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Updated August 2025
Looking for the best ways to explore Portugal’s famous Benagil Cave? You’ve come to the right place.
I’ve been to the Algarve in Portugal twice now, and a visit to the Benagil Cave is definitely one of those things that needs to be on your itinerary while exploring the region. I’ve personally been to the caves both via kayak tour AND by hiking to the top along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, so I’ll be sharing my personal experience along with updated rules for 2026 so you know what to expect.
The beauty of the Algarve truly lies in its natural wonders—it’s chock full of epic beaches, dramatic limestone rock formations that dot the coast, and plentiful arches and sea caves to explore.
Benagil Cave is the most famous of these sea caves as visitors can actually enter into the cave and peer out into a wide open hole at the top, revealing the bright blue sky above. It’s quite a sight to behold!
Over the years since I first visited, rules around visiting the caves have changed, so I’m going to share the best ways to visit in the upcoming year and important tips to ensure your planning is a breeze.
Continue reading for the complete guide on how to visit the Benagil Cave for yourself, including how to get there, the best time to visit and much more.
Psst—Don’t miss my complete 4-Day Algarve Portugal Itinerary if you’re looking for more ideas for your trip!
Short on time? Here’s my cheat sheet to the best Benagil Cave tours:
- Best Benagil Cave Boat Tour: Departing from Albufeira, this tour combines a trip to the Benagil Caves with some epic dolphin spotting.
- Best Benagil Cave Kayak Tour: This tour comes with complimentary 4K photos of your excursion so you can make the memories last forever.
- Best Benagil Cave SUP Tour: This 1.5 hour paddle board tour is limited to six participants, giving you the ultimate intimate experience of the caves.
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Benagil Cave in Portugal
Where is the Benagil Cave Located?
The Benagil sea cave is located just 200 meters to the east of Benagil Beach, one of the best beaches in Algarve. From Lagos, one of the major towns in the Algarve, the drive is about 40 minutes to Praia de Benagil (Benagil Beach). Benagil itself is a sleepy fishing village, with the Benagil Cave being the main attraction.
There’s one main road in Benagil with a few restaurants and cafes to stop into, so don’t expect to spend too much time in Benagil itself. However Benagil Beach Club sits perched up on the hill above the beach and could be a nice place to decompress after your time on the water.
Plan to spend some time on the beach if you can as the cliffs on either side block the wind and make it a great spot to catch some sun!
New Benagil Cave Rules and Restrictions 2026
Since I last visited, there have been a number of rules and restrictions put into place to make visiting the Benagil Cave more safe for everyone. Here are the latest regulations according to The Portugal News:
- Visitors can no longer swim themselves to the caves from Benagil Beach
- Visitors are no longer allowed to self-kayak or self-SUP into the cave
- The number of boats and kayaks allowed to enter the cave at a time will be limited
- All boat and kayak tours are given an allotted time limit that they are allowed inside the cave
- Guests can no longer disembark from boats and kayaks onto the beach inside the cave
How to Get to the Benagil Cave
There are quite a few options of ways to experience the Benagil Cave, which made planning my trip a bit confusing at first when I was researching how to visit this gram-worthy spot. That’s why I’m writing this post—so that you don’t have the same unanswered questions as I did!
I’ve broken down the different options below, so choose whichever suits your adventure style and budget. The inside of the cave is only accessible by sea, so leave your walking shoes behind for this one as they won’t be any help here.
Tips for Picking the Right Tour:
Below I’ll get into the best tours whether you want to explore by boat, kayak or SUP. However, every tour is a little different and it’s helpful to know what to expect so you don’t end up disappointed. Here are some things to ask before you book your tour to ensure the best experience:
- How early does the tour start (9 am or earlier is preferable to avoid crowds)?
- Does the tour go inside the cave?
- What is the cancellation policy in case weather conditions are bad day of?
- How long does the tour spend inside the cave?
- What does the company include in the ticket cost (ie. life jackets, guided information, dry bags)?
I’ll share my top tour picks below, but Viator and Get Your Guide tours that have solid reviews are always safe bets when booking tours abroad. They’re my go-to sites for activities and tours around the world.
Important Note: Due to recent safety regulations, visitors are REQUIRED to explore Benagil Caves with a licensid tour operator. Do not attempt to self-swim or kayak to the caves.
Option 1: Take a Boat Tour
The most popular way to see the Benagil Caves amongst tourists is by boat. Organized boat tours sometimes involve other sea caves, seaside rock formations and possible dolphin sightings at certain times of year.
Boat tours are ideal for anyone who may not be in love with the idea of getting wet, anyone traveling with children, or those with physical restrictions.
Read the itinerary carefully if taking an Algarve sea cave tour, as some companies simply show you the outside of the cave and don’t actually go inside (the smaller the boat, the better).
It’s also worth noting that because of local restrictions, boat tours that do enter into the cave will not allow guests to get off the boat and onto the beach, so it limits your photography opportunities in the cave quite a bit.
The Best Benagil Cave Boat Tours:
- Benagil Caves and Dolphin Excursion: This highly-rated tour departs from Albufeira and combines a trip to the Benagil Caves with dolphin spotting.
- 2-Hour Tour from Portimao: This boat tour passes by some of the most beautiful spots in Algarve like Praia da Marinha and Vale de Centeanes Beach on the way to explore Benagil Cave.
- Affordable Tour Leaving from Benagil Beach: This budget-friendly tour leaves from the beach closest to the caves so you can reduce your time on the water if boats aren’t your thing.
- Adventurous Boat Ride from Lagos: This top rated rigid inflatable boat (RIB) tour is a bit more adventurous than other boat tours and will get your adrenaline pumping on your way to visit the caves.
Option 2: Guided Kayak Tour
For water sports enthusiasts that want to get a little exercise, the caves are very accessible by kayak. I personally took a kayak tour and really enjoyed exploring the caves this way.
Taking a kayak tour is a great way to experience the caves with some autonomy while also having a professional ensure you stay safe during the adventure.
My Experience Taking a Kayak Tour:
My kayak tour started at Carvoeiro beach and took around two hours to get there and back. We were able to stop inside the caves, get onto the beach to take photos (granted this was 2018) and kayak around the coast as our guide led the group.
If it were up to me, I would have preferred to stay a little longer to take photos and felt slightly rushed, but if you’re not super into photography, you would probably be fine with the timeframe we were given. There are regulations now on how long tours can stay inside the cave, so unfortunately this is a necessary evil.
Best Kayak Tours to Benagil Caves:
- Small Group Kayak Tour with 4K Photos Provided: This kayak tour departs from Carvalho Beach and I love that the guides provide free photos for guests of their experience.
- Tour to Benagil and Secret Caves: Beyond just visiting Benagil, this kayak tour explores other rock formations, natural arches and secret caves in the area.
- Ultra Small Group Kayak Tour: This tour allows a max of 12 guests and meets at Benagil Beach for the ultimate intimate experience.
Option 3: Guided Paddle Board Tour
Similarly to a kayak tour, a SUP paddleboard tour is a great way to get a workout in while exploring one of Algarve’s top natural wonders. Some tours offer guests the choice of either a kayak or paddle board as their mode of transport.
Even if you don’t have prior paddle board experience, these tours often offer a bit of instruction so you can feel confident before you set out to the caves.
Best Paddle Board Tours to Benagil Caves:
- Small Group Tour with Free 4K Photos: Departing from Carvalho, this tour is capped at 12 guests making it an intimate journey into the caves.
- SUP Tour from Lagos: See caves along the coast including the Benagil Cave and get free GoPro shots of your group on this top rated tour.
Option 4: Hiking
If traveling via water isn’t your preferred method but you still want to witness the caves, it is possible to see the Benagil Cave from the above lookout hole, but unfortunately there’s no way inside the caves from the top.
To check out the cave from above, you’ll need to navigate to Praia da Marinha and begin hiking along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. From the start of the trail it’s not a far walk to the top of the Benagil Cave where you can peer in from the top.
I will forewarn that the area is roped off so it’s not super easy to walk right up to the edge and get a look in—if you’re on the shorter side you might have a hard time with visibility.
If you want to make a day of it and combine some hiking along Seven Hanging Valleys with snorkeling as well, check out this guided tour.
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I never step on a plane without travel insurance these days because I know that spending a few extra dollars per day is well worth the peace of mind that I won’t be out thousands if something goes wrong.
And it’s especially important to get coverage when you plan on partaking in adventurous activities like swimming, kayaking or SUP’ing into potentially dangerous sea caves. If you’re not sure why you need it, you can read about how World Nomads travel insurance saved me $1,500 in a single trip, or just get a quick quote here in under on minute.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Benagil Caves Tour
Depart Early: If your tour has multiple departure time options, choose the earliest one in the morning for the most calm experience with fewer crowds.
Be Mindful of Weather: Entrance to the Benagil Cave is always pending sea and weather conditions, so I’d recommend booking towards the beginning of your trip to Algarve so you can reschedule in case of any cancellations.
Book in Advance: Many boat tours book out in advance especially during the summer high season, so make sure to secure your booking as soon as you can.
Keep Gear Safe: Pack a waterproof bag or phone case so you can capture the adventure without damaging your equipment. Some tours will include these items, but check first!
Parking in Benagil Town: Keep in mind that you might pay a bit more to take a boat from a beach further away from Benagil, but it may also save you the hassle of trying to find parking in the crowded and small village of Benagil, especially during peak season (parking is free, just hard to come by).
The Best Time of Year to Visit the Benagil Cave
July and August are the busiest months for travel in Portugal, so expect prices to be higher and the beaches a bit (or rather, a LOT) more crowded. If you are visiting during those times, I’d highly recommend booking tours in advance instead of waiting until the last minute.
If you want to beat the crowds and go during shoulder season, visit in June or the beginning of September through the beginning of October.
During low season, November through March, boats will run less frequently or not at all due to the rough conditions of the ocean, but inquire directly with the company you’re interested in touring with. It is still possible to see the caves in winter.
The Best Time of Day to Visit the Benagil Cave
Once you’ve selected your dates for your epic Portugal adventure, you’ll want to figure out the best time of day to actually visit the caves. Generally, the light is best through the opening in the cave between 10 AM and 4 PM, so if you’re into photography that might be a good time slot for you.
On the flip side, getting out early in the morning will help you beat the crowds, so make your decision based on what’s most important to you.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Benagil Cave?
Although the prices are dependent on which season you visit, the expected price range for visiting the Benagil Caves on a guided tour is about from $20 to $60 USD.
This will of course depend on the itinerary, season you’re visiting, and size of the boat.
What to Bring to Visit Benagil Cave
What you’ll need to bring will somewhat depend on which option you decide to take as far as visiting by boat, kayak, etc. The below list will help you cover the bases so you’re prepared in all situations.
Essential Packing List for the Benagil Cave:
- Sunscreen (30+)
- Hat
- Swimsuit or rash guard for extra coverage (if going by boat you can wear normal clothes but may want a swimsuit underneath as some boat tours are more rugged than others)
- Flip flops or water shoes
- Sunglasses
- Camera gear (GoPro is great for this, but check out my full list of camera gear here)
- Waterproof backpack or dry bag
- Water bottle (preferably insulated to keep water cool)
read more portugal guides
A First Timer’s Guide to Lisbon
Staying at a Chic Algarve Boutique Hotel
A Guide to the Coolest Cafes in Lisbon, Portugal
Pin it for Later
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Booking Accommodations:
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