Ilha da Armona belongs to the county of Olhão. It is located in the Natural Park of Ria Formosa and has about 1,000 inhabitants. The island is approximately 9 km long and between 100 m and 1,500 m wide. The eastern part is also referred to as Ilha da Fuseta. It is believed that these were originally 2 islands, which were connected by residues over time.
Coordinates: 37° 2′ N, 7° 46′ W
The island can be reached by ferry (the schedules are seasonal) from Fuseta, Olhão and Faro. Alternatively, water taxis can be used from these locations, but also from neighbouring islands.
Private vehicles are not allowed on the island! Pets are only transported in suitable boxes.
Today, only the western part of the island is inhabited. An old unnamed settlement in the middle part was demolished because it was built without permission.
With the arrival of the ferry, the visitor enters a peaceful and quiet island. Only the gulls, the engines of the boats and the arriving and departing planes of the Faro airport, which is about 15 km as the crow flies, make noises.
In the eastern part, reached by ferry from Fuseta, there are restaurants and snack bars.
Many of the approximately 1,000 permanent residents still live directly from the yields from the sea and the lagoons.
There are good shopping facilities, restaurants and snack bars as well as accommodation options and a campsite on the island. There is no nightlife.
The only motorised vehicles are used to transport the goods to the shops and the waste to the disposal.
It is just a few meters to one of the beautiful beaches, where there are some offers of sports activities.
Even in the summer months of July and August it is never crowded. The beaches are flat and are located in the south on the Atlantic and in the north on the lagoons.
A large part is reserved for the dunes, but there are good walkways to explore the whole island.