The São Lourenço Trail - beauty step by step along the Ria Formosa

The São Lourenço Trail in the Ria Formosa is perfect for those who want easy but beautiful walks. Along this protected area, there are several trails in the Ludo area that can be walked. Always with the beauty of the Algarve's most fantastic park nearby.

In a short space of land there are several routes you can take. In fact, I ended up walking a mixture of three trails, totalling 7 km.

If you only walk the São Lourenço Trail, it's only 3.4 kilometres long, while the Quinta do Lago Trail stretches for 2.3 kilometres. As the various routes intersect, you can do one or several. There are alternative routes that allow you to walk for around 9 kilometres. 

I started walking near the Quinta do Lago beach car park, i.e. where the São Lourenço Trail and the Quinta do Lago Trail start, then added a few more circuits in the Ludo area. Both the São Lourenço Trail and the Quinta do Lago Trail are part of the Ludo itinerary, in the western area of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

The first time I did it, I just drove in a straight line between Quinta do Lago and Faro airport. Last time, I did a circular route, starting at Quinta do Lago but travelling all the way round, past the salt marshes, the golf course and the freshwater lakes.

Both trails: São Lourenço and Quinta do Lago start at the same place, next to the Quinta do Lago car park. 

A brief description of Quinta do Lago's walking trails

Ludo is an area adjacent to the dunes of Praia de Faro and Praia da Quinta do Lago, made up of lagoons surrounded by dirt roads. The routes cross salt marshes and golf courses, always with the Ria Formosa as a backdrop. 

The vegetation is low and not very varied, but vital for the thousands of birds that make the Ria Formosa Natural Park their privileged habitat. That's why this trail is not just for walking, but is also unique for birdwatching. The São Lourenço Trail is a favourite spot for observing birds - both resident and migratory - in the salt marshes and salt pans.

The ever-changing Ria Formosa Natural Park stretches across several municipalities in the Algarve: Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. The São Lourenço route begins by showing us a long dune cordon - which supports the salt marsh - and then continues past the golf courses, the villas of Quinta do Lago and the freshwater lagoons.

As we walk along the trail we come across two birdwatching spots, the top of which offers an excellent panoramic view of this part of the Ria Formosa. After a few minutes' walk inland, we'll come across the old fish salting ponds and salt pans where countless birds feed.

Practical information on the São Lourenço Trail (LLE PR)

• Name - São Lourenço Trail (LLE PR)
• Location - Quinta do Lago, Loulé
• Start and end of the trail - Quinta do Lago (37º 01' 41,887'' N, 8º 01' 15,694'' W)
• Distance - 3.4 km (round trip)
• Duration: 1h30
• Type of trail: linear
• Difficulty: low
• Signalling: Approved, signposted and with information panels on the route

Practical information about the Quinta do Lago Trail 

• Name - Quinta do Lago Trail
• Location - Quinta do Lago, Loulé
• Start and end of the trail - Quinta do Lago (37º 01' 41,887'' N, 8º 01' 15,694'' W)
• Distance - 2.3 km (round trip)
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Type of trail: linear
• Difficulty: low
• Signalling: Signposted and with information panels on the route

Frequently asked questions about the São Lourenço / Quinta do Lago Trail

For the sake of simplicity, what I say below about the São Lourenço Trail also applies to the Quinta do Lago Trail, as they are almost identical, although one is shorter, as I mentioned above. 

What to take on the São Lourenço Trail?

• Reusable water bottle (there are no drinking water points) - I bought this water bottle and I recommend it
• Normal footwear (the terrain is not rough)
• Sun hat
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit (for a dip in Quinta do Lago or Ancão)
• Bag for rubbish (there are recycling bins by the Quinta do Lago bridge)

Frequently asked questions about the São Lourenço Trail

How much does the walk cost?

You don't have to pay anything to access or walk the trail but, at certain times of the year, you do have to pay for parking (see details below).

When is the best time to go hiking?

In the summer, there are likely to be more people walking at the end of the day, as many locals take advantage of the trails to go for a run and escape the traffic in Faro.

I've travelled these trails in winter and spring and I believe that any time is a good time to walk the São Lourenço/Quinta do Lago footpath. However, when I did the walk in spring the landscape was (even) more beautiful, as many plants were at their peak.

In the marsh, for example, there is a pink-flowered shrub (Limoniastrum monopetalum), which blooms between March and November. This plant adds a special colour to the Ria Formosa.

Where should I start walking?

The walks start in the area adjacent to the Quinta do Lago beach car park, next to the wooden bridge that leads to the dunes.

How long do I need to do the walk?

It depends. If you just want to walk the Quinta do Lago Trail (the shortest), you'll only need 40 minutes. If you choose to walk the São Lourenço Trail, you'll need 1.5 hours. With stops for photos, birdwatching and enjoying the scenery, add another 20 or 30 minutes. 

Without rushing, with plenty of photo stops in between (in the estuary, by the freshwater lakes, in the salt pans) it took me around 3 hours to cover 7 kilometres.

What is the terrain like along the trail?

The footpath in this part of Ludo is well marked with signs and information panels. It is classified as low difficulty and the terrain is flat, with no slopes. You don't need any physical preparation to walk this trail.

Do you have to go back and forth?

Unless you have someone to take you back to the starting point in Quinta do Lago, then yes, you have to do the round trip.

Are there places to rest or restaurants?

There are some benches along the route and you can also rest at the birdwatching posts (there are two). In fact, this is the best way because you can rest while you wait for the birds.

Can the São Lourenço Trail be done with children?

Absolutely. This is a great route to do with children, the elderly or the family. It's also great for a run or just a relaxing walk (if the day isn't right for one of Loulé's beaches).

Do I need a map of the São Lourenço Trail?

The route is well signposted, there are not many ways to get lost or go astray, so there is no need for a map.

To feel more comfortable knowing how many kilometres you have left or how many you've already covered, I recommend the free app that I always use: Maps.me.

Points of interest on the São Lourenço / Quinta do Lago Trail

The main points of interest on these Ria Formosa walking trails lie mainly in the landscape, with the stupendous Ria Formosa accompanying every step. Alongside this, there are countless species of fauna and flora that you can find along the way (see next point).

Along the route you'll also find some luxury villas, which contrast with the ruins of the salting tanks from Roman times that were used to salt the fish and extend their shelf life. These tanks were waterproofed with lime, sand and crushed brick.

The salt pans are another area of interest on this walk in the Algarve. These are made up of tanks through which the water circulates until it reaches the last stage. There, in the crystallising tanks, the water evaporates completely and leaves the salt at the bottom. 

As well as producing the ingredient that intensifies the flavour of the food on everyone's table, salt pans are also important for feeding various birds and are a stopping point - almost exclusively in Portugal - for flamingos.

In fact, while I was walking I had the chance to see and photograph some flamingos, right in the salt pans. Even the walls that separate the salt pans are used for other smaller birds to nest. In the marshes and lagoons, you can also find species of invertebrates, fish and thousands of crabs.

What species of fauna can I see in this part of the Ria Formosa?

• Flamingo
• Common Cayman
• Right-billed curlew
• Bugs Bunny
• Tailor
• White Egret
• Save
• Chameleon
• Hedgehog
• Galleon
• Diver
• Heron

Important warnings before starting the walk

• Keep quiet whenever possible
• Don't step on the dunes or leave the trail to avoid damaging the ecosystem.
• At certain times of the day, part of the land is flooded by the tide and you have to walk through the golf course
• If you walk across the golf lawn, watch out for stray balls
• Drink small sips of water frequently to avoid dehydration
• A walking route is for walking. Don't be that person who takes the car where it doesn't belong

Photos of the São Lourenço / Quinta do Lago trail

The good and the bad of walking

Positive

The walk is very easy and beautiful. It's a real pleasure to walk alongside such a rich ecosystem. If, on another day, you'd like to opt for a more difficult hike, then take the spectacular Seven Hanging Valleys Trail.

Negative

Being so close to Faro airport, it's inevitable that the noise of aeroplanes will disturb some moments of your walk. I took advantage of the post-Covid 19 period to do the walk when the aeroplanes were stopped on the runways, so you couldn't hear the engines during take-off and landing.

Extra tips

Stay for the sunset, as the wooden access bridge to Praia da Quinta do Lago (where the walk begins and ends) is especially photogenic at the end of the day - and even more so in the winter months when the sunset is more intense (and dramatic).

You can also take a dip in the beautiful beaches of Quinta do Lago and Ancão.

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