From Portimão: All Day- Benagil Caves Expedition Tour – Pirate Ship

About this tour

Overview – The Route to Benagil

Boarding takes place in Portimão at Cais Vasco da Gama. The Benagil Pirate Ship first navigates along the Arade River, passing the fishing village of Ferragudo, the 15th-century São João Castle and Praia Grande. Shortly afterwards, the ship reaches the open Atlantic Ocean.

Sailing eastwards, the Pirate Ship cruises past Praia do Pintadinho, the lighthouse of Ponta do Altar, Praia dos Caneiros and the secluded Praia da Afurada. On the cliffs above stands a 2,000-year-old Roman watchtower overlooking Praia do Vale da Lapa. The route continues past the old smuggler’s cave, Praia do Paraíso, the village of Carvoeiro, the rock formations of Algar Seco, Praia do Vale Centeanes, the Alfanzina lighthouse and the Cape of Carvoeiro.

Cave Exploration by Dinghy

At this point, guests transfer into small cave boats for an up-close visit of several sea caves, including Atlantis Cave, Crocodile Cave, Praia do Carvalho Cave, Deep Cave, Echo Cave, Turtle Cave, Benagil Beach, the iconic Benagil Cathedral Cave and the darker Submarine Cave. After the visit, guests return to the Benagil Pirate Ship.

On board, adults may enjoy an optional “walk the plank” moment — a fun tradition of the ship.

The return journey navigates along Praia da Marinha before heading back to Portimão.

Cruise Programs

All cruises last approximately 2H30

Cruise 1 – Sunrise (08:40 – 11:10)

Ideal for calm sea, no wind and no waves. The morning light creates the best conditions for photography and sightseeing. Moreover, there are no kayaks or speedboats yet, so the caves remain peaceful.

Cruise 2 – Morning (11:30 – 14:00)

Fresh energy and excellent visibility. The narrow entrances of Echo Cave, Crocodile Cave and Submarine Cave become more accessible, without the disturbance of large speedboats.

Cruise 3 – Afternoon (14:30 – 17:00)

The afternoon wind helps the sails towards Benagil. The transfer to the pirate dinghies adds a sense of adventure and movement.

Cruise 5 – Sunset (17:30 – 20:00)

Soft light, warm colours and long shadows along the coastline create a scenic farewell to the day. The atmosphere is relaxed and inspiring.

Prices (Per Person – All Cruises)

• Adult (18+) — 35,00€
• Teenager (11–17) — 25,00€
• Child (3–10) — 15,00€
• Baby (0–2) — Free

Important Information

• Boarding begins 15 minutes before departure.
• The ship departs on time; no waiting for late passengers.
• Cave access may be restricted by order of the Port Captain or Maritime Police without prior notice.
• In such cases, no refund or cancellation applies; the Benagil Pirate Ship will continue the coastal route.
• Anti-sea-sickness prevention is included.

Don’t forget to always check the weather for that day, before booking your tour. See all our other tours here.