Already have some stand up paddle experience? Rent a board by the hour and explore the Ria Formosa, from Cabanas to Tavira or Cacela Velha.
Explore the Ria Formosa at your own pace
The Ria Formosa Natural Park stretches along 60 km of the beautiful eastern Algarve coast, from Cacela Velha to Faro. Full of enigmatic little places, it’s well worth exploring on a board: you can paddle from Cabanas to Tavira or from Cabanas to Cacela Velha.
If you already have stand up paddle experience, we’ll explain the rules to follow to stay safe on the water — then just enjoy a tour away from the crowds, even in August. It will be mostly you and nature.
The perfect tour: Cacela Velha
The perfect tour takes 3 hours: enough to paddle to Cacela Velha — known as the jewel of the eastern Algarve — and back. We’ll lend you a waterproof bag for some picnic snacks if you fancy it.
Never paddleboarded before?
If you have no experience at all, we recommend a guided tour with us in the Ria Formosa first: you’ll learn the paddling technique and the navigation rules, and next time you can rent without any problem.
Why explore the Ria Formosa on a SUP?
Stand up paddling in the Ria Formosa combines the simplicity of the sport with a direct connection to nature. Every stroke takes you along calm channels, deserted islands and salt pans that mirror the sky. The still water brings a sense of lightness and freedom, and being close to birds, crabs and the natural park's typical plants turns each tour into an immersive experience.
The contrast between the smooth glide of the board and the vastness of the lagoon gives a unique feeling of balance and control — relaxing and stimulating at the same time. Paddling here is more than exercise: it connects body, mind and nature, lets you feel the wind and the sun, and shows you the Algarve from a perspective few people get to see.
