The Island of Culatra is a Portuguese island located in the Ria Formosa, in the Algarve, in front of Olhão, although it belongs administratively to the municipality of Faro. It is part of the barrier islands that border the Ria Formosa. It has three population centers: Culatra, mostly inhabited by fishermen but also by some tourists in the summer; Hangars; and Lighthouse, mainly occupied in summer by tourists. The island has a coast of a few kilometers of beach, being the area of ​​Culatra more frequented.

In 1918, on the occasion of World War I began to be built on the island a Naval Aviation Center dedicated to the fight against submarines. Although partially built and used, with the end of the war the center was never officially activated, its facilities being used as infra-structures to support a fi eld firing range installed there.

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The Island of Culatra is composed of three population centers: Culatra, the Hangars and the Lighthouse. Access to this barrier island is done through Olhão and Faro through regular boat routes in a course of approximately thirty minutes. The Culatra is bathed by the waters of the Ria Formosa and to the South by the Atlantic Ocean, possessing maritime and fluvial beach.

In the center of the Lighthouse is the Cape Lighthouse of Santa Maria, whose construction dates back to 1851. Implanted at 2500 meters the ENE of the Cape of Santa Maria, the Lighthouse most south of Portugal is 47 m high and has a luminous reach of 25 nautical miles. In the summer, the fishing community that lives in Culatra Island is joined by vacationers looking for its fine sand beaches, clear waters and pleasant temperatures.

The island of Culatra is a natural refuge for fishing vessels, which in summer are added hundreds of Portuguese and foreign yachts and sailboats that anchor in their calm waters, in search of their gastronomy based on fresh fish and seafood. Another attraction for these sailors is the sport fishing of species like the sargo, grouper, muges, swordfish and tuna.

Also the island of Culatra comprises several beaches, all of great quality, in which you can live with the signs of the fishing tradition of the population that lives in the town of Culatra. Both the beach of the Farol, as the one of the Culatra or the one of the Point of the Island have waters of good qualities.

In addition to the climate and natural richness, Culatra Island also has to offer its visitors the excellent gastronomy, cultural animation and the typical festivities of the Island, such as "Island Day", " of the Navigators ", among others.

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Its cuisine is based on fish and fresh seafood, so in summer it is common to see yachts and sailboats, next to the fishing vessels of the island's inhabitants.

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As for the climate, it is Mediterranean, a climate where the temperature is mild throughout the year, a climate where we can enjoy the sun more than 300 days a year, and in which the months that are truly rainy are reduced by two, November and December. The temperature in the summer, during the day goes between 25 and 30 degrees, and between 15 and 20 degrees in the winter, with exceptions. During the night, winter minimums are around 6 or 7 degrees and in the summer between 15 and 20 degrees.

The hottest months are July and August. The wettest months are November and December. The coldest months are January and February.

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