Praia da Ilha Deserta (Barreta)

Ilha da Barreta, better known as Ilha Deserta, is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal: a sand island in the Ria Formosa lagoon off Faro. Part of its beach has been an official naturist beach since 2011, one of three in the Algarve. The crowd is mixed naturist rather than gay, and none of the LGBTQ+ guides we checked calls it a gay beach. The only way there is by boat from Faro's Cais das Portas do Mar; the operator's site is ilhadeserta.com. There's a single restaurant on the island and very little shade, so bring water. Nudity is fine on the naturist stretch only.