The unusual national park with pink lakes, fortresses and completely deserted beaches
HOLIDAYMAKERS looking for something different to do this summer might want to consider visiting a national park that has been described as both "unusual" and "unique".
Ria Formosa is a huge national park in Portugal, covering an area of land 20,000 hectares in size.
It's found between the popular holiday hotspots Faro and Tavira but offers an altogether different experience to a typical beach break.
That's not to say its beaches aren't worth visiting, however, with its barrier islands boasting beautiful warm seas in the summer and fine white sand.
Algarve Tourism claim some of them are even "completely deserted" offering visitors a private island experience, without having to fork out for one.
One stretch of shoreline that has been regularly praised, but remains fairly tranquil is Praia de Cacela Velha.
It's home to calm and shallow waters and stretches out for more than a mile, with surprisingly few visitors making it their choice for a day out.
Algarve Tourism added: "International publications have ranked it among the world’s and Europe’s best beaches, but fortunately it has been able to escape mass tourism."
The Cacela Velha, or Velha Castle, which the beach is named after overlooks the sea, making it a great viewpoint.
As well as a small fortress, there's also a small village described as both "charming" and "delightful" by We Travel Portugal.
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They wrote: "It’s a delightful day trip from anywhere in the Algarve and avoids much of the overcrowding that happens elsewhere on the coast.
"It’s famous for several things, the incredible views it offers, its expansive sandy beach, and its idyllic village protected by a small walled fortress.
"The small streets and layout is particularly charming."
As well as charming villages and beaches, there's some great wildlife spotting opportunities.
Snorkellers have the world's largest concentration of seahorses to find in the water, while chameleons, storks and migratory birds can be seen swooping in and out of the lagoons and islets.
However, the most famous residents of the Ria Formosa park are the flamingos, which live around the saltwater marshes, lagoons and pink-hued lakes.
Tours in Algarve said that the national park was the best area in the country to see the birds, adding: "A lot of people do not know that they can find Flamingos in the Algarve, but it’s actually quite common to see them all year round."
The Orange Backpack explained that the birds could be found in "mesmerising pink lakes" saying it was a highlight of visiting the park.
They included it in their list of unusual European destinations and wrote: "This unique lagoon is a harmonious blend of islands, saltwater marshes, sandy beaches, pink-hued lakes, sandbanks, and quaint villages.
"One of the highlights is witnessing the graceful flamingos that grace the area, alongside the mesmerising pink lakes."
A night for two in Faro, one of the best places to from which to explore the Ria Formosa can be booked from £21.
Return flights from the UK start at around £33.
It's not the only place in the world where pink lakes can be discovered however.
Spain
Just outside of Torrevieja in Costa Blanca, the Laguna Salada de Torrevieja, also known as Laguna Rosa can be discovered.
It's a pink salt lake that stretches across 1400 hectares and is also home to thousands of flamingos.
For the best chance of seeing the lake at its deepest colour of pink, holidaymakers should aim to visit between June to October.
Bonaire
The small Dutch Caribbean island is well-known for the pink waters found at lake Pekelmeer, which has its own flamingo sanctuary.
More than 10,000 of the birds call the island home and the iconic creatures are celebrated throughout.
The airport is even painted bright pink as a result.
Australia
Melbourne’s Westgate Park lake regularly turns bright pink because of an increase in the water's salt levels.
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When salt levels are higher than usual, along with high temperatures, lots of sunlight and a lack of rain, algae growing in the lake produce a red pigment
On these days, tourists and locals flock to the lake to take photos of the amazing sight.
