The little-known Algarve islands where only locals holiday – with fewer crowds, stunning beaches and no Brits

IF you love Portugal but don’t love all the British crowds, then you can instead head to some tiny islands just off the coastline.

As part of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, the five inlets are accessible by a short boat ride from Faro.

6

6

6

Faro is a popular hotspot with Brits, with flights as cheap as £16.99 with Ryanair as well as being an affordable place while there.

I visited two of the islands myself back in 2022.

Ilha Deserta, also known as Barreta, is often called the Caribbean of Portugal thanks to its golden sandy beaches.

It takes just 20 minutes to get there, with ferries costing barely a few euros.

I was one of the few tourists who was on the island, walking around the boardwalks that stretched across the deserted sand.

No-one lives on the island, and there is just one restaurant, Estamine.

It first opened in the 1960s, but was rebuilt after a fire burnt it down in 2021.

Most of the food served is from the nearby area, and I enjoyed a range of oysters, octopus and prawns, while sampling the local wines.

It was definitely a restaurant with a view – the huge glass windows faced out to the sea, uninterrupted by anything.

Another island is Isla Armona, which is a bit more built up with houses and cafes.

It still remains quiet however – the boat gets onto the island at one end, with along single path winding through the tiny cottages to the beach on the other side.

However, this beach is just as quiet, with just a small bar serving drinks and snacks.

If neither of those take your fancy, here are the other three islands to try out instead.

Ilha da Culatra 

Home to a few hundred people, Culatra also has empty beaches and clean waters.

Tourists will land at a small village with bungalows and cafes, but with no roads, will have to walk through to explore.

The white sandy beach is found on the southern part of the island, which is less than a mile by the boardwalk.

It’s a Blue Flag beach with loungers and umbrellas you can rent, as well as a beach bar.

6

Ilha da Tavira

Another island is Ilha da Tavira which has a 2.5mile stretch of sand.

Thankfully this island also has some cafes, toilets and a beach bar where tourists can also rent kayaks and paddleboards.

6

Ilha da Faro

Connected to the mainland Faro, Ilha da Faro is accessible by bridge with buses leaving every 45 minutes.

This is the busiest island of the group, however – and which the beach is clean, expect crowds with day trippers often visiting before their flight home.

6