ODYSSEY Boat Tours - Passeios de barco na Ria Formosa

This was our second full-day boat tour of the Ria Formosa, having undertaken one 7 or 8 years ago with a different company (so we had something to compare to). The weather was good and we had a very pleasant and relaxed day, and the guide was pleasant and reasonably knowledgeable for the parts where he commentated. However, our day could have been significantly better in several ways... 1. We turned up at 10am for a 10:30 start of a 6 hope full day excursion only to find that the start time had been put back to mid-day in order to accommodate another party who wanted a 2 hour trip, and they had made no attempt to contact us to ask if this was ok. Under pressure, they eventually compromised and we set off at about 11am. 2. The guide did not have a microphone and so could not commentate whilst we were moving. 3. Contrary to our first trip where we spent quite a bit of time exploring the quieter coves and inlets of a couple of the islands, and seeing some of the wildlife, this trip was essentially just a water taxi between Olhao, Culatra, Armona and back to Olhao. SUMMARY: Whilst we had a pleasant day, if we were doing it again I would do more research on the style of trip and probably book with a different company.

Had an amazing experience. Carlos was always very responsive and helpful in our communications and Luis was a great captain in our tour through the three islands. Super recommend.

Hello! I had a lovely experience with the team seeing the beautiful islands of Olhão. My friends and I were treated with great respect, we had an amazing tour guide, the bot was amazing and authentic and the food that we were taken to at the fisherman’s club was amazing!! I had my first sardines and they were delicious! Overall 5 stars would highly recommend.

This review is so overdue! I cant even begin to tell you how great of an experience my family and I had with Odyssey Boat Tours! We first found out about this tour company while vacationing in the Algarve this summer and I was searching for something we could do as a group (Six Adults, One 11 year old, One 5 year old, Two 3 year olds and One 8 mth baby) when I made a post in one of the Algarve Facebook groups and was quickly responded to by Carlos. Right off the bat he explained our different tour options, gave me a price and followed up with every question I had following the detailed information he had already provided me with! We decided that through the many positive reviews and my interaction with Carlos that it was a no brainier to chose this company for a day on the Rio Formosa! Our day started at 10am (as recommended by Carlos) and as we were coming from Olhos de Água it gave us plenty of time to make the drive to Olhão. On arrival the booth was easy to find and we were meet with smiles by Carlos who then proceed to take us down to the docks to embark of our boat and meet our very lovely captain for the day Miguel. As we left the pier Miguel asked us what we thought we wanted to see and do and explained to us what he thought would be the best use of time, what he thought would be ideal for our group and the route we should take based on the weather patterns. For us, we felt that the captain was the best person to make the decision as he knew the waters and the weather then any of us...and man were we happy we listened to him! The sun was shinning and the air was warm, but the boat was equipped with a canopy to keep us cool, not to mention the cooler full of beverages to keep us hydrated too ;) While traveling through the channels Miguel took the time to explain to us about the tides, the fishing history, what can be caught and when in the Rio Formosa. Our first stop was the deserted beach (Praia da Ilha Deserta). The water was clear and shallow and great for the little ones and a long boardwalk that took you to the other side of the island. We spent around an hour there soaking up the sun and exploring the island. We then headed to the main Island of Cultra - for lunch and a chance to walk and explore the island. Miguel recommended a restaurant (Cafe Clube) to eat at that he said was one of the very best - and man oh man was he right! Six months later, I am still saying it is the best fish I have eaten in Portugal thus far (and I live in another fishing village now and still have not had fresher, better cooked fish to date). After lunch and an Acai Bowl later we disembarked the beautiful island of Cultra. While making our way back towards Olhão pier, we asked Miguel if there was a place the kids could jump out of the boat and swim. He said he knew the perfect spot! It was a little cove off that had a current that allowed for the kids to jump out of the boat and bring them up to a shore 10 m a away. It was perfect. We jumped and swam for quite sometime before realizing that it was already 5pm and our time was about to expire where we had parked our car. Once again, Miguel rose to the occasion and reassured us not to worry. He made a call to Carlos back on the mainland who took a few euros, found our car and made sure we would not get a parking ticket! We finally made it back to land around 6:30pm - with lots of laughs, tired kiddos and a day we were so happy to have had! Ive taken a lot of tours in my life, and many even in Portugal. But by far I would have to say this was one of the most pleasant experiences I have had and would absolutely take another tour with this company again in the future. The fact that it satisfied a group of people aged 65 to 8mths was extremely impressive. Miguel and Carlos are A+++++++ people and interacting with them was definitely an added bonus to an already fabulous boat trip! Thanks again Odyssey Tours! Keep up the great work!

Really great experience. The sunset on the water was just breath-taking. The guide really knew a lot about the environment. We are definitely gonna do this again when we are in Albufeira. Obrigado!!

Great experience from start to finish! On our first day in Olhao, my boyfriend and I approach the Odyssey stand in the Marina, where we were met by a super friendly and helpful staff member, that explained us everything about the tours they offer. We decided to do a tour the day after and it was a great decision! Even though the weather conditions were not the best, our captain William made sure we get the best possible experience while keeping everyone safe and comfortable on the boat. We also got to enjoy some local cuisine on one of the islands which was a great addition. Highly recommend this tour operator! Obrigado!

The trip was just plain cool. The ODYSSEY counter was a bit difficult to find at first, but after that everything was totally relaxed. Carlos and Luis are super nice guys who know how to make the trip a successful experience. Thanks for that. A little tip at the end: please make your switch more conspicuous. This will avoid unnecessary search times for tourists. Otherwise TOP

Highly recommend! Boat tour was incredible, captain was fun & interesting. Had a blast with a great value private hire. Dealt with Carlos who made organising the trip so easy! Thanks!