Kayaking to Benagil Caves, Portugal

One of the highlights during our trip to Portugal in May 2024 was our Kayaking tour to the Benagil Caves. I am not the strongest Kayaker but held my own and had a fantastic time. If you are in the Algarve area, this is the top activity I would recommend. My photos are not terrific as I used a waterproof sleeve over my I-phone to protect it but you can at least get the idea from the photos of how great this tour is.

*Note* When we toured, only kayakers were allowed to get out and enjoy the beach area. People on tour boats were not permitted to get out of their boat. Check before you go whether kayakers are permitted on the beach or not at the time of your trip.

Location

The Benagil Caves are located in the Algarve area of Portugal, along the southern coast. The caves are about a 15 minute drive from where we were staying in Carvoiero and to where we joined our Kayak group. We then walked to the Benagil Beach and Kayaked from there.

Who We Kayaked With

We joined a Kayak Group through Secret Algarve and they were fantastic! This was a group tour but not so large that we couldn’t enjoy it. We were given thorough instructions before we ventured to the beach. The kayaks were already at the beach so we did not have to carry them which really was a plus. All of the kayaks were double kayaks so that was also great. I sat in front and Steve in back. Our guides were absolutely fabulous. Not only did they make the tour fun but they were extremely informative and also experienced talented kayakers.

Kayaking to the First Caves

Since we booked this trip through our hotel we did not know much about it and to our delight, we first kayaked into two other caves before visiting the Benagil Cave. These caves were smaller and a bit dark but still a lot of fun.

Kayaking to Benagil Caves, Portugal

As we kayaked over to the Benagil Cave I was really excited I was kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean. I love white water rafting and have kayaked in single person duckys through rapids in the western US, so this was new to me. I followed Steve’s direction and soon got the hang of it and even though I have heard the double kayak referred to as the divorce kayak, we kayaked pretty well together.

The Benagil Cave was nothing short of amazing. We learned this natural cave is around 20 million years old! What we see now is the result of erosion of the limestone over those 20 million years. You can even see fossils of seashells and starfish embedded in the walls. There is a large hole in the ceiling creating a natural skylight so the cave is not dark. The sandy beach is easy enough to walk on and the colors of the beach, in contrast to the cave wall and blue sky, make for a beautiful scene.

Conclusion

Again, Kayaking to Benagil Caves is a lot of fun when in the Algarve Region of Portugal. As a matter of fact, it was one of our favorite activities on this trip. I highly recommend booking with Secret Algarve as we really enjoyed our tour with them.

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Check out my other Portugal Posts!

Cromlech of Almendres, Portugal May 2024

Evora Portugal and the Chapel of Bones, May 2024

Arraiolos Castle, Portugal May 2024

Knights of Templar, Portugal May 2024

Exploring Obidos, Portugal, May 2024

A Moliceiro Ride in Aveiro, Portugal, May 2024

Planning

I do a lot of research before a trip and below are some of the items I use to help plan. I also use these items throughout my trip and they have all been a good resource.

My favorite travel guides are the DK Eyewitness guides. These books are smaller and fit nicely in your bag, come with a removable map, are durable, sort the information in a logical way, and easy to read. While they just give a brief synopsis of each area, I find areas I like and then google or search for more information.

I also like a map when I travel because you never know when you will loose GPS. We have many times had to rely on the old fashion method of pulling out a map. I have found the National Geographic Maps to be very useful. The ones I have used have been accurate, durable, and easy to follow. You can click on an Amazon link to a map here https://amzn.to/4dRJNqQ

The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon and Viator which we do receive a small commission from if you buy or book through one of our links at no cost to you.