You must experience the Benagil Sea Cave Cruise with us in the Algarve, Portugal. This is one of the most famous landmarks in the country, and arguably to most famous sea cave in the world. Is it worth visiting onboard our private yacht? Absolutely! Here is why:
- Benagil Sea Cave is only reachable by sea
- No better vantage point: no climbing involved
- Take our paddle boards and kayaks to access the beach
- We have been trusted by 100s of guests for our service, safety and satisfaction
How to get access to Benagil?
It is not easy to access to the cave, so you will need to do a bit pf planning in advance. First, getting to the Algarve is the easy part. The Algarve region is less than three hours’ drive from Lisbon or, can also be reached by driving forty-five minutes east from the Faro Airport. If you take the N125 its a bit of a drive since its a 2 lane road and goes through all of the towns along the way. If you take the Motorway (A22) you will need to consider the tolls and arrange with the rental car company in advance. After renting a car, you’ll want to get to your accommodations, unpack and settle in before your drive. If your already in the Algarve, or just there for the day you can start your journey to the fishing village of Benagil and arrange to rent a paddle board or kayak, or get into a crowed fishing boat to access Benagil Sea Cave from the sea. Or, you can take a short drive to Vilamoura from the airport, arrange accommodation near Vilamoura Marina, and come with us to the cave.
Why visit Benagil Sea Cave aboard a yacht?
Rock formations, caves and beaches are exceptionally spectacular features of the Algarve region of Portugal. There is no better vantage point to see these marvels of Mother Nature along the Algarve coastline than from the deck of a private yacht.
Many visitors have been thoroughly impressed when spending the day with us cruising the shoreline. We receive many wonderful comments and reviews from guests about their cruising experiences. Helen Flynn, commented, “We had an amazing afternoon yesterday on ‘Be Happy’ (our boat name). Both the captain and skipper were excellent and taught us all about the different beaches and caves. Anchored for a beautiful swim and provided snacks and drinks for the kids and bubbly for the grownups. Cannot recommend this enough. Can’t wait to revisit next year!!” You can see other reviews on the Charter tabs of each of our charter options page.
Where do we stay?
There are plenty of luxurious 5-star hotels such as the Tivoli in Vilamoura to stay or our friends at VAP Holiday Rentals can show you a diverse offering of apartments and villas in the area of Vilamoura for your vacation. You will have to book your stay well in advance to secure your dates and the best price for your stay.
Who visits and when is the best time to arrive?
The Algarve is a popular destination for American and English holiday makers, so English is widely spoken, and credit cards are generally accepted in most stores and restaurants. Most travelers visit the Algarve between late spring and late fall to experience the warm sunny weather. Of course, the busiest time is mid-July through the end of August; this region buzzes with travelers from around the world. The Algarve has over 320 days of sun every year so visiting almost anytime of the year is a good choice!
What is there to do?
The Algarve offers activities for everyone in the family and for all budgets including world class golf courses; relaxing spas; water activities including scuba diving, windsurfing, water parks, boat tours, luxury private yacht charter and cruises, and fine dining, wine tours, and much, much more.
The Spectacular Benagil Sea Cave
As we cruise by Praia da Falésia, Pria do Barranco das Belharucas, Albufeira, Galé, Armacão de Pera, Praia da Marinha and the Arco Natural, next to the small Algarve village of Benagil, you will see one of the most beautiful sea caves in the world – the Benagil Sea Cave or the Algar de Benagil, its Portuguese name. Benagil Sea Cave is a rare attraction that lives up to the media hype surrounding it.
The town of Benagil is a picturesque cluster of whitewashed houses perched atop the cliffs and along the sides of the steep roadway leading to the beach – the Praia de Benagil. The Benagil Sea Cave used to be largely unregulated, but this has changed over the years to protect it and the environment. Reachable only by sea, the Benagil Sea Cave is one of the most romantic places in the Algarve.
Winds and waves have joined forces to carve out the limestone cliff and create a large domed cave, with a high ceiling. The entry channel opens out into the larger than expected cave, with sunlight streaming through openings in the rock dome roof acting as a spotlight on the constantly sea-cleaned, fine golden sand and the translucent azure water, creating a magical effect.
Do Not Swim, Visit by Sea
The cave’s only viable entrances are a couple of arched openings bathed by the sea. Although close to the beach, swimming is not the advised way to reach the cave as the tides and currents can change quickly without warning. It is not unusual for people to ignore this advice and try to swim into the cave, only to find themselves having to be rescued by lifeguards. The best and safest option to visit the cave is by boat.
Sunseeker 50, Paddle Board, or Kayak to the Secluded Beach
Since reaching the magnificent secluded beach inside the cave is on everyone’s to-do list, you will be able to see it firsthand aboard your luxurious Sunseeker yacht, B. Happy. The cave can be visited all year round, and on occasion, when the sea conditions are exactly right, our skilled skipper is able to safely take B. Happy inside the entrance to the cave.
In addition to seeing the cave from the deck of the yacht, we encourage you to paddle to the cave’s beach using the onboard kayaks or standup paddle board. We recommend you keep your photograph equipment in a dry bag and once ashore you can take photos of the sun-drenched walls and of the hole in the cave’s ceiling. A truly breath-taking experience!
If paddle boarding or kayaking is not for you, another way to get a closeup look at this remarkable cave and beach is by taking a ride in our inflatable dinghy, or by swimming or using the snorkeling equipment from the yacht. Our experienced crew will take you to the beach or give you the grand tour of the other entrances and beaches hidden inside. When you are in the Benagil Sea Cave, not seeing it up close and cozy would be a sin. As you can tell, there are many options available to see one of Mother Nature’s most impressive features.
Photos are a Must
The sun filled dome showcases walls in radiant shades of amber which enclose the small intimate beach. There are a lot of beautiful beaches near Lagos, but the Benagil Sea Cave beach is the highlight of the Algarve. The Benagil Sea Cave is a natural wonder of the world and provides the perfect backdrop for photos. We have taken many family portraits in this stunning grotto and we will be happy to take yours!
Benagil Sea Cave, Dolphins and More
The Algarve has a lot of spectacular rock formations along the jagged cliffs of the coast, dozens of magnificent caves, and many magnificent beaches along the coastline. After the excitement of seeing Benagil Sea Cave and on your relaxing cruise back to Vilamoura Marina, you need to keep a sharp eye on the seas for pods of wild dolphins. We have been graced on most of our cruises with the presence of these elusive magnificent creatures.
We keep our distance from the dolphins but often they come to us and swim alongside B. Happy. Many of our guests have been able to take videos of the dolphins swimming alongside the yacht, coming up for air; it is almost like they are playing with us!
In addition to Benagil, other caves of interest are Zorreira located nearby Benagil, Acros de Marinha by Lagoa, Gruta do Capitão located in between Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra, and Elefante located near Ponta da Piedade, Lagos. Benagil Sea Cave is a pure travel inspiration for those who have not been to see it.
Cruising with Us
Join the hundreds of quests who have experienced this amazing cave with us. It is never to early to make your plans to visit the Algarve or spend the day exploring Benagil or the Coastline and Dolphins with us. With our online booking system, you can hold your desired dates with a small deposit, and you are able to cancel within 24 hours of your cruise for a full refund if your travel plans should change. We look forward to sharing the magic of the Algarve coast with you!
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