Ilha Deserta (Praia da Barreta)

Coordinates (research)

• Used: OSM way 82505950 “Praia da Ilha Deserta” (centroid, Nominatim) — 36.9630231, -7.8796481. [OSM via the Nominatim query listed in sources, 2 Oct 2026]
• ABAE registered point “Barreta”: 36.96577, -7.87291 — ≈ 672 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [ABAE registered point “Barreta”]
• APA classification list “Barreta”: 36.964032, -7.872708 — ≈ 627 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [APA classification list “Barreta”]
• APA 2026 sampling point: 36.9643, -7.8727 — ≈ 633 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [APA 2026 sampling point]
• OSM node 960213865 ferry terminal “Ilha Deserta”: 36.9659237, -7.870977 — ≈ 835 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [OSM node 960213865 ferry terminal “Ilha Deserta”]
• pt-Wikipedia (whole island, Ilha da Barreta): 36.9611, -7.8889 — ≈ 849 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [pt-Wikipedia]
• OSM way 471184443 “Praia da Ilha da Barreta” (western stretch, centroid): 36.9722813, -7.9332368 — ≈ 4871 m from the used point (haversine, computed here). [OSM way 471184443 “Praia da Ilha da Barreta”]

What the sources say (research)

• Names: Ilha Deserta = Ilha da Barreta; its beach is Praia da Barreta (official bathing water “Barreta”, PTCK9T, Faro). [pt-Wikipedia rev. 21 Jun 2026; APA ARH do Algarve list 2026; CM Faro]
• Official profile: Beach with restricted use associated with highly sensitive systems, “with limitations for bathing use”. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Ria Formosa Natural Park, Natura 2000 and RAMSAR site. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Wide golden sand, dunes with typical flora. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Frontage 400 m. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Tide 3.4 m. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Mean wave 0.5 m. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Wind E/SE. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: Season 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Official profile: 0 restricted days 2025. [APA profile PTCK9T, v1/2026]
• Water quality Excellent every year 2011–2025. [APA classification 2011–2025]
• Blue Flag 2026 awardee (Barreta, Faro). [ABAE 2026 list]
• Qualified as “praia de banhos” for 2026 — bathing water Barreta (PTCK9T), praia de banhos “Barreta”, época balnear 1 de junho a 30 de setembro; the annex footnote (*) states that waters without a listed praia de banhos are those where, at publication, surveillance of bathers is not assured (art. 2.º n.º 5 likewise). [Portaria 204-A/2026/1, anexo I (DR 1.ª série n.º 84, supl., 30 Apr 2026)]
• AMN “Praias Vigiadas” list (linked as “Praias Vigiadas 2025” from AMN’s landing page; no year printed on the list itself): Praia da Barreta — 1 de junho a 30 de setembro. [AMN Praias Vigiadas; AMN Época Balnear landing page]
• The ABAE municipality page for Barreta prints “Época Balnear: 01/06/2025 a 30/09/2025” and “Época Bandeira Azul: 19/06/2026 a 30/09/2025”. [ABAE Faro page]
• Municipality (concelho): Faro (parish Sé e São Pedro); the island is the southernmost territory of mainland Portugal, uninhabited, essentially a nature reserve. [pt-Wikipedia rev. 21 Jun 2026; OSM]
• CM Faro: Praia da Barreta sits at the entrance of the Barra Nova (Faro–Olhão bar). [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: “no buildings” and little visited. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: “access is by sea from the Cais da Porta Nova (Portas do Mar)”. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: About 11 km of island. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: Preserved dune cordon. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: Shorebirds and terns. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, page undated, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: from the landing pier a circular environmental trail starts on a wooden boardwalk (Ria side) and ends on the ocean beach; a naturism zone was approved by the Municipal Assembly on the sand west of where the boardwalk meets the beach. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta; CM Faro — Galardões]
• CM Faro: services — beach support, recreational support, Restaurante Estaminé, 60 parasols, 120 sunbeds; operator Animaris (+351 918 779 155, [email protected]). [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, undated]
• CM Faro: the same page prints a ferry timetable of six departures from Faro and six returns per day, without season, year or price. [CM Faro — Praia da Ilha Deserta, undated]
• The operator’s own poster, dated 22 September 2026 and still the one CM Faro showed on 11 October 2026, lists five ferries a day from Faro (10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 15:15, 16:45) and five back (10:45, 12:15, 13:45, 16:00, 18:00), about 45 minutes each way, plus a 15-minute shuttle linking Deserta, Farol and Culatra. Boats depend on the weather, and the poster gives no end date, so check the current timetable before you go. [CM Faro, Animaris poster, read 11 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: the islands (except Praia de Faro) are reachable only by boat; the Animaris Faro–Ilha Deserta line runs from Portas do Mar; timetables are the operator’s responsibility and may change. [CM Faro — Barcos para as ilhas, read 2 Oct 2026]
• Animaris: Estaminé is the only restaurant on the island, powered by its own solar plant and water production; Animaris has operated since 1987. [ilhadeserta.com, read 2 Oct 2026]
• CM Faro: the Praia Acessível flag in the concelho goes to Praia de Faro only (year not stated on the page). [CM Faro — Galardões]

Open questions