Sunday, 4 July 2010

Faro to Islantilla

There is certainly no train service. There are no direct buses either.

The nearest town to Islantilla with a substantial bus service is Lepe, the "strawberry capital" of Spain and about 20km east of Ayamonte on the old Ayamonte - Huelva Road..

I have checked on the Spanish web and while there are indications that DAMAS, the local bus company operate between Lepe and Islantilla,

This schedule might work but is convoluted:

Faro Airport to Faro Station - Taxi or Bus

Faro Station to Vila Real Sta. Antonio Station - Train (The Damas/EVA bus to Ayamonte/Seville times do not tie in with this schedule unfortunately as there is no corresponding bus between Ayamonte and Lepe.)

Dept. Faro: 14h34
Arrive VRSA: 15h41 (16.41 Spanish Time)

Walk 1km to the Ferry over the Guadiana (Add one hour for Spanish Time)

Ferry to Ayamonte and 1 km walk to the Bus Station Bus

Dept. Ayamonte 19:00
Arr: Lepe: 19:15

Taxi 7kms to Islantilla.

or: (just found this link)

The Lepe Council (Ayuntamiento de Lepe,) have just announced on their website that there will be a bus running every 30 minutes from Lepe to La Antilla and back from 07:00 to 24:00 throughout the summer. Islantilla appears to be on the route into La Antilla, which is the local village.

See: http://bit.ly/aIHt25
Remember it may be quite hot at the end of August and walking between the Station with baggage is probably not what you want.

The alternative is a transfer with one of the myriad shuttle companies operating out of Faro Airport, such as http://www.low-cost-transfers.com/faro-airport/index.php