Porto de Pesca da Culatra

This is a working fishing port on Ilha da Culatra, a car-free barrier island inside the Ria Formosa natural park — so what you get here is the real deal, not a polished marina scene. The tidal range runs around 2.3 metres, so you'll want to keep an eye on water levels, and the terrain offers decent shelter from southerly and south-westerly winds. The island itself is the draw, with a tight-knit fishing community, sandy lanes, and the lagoon stretching out behind you.