Benagil Cave: How to Visit, Best Tours & Insider Tips (Algarve, Portugal)

Are you planning to visit the Benagil Cave in Algarve, Portugal, and looking for information and tips on how to do it? This guide will answer all your questions!

We spend a lot of time in the Algarve and have visited Benagil Cave countless times. In this guide, we share all the information on how to see the Benagil Cave: where it is, how to get there, the best tours, and our personal experience with visiting Benagil Cave by boat as well as on foot.

We also included a map of the area as well as insider tips on how to visit Benagil Cave from Portimao, Albufeira, Lagos, and other places along the coast.

Good to know: The best way to see the most beautiful Algarve sea caves, including the Benagil Cave, is by taking a boat tour. Visiting sea caves by boat allows you to experience how special the Algarve coastline really is (Benagil Cave is just one of the many amazing places that you’ll get to see!).

In addition to visiting Benagil Cave with a boat, you can also opt for kayaking. Alternatively, you can simply walk and see the cave from above as part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (but from the top, you don’t get to see much more than a big hole).

TIP: As I’m updating this guide after our most recent visit to Benagil Cave, I have to add that you really should book your boat tour at least a few days in advance. In the high season (May-October), these tours always sell out. In the low season, there are fewer options, so it’s wise to plan ahead as well.

 

Our experience: As I said, we have been to Benagil Cave many times; on foot and also with boat tours departing from various coastal towns in the Algarve.

The very first time we visited, we took a highly-rated boat tour from Portimao (with a sunset option) and just recently – this speedboat tour from Albufeira (that also includes dolphin watching). Further below, you can read about these tours, but quite frankly, they are all just as good. So simply pick the departure location and time that best fits your itinerary.

READ ALSO: Perfect Algarve Itinerary for First Visit

 

Important update: Recently, local authorities imposed some restrictions for visitors to Benagil Cave. In a nutshell, you can see the cave from a boat but nobody is allowed to disembark inside anymore. Boat tours run as normal. For updates, please see here: Is Benagil Cave closed?

Further below, you can find all the information you need to visit Benagil Cave; no matter where you are coming from or how you decide to do it. Take a look!

     

Why visit Benagil Cave?

Benagil cave, also known as Algar de Benagil, is the most famous and most impressive of all the sea caves of the Algarve region in southern Portugal. It’s one of the must-see places in Algarve, attracting lots of visitors. And yes, it is as beautiful as it looks in the pictures.

However, there is so much more to see along the coast of the Algarve than just the Benagil sea cave! The whole coastline is gorgeous and it’s full of stunning sea caves.

So if you want to see the very best that Algarve has to offer, be sure to take a boat tour to see the amazing sea caves in the Cabo Carvoeiro area! Benagil Cave is just one of the highlights here.

   

Where is Benagil Cave & How to Get There

Benagil cave, Grutas de Benagil, is located next to Praia de Benagil (Benagil Beach), between Portimao, Albufeira, and Lagoa. See the map below for the exact location.

While it’s located just around the corner from the nearby Benagil beach (Praia de Benagil), the Benagil cave can only be entered via the sea.

It is possible to drive to Benagil, so on the map, I also indicated the best parking area from which you can easily walk to Benagil Cave.

However, keep in mind that you cannot enter the cave on foot, so you can only see it via the hole from above. Further below, you will find more info about the best ways to see and visit Benagil Cave.

Good to know: One of the best ways to get to the Benagil sea cave is by joining the Benagil Caves boat tour. There are many companies running boat tours in Algarve and especially in high season, you’ll be able to find a boat going to Benagil Cave in every village nearby. Below, you can find more info about the best tours and different ways to get to Benagil Cave.

How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

   

Here are the best ways to visit Benagil Cave:

Benagil Cave Boat Tours

By far the best way to visit the Benagil Cave is by taking a boat tour. Small boats can enter the cave (weather- and sea conditions permitting), and that in itself is a very special experience. Plus, the interior of Benagil Cave is stunning!

As already mentioned, boat tours don’t visit just Benagil Cave, but they also take you for a sightseeing tour that includes many other sea caves and stunning beaches of Algarve. Some tours also do their best to find dolphins or foresee some free time for a swim.

Good to know: Boats do not stop or let you disembark inside any of the sea caves. They also don’t stay inside Benagil Cave longer than a few minutes and have to leave to make place for the others.

Therefore we recommend going to Benagil Cave as early in the morning as possible or taking one of the last tours of the day. If there are not too many boats waiting to get inside, your captain will usually stay a bit longer giving you more time to admire the cave.

The first time we took a boat tour to Benagil Cave was at 10 am in the low season. There was just one other boat when we arrived at the cave, so we could stay inside and admire it longer. However, just a few minutes later, there was a queue to get in… We couldn’t believe the number of boats waiting to enter.

Anyway, there are boat tours to Benagil Cave from all the bigger and smaller towns in the area, from Faro in the east to Lagos in the west. However, there are differences in departure times, prices, the boats that they use, or what’s included.

TIP: We highly recommend that you do some research and book a tour in advance! That way, you know exactly what you are paying for and what to expect. Plus, you are sure to have a spot reserved at the time when you want to go.

Here are our hand-picked recommendations for some of the best Benagil Cave tours:

• From Albufeira (includes dolphin watching)
• From Benagil (starts on the beach just near the cave)
• From Carvoeiro
• From Faro
• From Lagos
• From Portimao
• From Vilamoura (includes dolphin watching)

   

Kayak & Stand-Up Paddle Board Tours

A nice way to visit Benagil Cave is by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP).

Nowadays, disembarking inside the cave is no longer allowed. Entering the cave by kayak is now only allowed with a licensed guide. In addition, you also kayak in the area and visit many other sea caves. It’s very special experience and absolutely worth it.

Good to know: Since kayaking in the ocean can be a bit challenging, most Benagil Cave kayak tours start just nearby, at Benagil Beach. But it’s also possible to book kayak tours from several other places in the area. In that case, they cover bigger distances by big boat and then you transfer to kayaks when you get closer.

In the past, you could rent kayaks at Benagil Beach and explore on your own. Some companies still advertise ‘kayak rental’. However, following most recent tules, you have to be accompanied by a certified guide who can accompany a group of a maximum of 6 kayaks.

Here are the best options for visiting Benagil Cave by kayak/SUP:

• Guided kayak tour from Benagil Beach.
• SUP tour from Benagil Beach.
• From Albufeira.
• From Portimao.

READ ALSO: Most Beautiful Places for Kayaking in Algarve

   

How to Visit Benagil Cave by Car + Walking

As already mentioned, it is possible to walk to the opening of Benagil Cave on foot. For that, you will need to take one of the many paths on the cliffs east of Praia Benagil.

If you are visiting Benagil Cave by car, park it at the big parking area on top of the hill in Benagil (we indicated it on our map above). From there, locate any wider path leading toward the sea, and use any online maps app on your smartphone to navigate in the direction of Benagil Cave.

In just a few minutes, you will likely already see a lot of people standing around a big fenced hole – that’s the famous Benagil Cave.

We took the path at the very end of the car parking, turn right after a while, and then saw the caves in the distance already. The walk from the car parking to Benagil Cave took us just 4 minutes.

It doesn’t look very impressive from a distance; after all, it’s just a big hole. Plus, the cave is really deep and in order to avoid accidents, there is a wooden fence around it. You will have to do your best and stand on your toes to catch a glimpse of the bottom of the cave from here. It’s nice to see, but incomparable to the experience you get when you visit Benagil Cave inside.

Good to know: You can see Benagil Cave from above when hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. Benagil Cave is just one of the many amazing places that you can see on this hike. So if you have a few hours to spare, it’s well worth it!

LEARN MORE: Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

   

Swimming to Benagil Cave

Swimming to/inside Benagil Cave is forbidden (it used to be forbidden, then it was allowed for a few years, and now it’s forbidden again). In any case, we strongly discourage anyone from swimming to this sea cave.

Since Benagil Cave is located literally behind the corner from Benagil Beach, it is/was possible to swim there. If you walk to the far end of the beach, then it’s ‘just’ a 5-10 minute swim.

However, beware that the ocean can be rough here and even the best swimmers should be very careful.

Depending on the sea conditions, swimming to Benagil Cave could be really dangerous. Not even to mention the fact that there are boats going in and out of the cave all the time. There have been too many accidents and that is why it is no longer allowed.

   

Benagil Cave Boat Tour: from Portimao or from Albufeira?

The Benagil Cave boat tour is undoubtedly the best way to see the Algarve coastline. However, depending on where you are coming from – west (Portimao, Lagos) or east (Albufeira, Vilamoura, Faro), you will get to see some different scenery along the way.

It’s hard to say which tours are best since the coastline is absolutely stunning pretty much all the way. The more coastline you cover, the more sea caves you’ll see. The closer you get to the Benagil Cave, the more boats there are.

No matter which Algarve sea cave tour you book in the Portimao – Albufeira area, Benagil cave is always on the itinerary. However, if you take one of the tours that start closer to Benagil Cave, you’ll likely cover less ground and thus see a bit less of the coastline.

That being said, the nicest stretch of the Algarve coast is located more or less between Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra with Benagil Cave being right about in the middle. So most boat tours will bring you to the nicest sea caves in this area, no matter from which side you arrive.

On our first visit to Algarve, we chose this highly-rated boat tour departing from Portimao. It not only gave us the possibility to visit the famous Benagil Cave but also to see the whole beautiful coastline on the way to it. Stunning!

On our recent visit, we opted for this popular speed boat tour from Albufeira. In addition to visiting Benagil Cave and other stunning areas along the coast west of Albufeira, it also actively looks for dolphins. And yes, there are lots of dolphins in the area, so it’s quite likely you’ll get to see them. We saw quite a lot of them.

   

No matter which way you come – the coastline between Portimão and Praia de Benagil or toward, both sides are just as nice.

As our guide said before we departed, you’ll see so many beautiful villages and so many stunning sea caves, that Benagil Cave is just the cherry on the cake. And it’s true – the scenery along the coast and the many sea caves near Cabo Carvoeiro is simply stunning.

Good to know: There is always a possibility that due to rough sea conditions, the boats can’t enter one or the other cave. While the opening is very big, Benagil Cave is not always accessible either. However, it doesn’t even matter even if you wouldn’t be able to enter Benagil Cave due to very rough conditions. You’ll see so many other beautiful places and sea caves that it’s always worth a trip anyway.

I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of these Benagil Cave tours. Pick one that best fits your itinerary or that starts closer to your accommodation. In addition, check what else is included and at what time the tour runs – that way, you not only visit Benagil Cave but also see some dolphins or a beautiful sunset, etc.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Albufeira

   

Is it possible to visit Benagil Cave from Lagos, Vilamoura, or Faro?

The best way to get to Benagil Cave is by taking a boat tour from Portimao or Albufeira – the two biggest towns nearby. However, it’s also possible to visit Benagil Cave from Lagos, Vilamoura, or even Faro.

Obviously, if you are coming from further away, boat tours take a little bit longer (and cost a bit more), but it’s definitely possible.

The price difference is usually not big so it’s not worth taking a car to Albufeira or to Portimao first. If you are staying in Lagos, Faro, or Vilamoura, simply take a boat tour to Benagil cave from there.

TIP: Here you can find the best Benagil cave tours from Lagos. Here – from Vilamoura. And here – from Faro.

READ ALSO: Top Places to See & Things to Do in Lagos

Our experience with the Benagil Cave boat tour from Portimao

As I said, the first time we visited Benagil Cave (and when this article was originally written), we took this highly-rated small boat tour on a speed boat departing from Portimao. The whole trip was just a sequence of one highlight after another.

There were just 12 people on the boat and everybody was super excited and mesmerized by the beauty of the places that we visited.

The sea was quite rough on the day we did this boat tour (we were in Algarve in April) and we were happy to be on a small speed boat. These boats go faster, you never get seasick in them, and they also have much bigger chances to be able to enter the sea caves.

We visited so many sea caves that I lost count of them all. Despite the rough sea, we could enter every single one of them. Our guide was extremely skilled and he made sure that we had a safe ride with lots of thrills along the way. He also told us a lot about the places that we saw and gave quite some tips on the best places to visit along the Algarve coast by car afterward.

   

Benagil Cave boat tour with kids

During the first visit years ago, we did the Benagil Cave boat tour in Algarve with our three kids (ages 7, 7, and 9). At first, we were a bit worried that they might get bored sitting on a boat watching rocks. But the kids were just as excited as we were!

All three boys loved the fast and bumpy boat ride and were super excited about the boat entering the caves and passing through the narrow openings in the rocks. None of them got bored and they kept on saying that this was the best boat ride ever.

In fact, they loved it so much that a few days later we did a whale-watching tour in Madeira with a speed boat as well.

From what I see, there is no age limit for kids on most Benagil Cave boat tours, so it’s a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy together.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Algarve with Kids

   

Where to stay close to Benagil Cave?

As you can see, there are so many tours to Benagil Cave that you really don’t have to stay nearby in order to visit here.

That being said, this area is stunning and you could easily spend a few days exploring the sea caves, hiking on coastal cliff paths, enjoying beaches, and local food.

If you want to stay close to Benagil Beach, you can find the best accommodation options here. However, keep in mind that there are no big hotels here and privately rented apartments and villas get booked up months in advance.

Alternatively, stay in Corvoeiro, which is just nearby. It’s a beautiful little town with an even more beautiful coastline. There are quite a few hotels here. One of the nicest hotels in this area is Tivoli Carvoeiro.

READ ALSO: Best Places to Stay in Algarve

   

Practical information & tips for visiting Benagil Cave

• For fewer crowds, visit Benagil Cave very early in the morning.

• If you want to see Benagil Cave from above, you can easily do it by yourself, no need to take a tour. But if you want to see it from the inside, it’s best to join a boat tour.

• Most Benagil Cave boat tours take 2 to 3 hours and cost around 30-45 EUR/pp (price varies depending on the season, duration of the tour, size of the boat, etc.). You can find and book Benagil cave tours here.

• Make sure to do your research and book a small boat tour. Smaller boats have fewer people, they go faster, and they can enter the caves easier.

• In summer, many Benagil Cave tours also offer an option to swim in the ocean, so you may want to wear your swimsuit and take a towel.

• Don’t forget a sun hat and sunscreen lotion. The first time we took a boat trip to Benagil Caves, we didn’t think to apply any as it was a rather grey and cold day in early spring, and we all got red noses in just two hours.

• There are many more possibilities to explore the Algarve coastline by boat beyond the area around Benagil. In Lagos, you can kayak around the stunning Ponte Piedade area. In Albufeira, you can go kayaking in the area around Sao Rafael Beach. There are also sunset cruises, catamaran sightseeing trips, and even boat trips on a pirate ship. So if you are vacationing in the Algarve, I highly recommend planning at least a few boat trips in different areas.

READ ALSO: Algarve Travel Tips

   

Taking the boat tour to Benagil Cave will be one of the highlights of any trip to the Algarve.

Whether you are in Algarve for just a day or a week, seeing the sea caves and the beautiful coastline from the water is really a must. Highly recommended!

Benagil Cave FAQ

• Where is Benagil Cave? Benagil Cave is located in Algarve, Portugal, along the coast between the towns of Portimao and Albufeira. The closest beaches near Benagil Caves are Praia de Benagil and Praia da Corredoura.

• How do you get into Benagil Cave? The best way to get inside Benagil Cave is by taking a boat tour from one of the nearby towns. You are no longer allowed to swim or disembark inside the cave.

• Can you walk to Benagil Cave? There is a big hole at the top of the Benagil Cave and it’s possible to walk to it from the shore. You cannot access Benagil Cave on foot, but you can see a small part of it from above. Just be careful and stay behind the fence!

• When is Benagil Cave open? Benagil Cave has no opening hours and is always open. However, depending on the sea conditions and the wind, sometimes it’s dangerous to enter sea caves. So it does happen that boats cannot get inside the cave and that you cannot visit, but that is difficult to predict in advance.

• When is the best time to visit Benagil Cave? Depending on the weather and sea conditions, Benagil Cave can be visited the whole year and in all seasons. The best time to visit is when the sea is calm, and there are few boats/people. For that, it’s best to book a tour very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. The sea is usually calmer in the morning.

More travel inspiration for the Algarve region:

• Must-sees: Best Things to Do in Algarve
• Top beaches: Best Beaches in Algarve
• Water fun: Best Water Parks in Algarve
• Towns: Best Towns to See in Algarve

TIP: For many more destination guides all over the Algarve region as well as the rest of Portugal (including the islands of Azores and Madeira), please see our Portugal travel page.

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