Benagil Cave

Winter Tours

Want to visit the Benagil cave? Discover the best things to do on your trip to the Algarve. Top tours, travel tips and verified reviews!

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Have you ever been to Benagil Cave?

If you are planning to travel to the Algarve coast, you must visit the Benagil cave!

This natural wonder is breathtaking for anyone, and it will make you wonder how the Benagil cave managed to remain a secret for Algarvian fishermen for so many years.

The Benagil cave, also known by the locals as the Cathedral, is a small demonstration of the strength of the waves that regularly hit the rocky coast of southern Portugal. 

It is only accessible by water and has a lovely beach inside. In there there is also a smaller part of the cave, that locals call the Chapel.

Exploring the caves of Benagil
One of the best activities to do in the region is to explore the rock formations of the Algarve coast. Besides the Benagil cave, there are other amazing sea caves nearby. Our favorites are the Captain cave, the Love cave and the Thief cave.

To discover all of these secrets, the best choice is to join a local guide who can take you to them safely. It is very important to know the region, the weather and the waves before jumping on such adventures. 

Explore the Benagil cave with us! Check out all the experiences offered in the region and choose your favorite!

Frequently Asked Questions

Access by sea and to get there you can use a kayak, Stand-Up-Paddle or boat. Attention: it is not allowed to stop with the boat inside the cave, if you want to enter the cave, you must do it with kayak or SUP or similar. For your safety, it is not recommended to try to swim to the cave.

Yes, the Benagil cave is located in the southern region of Portugal, Algarve, about 2h40min drive from Lisbon. It is possible to go from Lisbon to the Algarve, visit the Benagil cave and return the same day, but it is a long journey.

The Benagil cave is one of several sea caves on the Algarve coast, located 30 minutes by car from Albufeira, next to a small village called Benagil. It was naturally excavated over the years due to the force of the waves against the rock formations of the coast.

The best time to visit the Benagil cave is in the early morning, until 9 am, to avoid the big crowds. After that the cave starts to fill up with travelers and is not as enjoyable. At the end of the day it is also empty but the sea starts to get dangerous, so consult a local guide for your safety.

Public transportation can be a challenge for travelers, and during the summer buses are rare and trains are your best options. To get to the Benagil cave by train, you must go to the train station of Estômbar. From there, the best choice is to call an Uber or Taxi to take you to the Benagil beach. This really is the cheapest option to get there.

The best way to visit the Benagil cave with children is on a boat tour. It’s safe, fun and informative, and does not require a lot of effort.

No, it is not permitted to anchor or stop any boat inside the Benagil cave. Boat tours can take you for sightseeing, but you cannot get off the boat of anchor it to have some fun inside the Benagil cave.

What People Are Saying

★★★★★
"We had a super trip in the afternoon on August 12th. Just the same dat, in the morning, we hikes the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, so it was spectacular to view this trail from the waterside. As well as the views inside the different caves and beautiful beaches. Nice crew, would book same trip again!"
★★★★★
"We had a very nice tour. De instructors were professional. I went with kids and we felt very save eventhough the sea was al little bit rough. The sceenery was beautifull. I recommend it. Best of both worlds. And boot and kayak. "
★★★★★
"We had a great time with our guide, Jay, and Randy. My husband had gone kayaking in the past, but it was the first time for me and our four kids. Jay was awesome. Very personable and friendly. We were able to get off of the kayaks in the caves for an amazing experience and he offered to take photos of our family for us. The only thing I would say needs to be fixed is that Experitour sent us a Google maps link to where we were supposed to meet, but it was wrong. It was a good thing that we arrived fifty minutes early. The coordinates were not correct as they had not been updated, according to our tour coordinator. We didn’t know we were supposed to meet them up at the parking lot. It was a good thing I had the phone number to call. The person who answered the phone was very nice, asked me what we were wearing and what our group members looked like so he could connect with our guide to tell him. He told me not to stress out and reassured me that our tour would happen. He contacted Randy and Jay and instead of us having to walk up the steep hill from the beach, they drove down in their ATV to meet us at the beach entrance. "
★★★★★
"Daniel and Antonio were brilliant. We felt safe and exhilarated at the same time, and Daniel was charming and funny too. It was a brilliant rip and I defo recommend it. The caves were beautiful. "
★★★★★
"Correu tudo bem. Bem organizado e bem executado. Obrigado!"
★★★★★
"Loved it. We were very lucky and saw whales. The caves, whilst packed with tourists, were spectacular. The guide was lovely, the ride super fun, and the organisation slick."

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