A working town and busy fishing port that becomes more attractive after every visit - the food markets, especially on a Saturday morning, are very good. At any time, it is worth walking along the promenade with binoculars to hand.

This is the place to catch a ferry to the outer barrier islands of Farol, Culatra and Armona, which are included in the reserve. These islands offer more than good beaches and restaurants as they provide exciting opportunities for the exploratory naturalist, especially during the migrations. Seawatching for birds and cetaceans from the islands is untried but must be good at the right season.

Olhão has an extensive water treatment works (ETAR) that attracts hundreds of ducks and gulls. After driving through Olhão from Tavira on the N 125, turn left at the second roundabout onto the fast road towards the seafront. Very shortly, turn left and left again under the main road and follow a good public track along the seaward side of the railway line. Very soon the perimeter fence of the treatment works is reached. There are several large ponds and all can be viewed by following the tracks and trails around fence. The adjacent salinas (some abandoned) and sapal attract plenty of shorebirds and flamingos are regular. Passerines obligingly perch up on the fence in the rising sun.

Halfway between Olhão and Faro on the seaward side of the N 125 is a radio mast surrounded by a fence. Within this enclosure, Collared Pratincoles breed. This is an interesting area of sapal but access off the N 125 Faro to Olhão carriageway, between two small houses is dangerous and must be negotiated with great care.