Mit Haustieren unterwegs in Olhão

Getting to the islands with a dog

The islands are the whole point of Olhão, so plan the crossing first. If your dog fits comfortably in a carrier, the cheap scheduled carreira from the pier by the markets works fine. If not, budget for an aqua-taxi: boats run on demand from the same waterfront, dogs ride openly on deck, and you can be dropped at quieter landings such as Hangares on Culatra. Whichever boat you take, remember you are entering the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa: keep the dog leashed around the lagoon flats, which are internationally important bird habitat, and carry water because the islands have little shade and few taps.