Cruising info for Culatra (within the lagoon area outside Faro and Olháo
Isla de Culatra 37 00.036N 07 50.470W 5m sand/mud. Should be good holding but some boats did drag when we had 20knots one night. Possibly a few fishing nets on the bottom? Wonderful anchorage enclosed 360o, can get some chop in high wind but no swell at all. Dinghy Dock go into fishing boat harbour and tie up right in the far right corner under the walkway. It says no parking but everyone was leaving dinghies there, none were locked only tied. Facilities Ashore A few small local bars/cafes, all very cheap. Minimarket with good range of fresh produce, bread (need to get in morning before they sell out), small selection of good meat and plenty of cheap Portuguese wine Wifi No wifi cafes ashore on Culatra. Several signals with external aerial, Vexfree is a free signal throughout the Algarve but we couldn’t get a strong enough signal. Managed to get reasonable signal intermittently on FON ZON, it was a pay site but only €3 a day and was enough for the essentials. Ferries mmm….. there was a timetable ashore but maybe we were there in the changeover time from summer to winter. The once a day ferry to Faro left at 12.35pm and returned at 4.15pm €2.60 ow or €5.00 return. We got a ferry to Olháo at 9.30am to make the most of the morning market but the return was either 11am or 3pm so stayed for lunch too. Think there is a 1pm back normally. Supermarket in Olháo Pingo Doce Go straight ahead inland from the ferry down Rua da Conserveira its in the 2nd block on the left, poor signage till you are on top of it but there is a modern looking cafe with modern plaza grassed area outside that is easy to see. Very good selection of everything, prices similar to Spain. Fresh Market the fresh fish and fruit and veg markets are located right on the waterfront in the red brick buildings. Very good selection
Isla de Culatra 37 00.036N 07 50.470W 5m sand/mud. Should be good holding but some boats did drag when we had 20knots one night. Possibly a few fishing nets on the bottom? Wonderful anchorage enclosed 360o, can get some chop in high wind but no swell at all. Dinghy Dock go into fishing boat harbour and tie up right in the far right corner under the walkway. It says no parking but everyone was leaving dinghies there, none were locked only tied. Facilities Ashore A few small local bars/cafes, all very cheap. Minimarket with good range of fresh produce, bread (need to get in morning before they sell out), small selection of good meat and plenty of cheap Portuguese wine Wifi No wifi cafes ashore on Culatra. Several signals with external aerial, Vexfree is a free signal throughout the Algarve but we couldn’t get a strong enough signal. Managed to get reasonable signal intermittently on FON ZON, it was a pay site but only €3 a day and was enough for the essentials. Ferries mmm….. there was a timetable ashore but maybe we were there in the changeover time from summer to winter. The once a day ferry to Faro left at 12.35pm and returned at 4.15pm €2.60 ow or €5.00 return. We got a ferry to Olháo at 9.30am to make the most of the morning market but the return was either 11am or 3pm so stayed for lunch too. Think there is a 1pm back normally. Supermarket in Olháo Pingo Doce Go straight ahead inland from the ferry down Rua da Conserveira its in the 2nd block on the left, poor signage till you are on top of it but there is a modern looking cafe with modern plaza grassed area outside that is easy to see. Very good selection of everything, prices similar to Spain. Fresh Market the fresh fish and fruit and veg markets are located right on the waterfront in the red brick buildings. Very good selection
