n

Tavira Island is also connected to the mainland via a footbridge. <\/p>\n

After crossing the footbridge, holidaymakers can board a miniature train, which takes passengers to Barril Beach.<\/p>\n

At a 33-minute drive, Faro International Airport is the closest airport to Tavira island. <\/p>\n

Both Ryanair and British Airways operate direct flights to Faro from UK cities like London, Bristol, Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Birmingham, with fares starting at \u00a315 for a one-way ticket. <\/p>\n

In recent years, holidaymakers have been raving about the island on TripAdvisor. <\/p>\n

One person wrote: "The beautiful Tavira island is well worth the ferry trip. Make sure you keep an eye out for the flamingos on the short journey.<\/p>\n

"The island is massive with enough beach, for I don't know how many people, there are quiet spots and spots closer to the restaurants where you can hire loungers." <\/p>\n

Another person added: "Take a short boat trip to Tavira Island to a fabulous quiet beach with gorgeous soft white sand." <\/p>\n

But Tavira isn't the only\u00a0lesser-known island\u00a0that's flown under the radar in recent years.<\/p>\n

The overlooked island of Patmos attracts famous faces like\u00a0Julia Roberts,\u00a0David Bowie, Richard Gere, and\u00a0Tom Hanks, but is yet to become popular with British tourists.<\/p>\n

Not only does it see temperatures reach 22C in the\u00a0winter, but it's also home to colourful beaches.<\/p>\n

Whitewashed houses line the coast in Patmos, and the town of Chora is home to tiny restaurants serving local Greek seafood.<\/p>\n

The port town Skala has more shops and bars, where the cheapest drink is the local Mythos beer or island-grown\u00a0wine.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, the\u00a0island of Naxos is cheaper the many of the other islands – with more goats than locals.<\/p>\n

Don't want to leave the UK? We've found some beautiful\u00a0British islands\u00a0that are home to sandy beaches, clear seas, and dolphins.<\/p>\n


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\nSource: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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