Top 10 Spots for Birdwatching in the Algarve
- Alex Cracknell
- May 22
- 6 min read
The Algarve has become a well-known birdwatching destination in Portugal. It is most famous for its stunning landscapes, picturesque towns and wildlife. For birders, it is paradise. Featuring habitats from salt marshes and saltpans to hillsides clothed in green, the Algarve makes for fabulous birding at any time of the year. We put together a list of the best places for birdwatching in the Algarve for you to explore and enjoy!
Why The Algarve is a Haven for Bird Watchers
Encompassing 5,000 square kilometers, the Algarve hosts more than 300 bird species which flourish in the different landscapes which are found in the region. The area has few parallels for the combination of coast and hills, marsh and mountain, all on a day out. You don’t even have to be a bird lover to enjoy the Algarve’s range of habitats that make the region a bird-watching paradise.
Top10 Spots: Birdwatching in the Algarve
Here are some of the best places for birdwatching in the Algarve to experience its remarkable birdlife:
Ria Formosa Portugal’s one of the largest natural parks, Ria Formosa covers over 170 km² and is considered as a system of lagoons, marshes, salt pans and sandbanks. It is regarded as a top birdwatching destination, especially for migratory birds. The park is a key resting place for many of the species which cross the East Atlantic Flyway.
Here, you can see flamingos, spoonbills, and other waders including sandpipers and stilts. Some of the resident species include the purple swamphen and little bittern, although the diversity of birds in the autumn and spring migrations is even greater. With guided tours leaving from Faro, Olhão and Tavira, it’s a fantastic location for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
When to Go: Ideal during spring and autumn migration (March-May, September-November), but it’s a fine year-round spot.
How Time You’ll Need: 2-4 hours for a short visit. If you have a guided tour, you may prefer to have an entire day inside to explore more thoroughly.
2. Lagoa dos Salgados
Between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra, Lagoa dos Salgados is a coastal lagoon amid dunes and farmland. It is one of the easiest places in the Algarve for birdwatching, with over 200 species spotted here.
Birdwatchers can spot the rare ferruginous duck and greater flamingo, which has been known to try to breed in the lagoon. Other birds are herons, waders, and various waterfowl. This partially-raised wooden boardwalk provides a clear view of the lagoon and birds in their natural states.
When to Go: Migratory species are best in spring and fall, but year-round is good.
How Much Time You’ll Need: An hour or two for a brief visit; you can also spend more time in the surrounding area.
3. Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António Marsh Natural Reserve
This eastern Algarve reserve is centered around salt marshes, mudflats, and saltpans and is another top spot to indulge in a bit of twitching. The reserve is an important site for birds, especially flamingos, avocets and sandpipers. With vast salt pans and swamps, this is the ideal home for waterbirds, which are shaded by the lush bushland of the environment. You can reach the reserve on foot or by bicycle, walking or riding well-marked paths and platforms.
When to Go: It’s easiest to see in spring and fall, but the siteis a birding hotspot all year long.
How Much Time: Two to three hours of hiking the trails, and more if you’ve got the hankering for a nice slow walk and a gawk.
4. Cape of St. Vincent
Near Sagres is the Cape of St. Vincent, with its dramatic cliffs and rough terrain. Not only is it one of the most stunning of all Algarve landscapes but a great place to spot migratory birds. The cliffs are an important site for migratory birds such as the black stork, griffon vulture, booted eagle, honey buzzard and alpine swift. Every October, the Sagres Birdwatching Festival, a major event to watch, takes place, attracting enthusiasts from all over the globe. It's a great site for those targeting big birds of prey and migratory birds.
When to Go: Best in late fall through winter (October-March) for migrating birds, particularly raptors.
How Much Time to Spend: Two to four hours to take in the views and watch birds along the bluffs. An entire day offers more time to enjoy birdwatching.
5. Ria de Alvor
Located between Portimão and Lagos, Ria de Alvor is a tranquil estuary with water channels, saltpans and cultivated fields. As a Natura 2000 protected site, the Ria de Alvor is a haven to birdlife, with waders, herons and other coastal species on show. The region also hosts a variety of waterfowl and seabirds. The smooth water bodies, marshes as well as reed beds are perfect site for birding, especially during the migratory seasons.
When to Go: Best time is during the spring and fall migration periods. But it’s excellent for birding year round.
How Much Time to Spend: 1 to 2 hours for a quick visit, more time if you want to do some exploring of the canals and saltpans.
6. Alvor Nature Reserve
Behind Praia de Alvor is the Alvor Nature Reserve, a great spot for bird lovers. The reserve is renowned for its diverse range of habitats including salt marsh, mudflats and reedbeds. There is no barrier so can easily birdwatch – you should see a good range of birds including Stone Curlew, Bluethroat, Little Tern, Azure-winged Magpie and Kentish Plover. It is a wonderful site supporting both coastal and farmland birds and hence a must for any serious birder.
When to Go: Spring and fall migrations are optimal, although it’s also very rewarding in winter for resident species.
How Much Time You Will Need: 1 to 2 hours for a brisk walk, or 3 to 4 hours to take things more slowly.
The dramatic cliffs and sea stacks at Ponta da Piedade, near Lagos, make it perfect for sea-birding because rock doves, cormorants and corn buntings are found on the cliffs. Places nearby have populations of jackdaws, black redstarts and spotless starlings. Ponta da Piedade is apt for birdwatching, especially for people looking for birds in a splendid coastal setting.
When to Go: Spring and autumn migrations are ideally suited, but the cliffs make an excellent birdwatching spot any time of year.
How Long You Will Need: Around 1-2 hours for a quick visit, 2-3 hours if you want to savor the great views and birdlife.
8. Monchique
The Monchique mountain range provides another rather different birdwatching opportunity, for species that are rare near the coastline. From around Caldas de Monchique an observer may see woodlarks, Iberian chiffchaffs, firecrests, rock buntings, and red-rumped swallows. The mountain terrain offers a good variety of habitats for these species, so the elegant views certainly complement birdwatching in this region.
When to Go: Birding is possible all year round, but spring and autumn hold migrant species.
How Long You Will Need: 2-4 hours depending on which area is being explored.
9. The Serra do Caldeirão
If you head north to the Algarve, you’ll find Serra do Caldeirão, home to birds that are often found in forests and mountains. Wrynecks, blue rock thrushes, orphean warblers, sparrowhawks, green woodpeckers and Bonelli’s eagles all find their homes in this region. You can observe a different group of birds found in this region.
When to Go: Spring and autumn are perfect for spotting migrants, but you can see residents at any time of year.
How Long You Will Need: Expect to spend 3-4 hours on a proper hike, but it takes a longer time if you want to observe birds in the mountains above.
10. Vilamoura
In Portugal’s Algarve region, the town of Vilamoura is a great site for birdwatching. Since it is full of many different landscapes, Canada has habitats varying from near-coastal wetlands to lush forests. Osprey and buzzards are a common sight in this part of the region. Because of its pleasant weather and sheltered terrain, Vilamoura attracts birdwatchers at any time of year. You’ll enjoy fantastic birdwatching here with or without birdwatching experience.
When to Go: You can enjoy watching birds especially from September to May and especially during migration time in autumn and spring.
How Long You Will Need: The park can be seen and its birdlife observed after a half-day visit, taking 3-4 hours.
Birdwatching Tours
If you want to have a fantastic birdwatching experience, a number of birding tour companies exist in the Algarve. A number of tours take you to different birding sites during the day, so you can see as many bird species as possible.
Algarve Birdman: These tours impart abundant knowledge on the birdlife of Algarve and are guided by America-based seasoned birders Simon and Thijs.
Algarve Birders: Peter and June offer the region's experienced and educated bird tours.
Birdwatching Algarve: Georg, a German bird enthusiast, is passionate about organizing tours to discover hidden birding treasures of the Algarve.
Conclusion
Birdwatching paradise in Algarve. From wetlands to mountains, this diverse setting spells a huge array of bird species: from rare migrating birds to majestic raptors. With famous birdwatching places such as Ria Formosa, to the more enigmatic birding locations such as Serra do Caldeirão, Algarve is sure to present an extraordinary birdwatching adventure. So get onto the binocs, book a tour, and fly to Algarve to get lost in the adventure of one of the best birding destinations in Europe.