Tips for your holidays in Benagil
Benagil is a small and typical fishermen town in the
Algarve. It has become worldwide known for its famous grottos, which can only be accessed by sea. The Benagil cave is the most popular one of all maritime caves in Portugal. A
boat tour to Benagil is a unique and exciting way to discover these
breathtaking caves and more.
In fact, we offer the best Benagil tours available, with almost 100 boat tours departing from different locations. We are sure we can help you find the best option for you.
And just near Benagil Beach, you can visit yet another paradisiacal beach called
Praia da Marinha. The boat tours to visit the caves are an absolute Must-Do during holidays in the Algarve. It’s an unforgettable experience that leaves you stunned and amazed by the beauty of nature. The Algarve is also home to
dolphins, so if you prefer, you can even go on a two-in-one boat trip which takes you to the dolphins and the caves, including the most famous cave.
We offer you a wide range of Benagil tours and some useful tips.
The best way to get around in the Algarve is definitely with a
rental car. With a car, you can discover all the attractions, and drive through the typical villages along the coast. Not to forget, to visit all the beautiful beaches, no better way than with a car. However, if you have no rental car, there’s a train line all the way from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António and bus lines are becoming better. The nearest train from Benagil is the train station located in Lagoa city. From Lagoa-Estômbar to the Benagil beach or village, we recommend a taxi or transfer. If you want to get to the cave, the best option is on a
kayak, SUP or boat tour.
We've written some articles to help you get there in a smart way from
Faro and from
Lisbon, some of Portugal's main airports.
Discover the village, beach and cave
Benagil attracts millions of tourists every year, it’s the most famous attraction of the Algarve coastline. Benagil is a small village, with a beautiful beach and an impressive cave. Praia do Benagil is located near Lagoa, and was mainly used for fishing purposes. In fact, the fishing purpose still exists, but as its amazing coastline got very famous, watersports and boat tours play a more predominant role. This beach is one of the busiest in Lagoa.
At the beach, you will find a restaurant, showers, toilets, and lifeguards during the summer. Parking is free, on the side of the road (but very busy) or in the small village. The famous cave is located just next to the typical Algarvian beach with white sand and a golden coastline. The contrast of the colors, including the blue and turquoise waters, makes this one of the most beautiful beaches a must to visit.
Did you know the caves has many names? Benagli, Benagel, Benegal, Bengali, Benagal, Algarv de Benagil, the Bena caves. It’s also known as “the most famous cave in the Algarve”, “the cave with the hole”, “the cave of the heart”, “the 2 eyed cave” and even “temple cave” or the “cathedral”. Due to the hole in the ceiling of the cave. We have heard it all, but the correct name of the most famous caves is “Algar de Benagil”.
Visitors can enjoy excellent walks along the coastline, golf courses, watersports, boat trips and many historical and cultural attractions nearby. There is a stunning 6 km walking route, between Vale Centeanes and Marinha beach. This route is known for the amazing views over the sea, beaches and cliffs. The route is well marked and support benches and snack bars can be found to recover some energy.
Do you want to get into the Benagil cave? We have written a very cool article about
the best ways to get into the cave. You can go by boat, kayak or SUP tours. Swimming to the cave is not recommended due to the many boats that get in and out of the caves. The cave is located next to the touristic Carvoeiro village. In Carvoeiro, beside a stunning beach, you can find many pubs, bars, restaurants and small shops.
In fact, our personal choice goes to a small boat that allows entering the caves, view the rock formations and observe the beautiful caves. On most of these tours, there is time to relax and plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.
The best Benagil cave tours
It is highly recommended to book the cave tours in advance, as you will find huge waiting lines and fully booked tours on the day, especially in high season.
The cave tours depart from:
The cave tours show you many caves including the famous sea cave. The most comfortable way to go to the caves is definitely by boat. There are over 30 Benagil cave tours, some take the full day and include a BBQ on a secluded beach, and some are half day tours or even the “Benagil Express” tours, which take only 1 hour.
If you prefer a relaxing boat tour with plenty of space to move on the boat and shade while still inside the caves, you should opt for the
Benagil cave tour from Albufeira or Vilamoura. The
BBQ cruises are excellent for a full day of fun with family and friends. The catamarans will bring you to a small beach, where grilled fish and meat is served.
The typical cave tours take about 1 hour and are provided in small fishermen boats to enter in and out all of the caves. For a more traditional tour, depart from Carvoeiro or Armação de Pêra.
The
Benagil SUP and the kayak tour is an amazing way to be close to the sea, get some exercise, and enjoy all the beautiful beaches and caves of the area. The
SUP and Kayak tours are recommended for those who would like to get inside the cave. The boat tours will not be able to let you get off the boat and walk in the beach cave.
Remember: book your cave tour online and skip the queues!
What & where to eat
From the Atlantic ocean, great fish is caught, including snapper, red snapper, corvine, sea bass, and bream. There is no better way than to eat some fresh fish in a typical Portuguese restaurant with a view of the ocean. In the village you can find 5 restaurants, all serving fresh locally-caught fish and seafood. The typical dishes are the fish stew, “batatas à murro”, “arroz de marisco”, fried moray and much more.
Enjoy the gorgeous beaches around Benagil
In the Benagil area, known for its amazing colorful coastline and caves, you can find some impressive beaches. On the boat tours, you'll pass by some beaches like Praia do Carvalho, Praia da Corredoura and the famous Praia da Marinha. In the area of Carvoeiro, we recommend Praia Vale dos Centeanes and the famous Praia do Carvoeiro. Praia da Nossa Senhora da Rocha is really worth a visit. It's a small fishing community and beach, being one of the most rustic and authentic ones along the coast of the Algarve.
Whatever you decide to do during your holiday in Benagil, we promise you will love the watersports and boat tours! Sunshine and a lot of fun are guaranteed! For any further tips or requests, feel free to contact us anytime.