Boa Onda Tour: the Benagil caves by boat with Julie and Hélder

If you only keep one boat trip from your stay in the Algarve, make it this one. Boa Onda Tour is a small family-run maritime business based in Portimão, about forty minutes from our houses in Albufeira and Guia. At the helm: Julie, a French guide from Bordeaux, and Hélder, her Portuguese partner and skipper.

We recommend them to our guests for one simple reason: the boat carries no more than fourteen people, commentary is given in French, English, Portuguese, German, Spanish and Italian, and the atmosphere feels like a day out with friends rather than a mass-market tour.

What you will see

Boarding takes place at the Vasco da Gama quay in Portimão, right next to the Club Naval. The trip starts on the Arade river, past the fishing village of Ferragudo, São João do Arade castle and the marina, before the Atlantic opens up.

The boat then follows the golden cliffs: the smugglers cave, the lovers cave, the village of Carvoeiro, the rock formations of Algar Seco, the famous Benagil cave and finally Marinha beach, one of the most photographed in Portugal. The boat's unusual shape lets it actually enter the caves — something larger vessels cannot do.

A swimming stop out at sea is included on the way back, depending on the weather and the group.

Practical information

Duration: around 2 hours, depending on sea conditions and swimming time.

Departures: 11:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 17:00, daily in season.

Price: from €30 per person. Private charters available for up to 15 people, with the guide all to yourselves.

Children: minimum age recommended by the skipper is 2 years. Younger children are welcome on request, under parental responsibility — mention it when booking.

Languages: French, English, Portuguese, German, Spanish and Italian.

Our tips before booking

Book early in your stay: if the sea is too rough on the day, you still have time to reschedule. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and a cap, plus a light windbreaker for morning departures. A waterproof phone pouch is worth it — the best photos are taken inside the caves.

Julie also happily shares tips for exploring on land during the trip, including the Seven Hanging Valleys walk, which starts from Marinha beach.

Booking

The tour is rated 4.94/5 from 116 reviews, and the comments always come back to the same things: Julie and Hélder's welcome, the quality of the commentary and the human scale of the boat.

Booking and availability: Boa Onda Tour — Benagil caves boat trip from Portimão

Staying in one of our Algarve houses? Let us know: we are happy to help you fit the trip into the right day of your holiday.