3 Ways to Visit the Benagil Caves by Kayak
If there’s one place to visit and go on an adventure along the Algarve Coast, it’s Benagil! The Benagil cave kayak tours are one of the only ways you can actually get inside and see the cave with your own two eyes.
This specific sea cave is hands down the most famous sea cave in the Algarve due to its sheer size and beauty. The fact that you can actually go on a Benagil cave kayak tour and get out and explore all the different caves up close is incredible!
Benagil is a stunning place with awesome coastal trails, beaches, boat tours, and, of course, kayak tours. Even if you’re in Benagil just for the day, you can easily still experience most of the things, but a kayak tour of the sea caves should be at the top of your list during your visit here.
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3 Fun Benagil kayak tours to explore the famous sea caves
Know before you go:
- 🛶 Book your Benagil kayak tour on GetYourGuide or Viator
- 👩🏼⚕️ Insurance: Make sure your adventures are insured (SafetyWing is $2/day!)
- 💦 Wear a swimsuit underneath in case you get wet
- ⚠️ Most kayak tours book out fast during the summer months, so we recommend booking your tour in advance!
When you look online, there are a ton of different tour operators and options to visit the Benagil Cave, so we totally get that it can be overwhelming to figure out which tour to go on.
After spending a full month in the Algarve and visiting Benagil ourselves, we’ve put together this post with our top 3 recommendations!
As a side note to this, know that it is no longer possible to enter the cave on your own. You have to go with a kayaking guide or on a small boat tour.
TLDR: If you want to visit Benagil Cave by kayak, this is the tour we suggest! 🛶
#1 Benagil Caves and Praia da Marinha
⛵️ Book: your Benagil Caves kayaking experience here
⏰ Time: Roughly 2 hours
💸 Cost: €35 (currently €26)
On this kayak tour in Benagil for two hours, you’re going to experience and see the best sea caves in the area, including the famous Benagil Cave. The tour starts just above the cave at the parking lot “O Litoral”, as most other kayaking tours in the area.
There you’ll meet your guide, who will walk with you down to Benagil Beach, where they’ll give you a safety briefing before you get in your kayak. Both waterproof bags and life vests will be provided on this tour.
The first stop on the tour is the beautiful Benagil Cave, which is arguably one of the most famous limestone sea caves in the world – and for good reason! The unique “window” above the cave, which allows light to enter and makes the cave, the sand, and the water extra beautiful!
The cave itself is quite big, and there is a good amount of room for boats and kayaks. This tour usually leaves at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. Personally, we would go with the 9 am tour as the water is usually more calm in the morning, and it tends to be slightly less busy at this time of day as well – not to mention less hot (especially during the summer).
After visiting the famous cave, you’ll explore other smaller caves along the Algarve and make your way over to a beautiful beach called Praia da Marinha. Once you see this firsthand, you’ll see why this is one of the most beautiful areas of Portugal!
At the beach, you’ll be able to get out of your kayak and have about 25 minutes of free time to relax, swim, take some photos, and just enjoy the beach. Book this Benagil Caves kayaking experience here.
#2 Morning Kayak Tour to Benagil, Marinha and Albandeira Caves
⛵️ Book: your Benagil morning kayak tour here
⏰ Time: 2.5 hours
💸 Cost: €40
This one is for the early birds who like to explore popular places without the crowds! This 2.5-hour morning kayaking tour starts at 7am and takes you to a bunch of hidden gems, Praia da Marinha, and the famous Benagil Cave.
If you don’t mind getting up early on your holiday and like to explore at a quieter time of day, then this tour is for you. Most other tours start around 9am, so this one will give you a bit of a head start before the other kayak and boat tours start.
The meeting point for this tour is at Albandeira Beach (which is just east of Benagil), where you’ll meet your guide and the other people in your group (this is a small group tour) before you get into the kayaks and out on the water.
You’ll get your lifejacket and waterproof bag from your guide, as well as a complimentary water and snack that you can bring with you on the tour. Make sure to bring swimwear + towel, so you’re ready to jump in the water when you hit up one of the secret beaches.
This tour tends to sell out quickly as it’s one of the best-rated tours to Benagil, so make sure to book your morning kayak tour in advance here.
#3 Benagil Cave Paddle Board (SUP) tour
⛵️ Book: your Benagil Caves SUP tour here
⏰ Time: Roughly 2 hours
💸 Cost: €50
Yes, you can see the Benagil cave by stand-up paddleboard (SUP)! While this isn’t exactly a kayaking trip, we wanted to highlight this tour as well here, since not a lot of people know that going on a SUP to Benagil Cave is even an option!
This SUP tour of Benagil Cave is similar to the other tours in the sense that you’ll paddle along the Algarve Coast and explore the caves and beaches where most people don’t get a chance to visit if they go on a boat tour of the Benagil Caves.
It’s really nice that in 2 hours you can actually see so much and have a solid workout while doing it. The SUP can be a bit challenging if you haven’t tried it before, as it does require some level of fitness, but it’s a lot of fun!
Both dry bags and wetsuits are provided on this tour if necessary, and you get both photos and videos (in 4K quality) after your tour, which is an added bonus! This way, you can worry less about getting good photos and more about having a great time out on the water.
Book your Benagil Caves stand up paddleboard tour here.
Other related questions about Benagil Caves
How do you get to Benagil Cave?
The best way to get to Benagil cave is by kayak tour from Benagil Beach. There’s parking nearby, all the tour companies are there, and there’s a nice big beach to depart on your kayak trip.
There are plenty of other ways to get to the Benagil Cave, like a boat tour from Lagos or a kayak trip from Portimão, but a kayak trip from Benagil Beach is the easiest way to get to the cave.
Can you walk to Benagil Cave?
Yes, you can walk and see Benagil Cave from above. The viewpoint of the cave is near the parking lot, and you can see directly into the cave from the eroded hole at the top.
To actually go inside the Benagil Cave, though, you need to go by kayak or SUP. But as of 2023, it is no longer permitted to get onto the beach inside the cave, so even in a kayak or on a SUP, you’ll stay on the water while visiting the cave.
That being said, if you’re doing a guided kayak tour, you will be able to step onto land inside one of the other caves nearby. It will be darker in there, but you’ll still get to experience being inside a cave!
Also, as an FYI, you can’t actually walk from the beach inside the Benagil Cave because there is no direct access.
Can I swim to Benagil Cave?
No, you can no longer swim to Benagil Cave. While this used to be allowed, the law changed back in 2023, and it is no longer allowed for safety reasons.
We visited prior to this change, which is why you’ll see people on the beach in some of our pictures!
You may also like…
- Top 20 Things to Do in Lagos, Portugal
- Hiking The Lagos Coastal Walk to Ponta da Piedade
- 5 Epic Portimao Boat Tours You Need to Do
Recap of 3 kayak tours that visit the Benagil Caves
There ya have it! 3 kayak and SUP trips to the Benagil Caves. We absolutely love this part of the Algarve, and it’s totally worth a visit. Even if you’re in Portimão or Lagos, there are boat and kayak trips that go from there too.
This is one of the highlight destinations in the Algarve, so make sure to take the time and go. The beaches in Benagil are incredible too, so make sure to make a full day out of it.
Experience a kayak tour to Benagil Caves in the morning, hike a coastal trail, hang out by the beach, and then try some yummy local food, and you have the recipe for a perfect day in the Algarve.
We hope you have the best time in Benagil and get to explore the awesome sea caves in the area. If you have any questions about getting to Benagil or how to book your trip, then please reach out on Instagram or leave a comment below.
Have an awesome trip, and hopefully hear back from you on your experience and travels in the Algarve! Oh, and if you’re hitting up Lagos, make sure to check out our posts on the best beaches to visit in Lagos, as well as 20 fun things to do in Lagos.
Need help planning your trip? Check out these articles…
Where to stay in the Algarve (area guide + map!) 🏡
Exploring Ponta Da Piedade by Boat (Lagos, Portugal) 🚤
8 Beautiful Beaches in Lagos You Need to Visit 🏖️
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Wow this looks like so much fun! I think I would definitely want to get double kayaks and visit there with Dylan. I definitely need to go back to Portugal, what a gorgeous country!
Hey Lita,
Yeah the Benagil Caves are awesome and by kayak is probably the best way to see them! If you get a chance to go back to Portugal make sure to check out the Algarve!
-Dom