The Ria Formosa Natural Park, stretching 60 km along the Algarve coast behind its barrier islands, is one of the most important bird habitats in Portugal. The lagoon shelters some 30,000 migratory and resident birds, including flamingos, spoonbills, the critically endangered purple swamphen, and extensive colonies of waders. The park's headquarters near Olhão has a 3 km interpretive trail past a restored tide mill.
From Tavira, boat tours through the lagoon are the best way to see the birdlife and the intricate channel system. Several operators run half-day and full-day trips from the Tavira waterfront between April and October. The boat tours pass through areas inaccessible on foot and get closer to flamingo feeding grounds than the mainland paths allow.