When we visited Faro last summer, we decided to discover the Ludo Trail with its beautiful nature. It was totally worth it and we spent more than half a day enjoying the calm atmosphere inside the Ria Formosa Park. Due to the fact that the Ludo Trail in Faro is still a secret tip in the Algarve, it’s a calm paradise for every nature enthusiast and bird watcher. On top of that, the area offers beautiful walking and hiking trails which include the Ludo Trail and São Lourenço Trail. In this article, we show you what we experienced in one of the best places for birdwatching in the Algarve.
How to enter the Ludo Trail in Faro
We started our walk at the Ludo Trail in Faro which is officialy 7 km long and a circular route. The starting point for the Ludo Trail is conveniently located between Faro Beach and the airport. You will pass a small gate that restricts vehicle entry, but it’s easily accessible at any time and free of charge.
As soon as we entered and walked the Ludo trail, we were fascinated by the park’s rich biodiversity. The first part of the trail is relatively straight with brackish seawater on your right, created by a blend of freshwater runoff and saltwater and a natural lagoon on your left. These two different environments offer a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Birdwatching Algarve: Ludo and São Lourenço Trail
For bird enthusiasts, this area is a real paradise! Along the trail, you’ll have the chance to spot many species of different birds, including flamingos, storks, Black-winged stilts and hundreds of other interesting bird species.
If you continue straight ahead, as we did, the Ludo trail overlaps with the São Lourenço Trail. This 3 km long alternative route starts in Quinta do Lago and features a bird hide along the way. This is the first bird hide that you will encounter along the trail and it offers an incredible view to the landscape and birdlife of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Calm nature close to Faro: São Lourenço bird hide
As you approach this place and turn to the right, the trail guides you through a few charming houses as well as a golf course. Continuing along the São Lourenço trail, you’ll soon encounter a second bird hide (São Lourenço bird hide) which is perfectly positioned to overlook a peaceful freshwater lake.
This bird hide was our favourite one and we were absolutely fascinated by the beautiful view of this unique ecosystem. It’s definitely a paradise for bird lovers! We could have spent hours watching the birds, but as it got slowly darker, we had to get our way back in order to arrive in time for dinner and to get a table at Casa Do Polvo Tasquinha in Santa Luzia.
Roman traces and the end of the Ludo Trail in Faro
So we decided to continue our journey along the São Lourenço trail, where we stumbled upon the ancient remains of what were once salting tanks used by the Romans to salt fish. These tanks played an important role in preserving fish back in Roman times and they’re a fascinating glimpse into the past of this area. Following this path, you will have the opportunity to make a whole circular route. Finally, you will arrive back at the Ludo trail, just a few minutes away from the starting point.
For us, the Ludo Trail in Faro was more than worth it and we will definitely come back! The area inside the Ria Formosa Park is calm and you can perfectly relax with birds singing along the way. It’s one of the few secret insider tips when you travel to the Algarve!
