Albufeira Caves and Coastline Boat Trip

Boat trips are a fantastic way to see an entirely new side of the Algarve and there are a variety of excellent, safe, informative and fun trips leaving directly from the beautiful Albufeira Marina.

Albufeira Marina is located just to the west of the main area of Albufeira but is easy to get to wither by public transport, car or on foot if you are not too far away! Some of the very best Algarve boat trips leave from here and this is a great spot to come for a drink, some shopping or something to eat while you wait to get on or off your caves and coastline boat trip.

The Algarve is known for having some of the most stunning coastline in Europe and while in certain areas, such as in Vilamoura or Faro, you will find long sandy beaches extending as far as the eye can see, in other areas there are unique cliff formations, hidden caves and beaches only accessible by boat.

A half day caves and coastline boat trip from Albufeira takes around three hours and heads west from Albufeira Marina towards the rocky coastline around Carvoeiro.

If you are looking to discover new beaches or places to visit while in the Algarve this is a great way to get an idea of just what is out there as the knowledgeable guides are on hand to point out landmarks, fishing villages and towns and to help you to get your bearings.

It is a must to take your camera on this trip because the scenery is truly stunning, with something new around every corner both above water and below!

One of the highlights of the caves and coastline boat trip has to be seeing for yourself the amazing caves at Benagil, one of which is lit from above by a hole in the top of the cave creating a magical atmosphere. Also seeing the stacks and rock formations by Marinha beach is stunning and it is easy to see why this beach has been voted one of the best in the entire world.

When the weather is good on one of the Albufeira boat trips then those on board are given the opportunity to dive in to the sea to cool off along the tour, however if you prefer to stay on board then this is a great opportunity to take a break from all the sight-seeing and relax with friends and family.

No trip to the Algarve would be complete without a boat trip and to see some of the best that the Algarve has to offer, then be sure to climb aboard an Albufeira boat trip to discover the hidden caves and glorious coastline of this amazing region.

Trip report by Algarve Fun’s writer Vicente Lourenço. Having spent most of his life in the Algarve, Vicente knows most of its secrets and loves to share it with newcomers. He likes travelling, outdoor sports and exotic food.

With a coast 150 kilometres long, from east to west, it is no wonder that the Algarve region has a wide range of beaches, rocks, cliffs and caves. For centuries the Algarve coast watched undisturbed as violent storms occurred, as the Portuguese caravels set out to conquer new worlds, as pirates attacked its shores and as smugglers used their coves to escape the law. Besides the extraordinary beauty of its nature, it is the fables and legends of its caves and beaches that attract thousands of tourists every year. Embark aboard a ship and let yourself float along one of the most beautiful and magical coasts in the world.

I showed up at Albufeira Marina half an hour before the boat left. Passengers of touristic boat trips are usually requested to be present about thirty minutes before departure so that the crew has time to accommodate all passengers. The huge catamaran that awaited me for my trip along the Algarve coast was 16m long and 8m wide; it had room for 120 people, 140 life vests and lifeboats. The main deck, like other boats that organize trips of the same kind, was quite large, with several sofas for people to sit on. On top of all this, it still had an upper deck from which one had a breath-taking view over the sea and the coast, but which had only space for a certain number of people which meant you had to book your place on that upper deck well in advance.

I enjoyed the glass of wine that was offered as I climbed aboard and settled comfortably in the hammock nets at the back of the ship. At that time, a voice-over was heard throughout the ship in Portuguese, English and French, silencing the ambient music that was being played and presenting a brief description of the ship, as well as introducing crew members and the safety procedures.

From my hammock in the back of the ship I could see the cliffs of a yellow and orange stone that guard Albufeira Marina. As the vessel sailed into the ocean, great anticipation of the voyage ahead lay over me: on that day there was not a single cloud in the sky and a slight sea breeze prevented it from getting to warm.

The boat headed west, past Castle Beach (Praia do Castelo). Castle Beach owes its name to an old defensive tower built in the 16^th century. Although the tower has already fallen there are still traces visible at the entrance of the beach. After Castle Beach, the vessel entered the Galé area. Galé is so named because of the two galleys that sank there. When the Romans arrived in the Algarve region, the Galé area gained visibility and importance with the appearance of a commercial post, which in turn led the Visigoths and later the Arabs to settle in the area.

After Galé, the vessel crossed the area protected by the Ministry of the Environment since 2013. The protected area covers the entire area of Salgados until near Armação de Pêra. Armação de Pêra, formerly known as the bay of Armação (Armed Bay in English), was a heavily armed bay that protected the Algarve from pirate attacks. It is presumed that the primitive defences of Armação de Pêra are an inheritance of the Lusitanians or the Romans. In 1571, these rudimentary constructions were used to construct the Fort of Santo António, an initiative of the Galega family. The imposing defensive structure led populations to habit the area, giving origin to the town of Armação de Pêra. The Santo António Fortress had to undergo renovations after the earthquake of 1755 and is now classified as a Property of Public Interest.

After that I was able to see the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rock (Capela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha), built on the top of a impressive promontory. This beautiful chapel, known as one of the best places to get married, was initially a bulwark that protected the Algarve with its cannons. The tour also took me to the Cave of the Birds. Near the Cave of the Birds there is a rock that looks like the face of a person, which sailors have long believed to be King Neptune, the god of the seas.  Next I saw the rock formation Arc de Triomphe, so called because it is extremely similar to the Parisian monument of the same name, and later the Rock of the Elephants.

The last cave to be visited was the Benagil Cave, where the Algar de Benagil is located. Sometimes referred to as the Benagil Cathedral, because of the various arches resembling a cathedral, this is the crown jewel of caves and rock formations in the Algarve. Its gigantic size coupled with the lovely beach inside has enchanted fishermen for several centuries. The beauty of its multi-coloured walls is also another reason why tourists from all over the world travel to the place to see it with their own eyes.

Upon returning, the ship made a stop at sea to allow passengers to go for a swim. All in all, the journey took about two and a half hours, although the duration and course may vary according to the weather and the tides.

Algarve Fun also offers many other boat trips from Albufeira Marina so do not forget to check them out. Be sure to book the trip well in advance though, as most trips tend to be completely booked more than 1 week prior to the trip.