About us

Discover the wonders of nature on the Ria Formosa and be amazed or dazzled by this fragile and complex ecosystem considered to be one of Portugal's seven wonders.

Enjoy your time with us!

Aboard our boats (Xarém, Renascer and Cavala) you will be able to explore the numerous islands and islets, lagoons and marsh mazes full of marine life. Our company offers a comfortable journey with a real fisherman who is able to provide you with a good understanding of the various marine species, the different methods of catching them, and the rich cultural history of these magnificent fishing grounds.

You also be able to not only visit a shellfish farm, but also to catch the seafood and savor it on an island of your choice.
There are binoculars on board so that you may observe the diverse species that inhabit the park which is considered to be an important bird area (I.B.A.).

We also provide diving equipment, so that you have the opportunity to dive into the Ria Formosa waters and discover another world of incredible marine life.
We hope you have a wonderful trip and that you enjoy all that nature has to offer.

If you want some exceptional villa holiday experience that provides you all the comfort, privacy and individuality we highly recommend our friends from A Vila Privada.

Sabino Boat Tours Team

João Sabino Captain / Supervisor

The Captain and Supervisor of Sabino Boat Tours is a son of the sea!
An experienced Shellfish farmer, with allot of sailing histories to tell you about, his dream is to set sail and explore the world on a Sailing Boat, he is a good host and always funny.

Carla Sabino Office Manager

Our dedicated office manager and nature enthusiast, born in Olhão, with a direct connection to the sea and his traditions. She is always managing allot of tasks at the same time and giving the best support to the Sabino Boat Tours team.

Maria McGonnigle Customer Support

Maria give customer support, she is in charge of the tour bookings, with a detailed care about each tour she guides our clients from the booking process until the beginning of each tour. Maria is very professional, has a big smile, a heart person and a good friend. Maria is here to stay.

Ricardo Falcão Skipper

Ricardo is a calm, attentive and with lots of experience. His tours are full of good mood and good energy. An excellent skipper to join the Sabino Boat Tours family. Ricardo, welcome to the team!

João Sancho Skipper

Skipper João Sancho is a native of the city of Olhão. An excellent skipper with a deep knowledge of the sea, the people and the Ria Formosa. The years of experience in this profession make skipper João Sancho the right man to take you to visit the Ria Formosa. A great asset to be part of the Sabino Boat Tours team. Welcome aboard!

Sabino Boat Tours • Ex-Collaborators

Jaime Pinho Skipper

Jaime is a skipper with an extensive experience on the Ria Formosa. He is a very nice person, a simple man with strong values for the environment. In love with nature, he is a very calm, he transmits peace, a true audiophile, with a vast repertoire of stories to tell. It is undoubtedly a great human being to join Sabino Boat Tours team.

Henry Edwards Skipper

English blood but with a Portuguese heart, Henry is a native from Armona Island in the Ria Formosa. A Yacht Master with a wide experience in coastal navigation and specialized in dolphin and whale observation. As a true nature lover the tours are done with great dedication and always with a smile on his face.

Miguel Vale Passos Skipper

Miguel is a funny guy by nature, with allot of experience in is life, a true nature enthusiast and truly knowledgeable about all aspects of marine biology. A truly great addition to Sabino Boat Tours team.

Ricardo Martins Skipper

Ricardo is a really funny and genuine guy, always in a good mood a truly Olhão Son. A great skipper with allot of experience in the Ria Formosa wildlife.

Cláudio Águas Operations Support

Unfortunately, Cláudio is no longer between us, his star is shining in the sky.
He was a very special friend with a great aura and lived is life to the maximum. Always with allot of strength and tourism knowledge, he was one of the foundations of Sabino Boat Tours.
His good vibes will always protect us and guide us!

Daniel Freitas Skipper

Skipper Daniel has a great sailing experience, has worked in professional fishing boats, has a great knowledge about the Ria Formosa and about its fauna and flora. He is a native of the island of Madeira, the sea has always been part of his life, and at the age of 18 he made an Atlantic crossing from Madeira Island to the United States. In his youth he fell in love with the island of Farol and its charms. He is nice, a good friend to his colleagues, he likes to talk, he has a good disposition. Daniel is a great addition to the Sabino Boat Tours team.

VOUCHERS

Testimonials

We have just returned from an excellent holiday in the eastern algarve which we had with our two teenage daughters and friends with their two daughters. Our trip was all the more special due to spending time with Joao on his boat. Joao is very passionate about his work and having grown up and worked in the area all of his life his knowledge is second to none. As other reviews have stated we had a wonderful meal on the island of Farol and enjoyed an afternoon on the beach and a swim in the crystal clear waters. On our return we asked Joao if he did any sunset tours, luckily he could squeeze us in and we were able to do this on our second to last night. Joao is a charming, funny, personable young man and we wish him every success with his business venture.

Andy05071967 Woking, United Kingdom

We had gone on a boat tour of Ria Formosa last year, but after reading the reviews of Sabino we had to try it this year. I know that sometimes you have to take Tripadvisor reviews with a pinch of salt, but in this case they were absolutely bang on. What a marvelous skipper, so knowledgeable about the area and his home island of Farol, where we enjoyed a great lunch as part of our 5 hour tour. His background as a clam fisher gave an interesting insight to a way of life under threat and to how he has used the initiative to branch out into the tourist trade. Felt a bit guilty that Joao only had the 3 of us, all adults, on board, but lovely for us! Forget the rest, this is the best by far! He has a great website too - check it out!

bigmacScotland Scotland

We thought we knew the Algarve well as we have been coming here for many years but this boat trip around the islands with Joao Sabino must rate as one of the loveliest days we have ever had. Joao is a superb guide who knows the area intimately and enthusiastically shared his local knowledge. We saw a wide selection of birds and visited the fishing communities where trade continues as it has done for centuries. After a tip off from a passing fisherman we were alerted to a large pod of dolphins and we spent a joyous half hour watching them frolic all around us. Apparently, we were very fortunate to see them as they are normally further out to sea but it was just that sort of day when everything was perfect! After lunch in a fish restaurant we swam in the shallow warm waters of the lagoon. Thank you Joao for a very special day!

JPW60 Romsey, United Kingdom

Download Location PDF Info? +351 915 661 860