Benagil Cave is one of the most popular places to visit in the Algarve, Portugal. This large sea cave, with its skylight and multiple cave entrances, is a gorgeous place to visit.
It attracts huge crowds and its popularity is creating challenges for those who want to visit this cave.
We visited Benagil Cave on October 11, 2023, just a few weeks after the first restrictions (the swim ban) were put into place, so we’ve seen firsthand how quickly the rules can change. The more detailed rules that followed in August 2024, such as kayak limits, no disembarking, and fines for operators, are covered here using official sources, which we link to below.
In this guide, we cover what you need to know to visit Benagil Cave and have the best experience possible.
Benagil Cave: The Essentials
LOCATION | Algarve, Portugal
IS IT OPEN | Yes, year-round, weather and sea conditions permitting
HOW TO VISIT | Only by licensed boat tour or guided kayak/SUP tour; swimming to the cave and landing on its interior beach are both banned
COST | €€ (tour prices vary by operator and boat size; see our recommended tours below)
TIME NEEDED | Most boat tours run 2–3 hours; kayak/SUP tours run around 2 hours
BEST TIME TO VISIT | May through September for calmer seas and running tours
GOOD TO KNOW | Rules changed in August 2024: no swimming, no disembarking on the beach inside the cave, kayak access only with a licensed guide
Updated July 2026: Verified all cave access rules for 2026. Updated boat, kayaking, and SUP tours.
Where is Benagil Cave?
Benagil Cave is located in Algarve, on the southern coast of Portugal. It is located near the coastal town of Benagil.
What is Benagil Cave?
Benagil Cave, also called Algar de Benagil, is a sea cave. There are two entrances into the cave from the sea and a skylight in the top of the cave. Inside of the cave is a small beach. These multiple entrances, combined with the beach and the aquamarine water creates one of the most photogenic places to visit in Portugal.
Is Benagil Cave Open?
Yes, Benagil Cave is open. However, you can only go inside of Benagil Cave on a boat or kayak tour, and even then, you can’t step out onto the sand. Swimming to the cave and disembarking inside it are both no longer permitted.
Benagil Cave Restrictions
Starting September 10, 2023, the Portuguese government put restrictions in place to limit how visitors could access the cave. This followed an extremely busy summer in which multiple boat tours, kayak tours, and swimmers all converged on the cave at once, leading to several incidents that put visitors in danger.
In response, authorities restricted access to motor boats only. Kayak tours were cancelled, and visitors were no longer allowed to swim to Benagil Cave.
In August 2024, a more detailed set of rules replaced those initial restrictions, and they’re still what’s in effect today. Swimming into the cave remains banned. Boats and kayaks are not permitted to land on the beach inside the cave. Kayak tours are allowed again, but only with a licensed guide, and there’s a limit on how many kayaks and boats can be inside the cave at once, plus a cap on how long each group can stay. Operators who break these rules risk fines ranging from €300 to €216,000, so don’t expect a captain to bend them for you.
You can see the list of restrictions in this article. And here is the link to the official document, but be aware that it is in Portuguese.
Is Benagil Cave Worth It?
Yes, Benagil Cave is one of the most beautiful sea caves in Portugal, with its multiple entrances and a dramatic skylight that bathes the beach below in light. Even with the 2024 restrictions in place, it’s still well worth the visit.
The best way to experience it is on a boat tour along the coast, rather than treating the cave as a standalone stop. You’ll get a few minutes inside Benagil Cave itself, but you’ll also see the rest of the Algarve’s dramatic coastline, the sea arches, hidden beaches, and other caves along the way, which is arguably just as memorable as the cave itself. A kayak or guided SUP tour gives you a slower, quieter version of the same experience, without the engine noise.
Just go in with the right expectations: you won’t get the empty-beach photos you may have seen online, and you’ll likely be sharing the cave with other boats and kayaks. But for most visitors, seeing that skylight in person still lives up to the hype.
How to Get to Benagil Cave
Currently, you have two options for visiting Benagil Cave: by boat and on foot.
Getting to Benagil Cave by Boat
Due to recent restrictions, the only way you can enter Benagil Cave is on a boat tour or a guided kayaking tour.
On a boat or kayak tour of Benagil Cave, you can enter the cave but you are not allowed to disembark the boat onto the beach. It’s still a great experience, but if you want to capture a photo of the cave and its multiple openings, you need to get on the beach to do this, and at this point in time, that is not possible.
We took a boat tour of the coast of the Algarve that included Benagil Cave. It was one of our favorite experiences in the Algarve and highly recommend it. Benagil Cave is not the only sea cave on the Algarve coast, and on a boat tour, you can visit multiple caves, plus photograph sea arches and beaches, and it is a must-have experience, in my opinion. Seeing Benagil Cave on this tour is icing on the cake.
Getting to Benagil Cave on Foot
You can also see Benagil Cave by walking/hiking to it. Benagil Cave is located along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and from this trail, you can peer down into the cave. Just be aware that it has a fence around the opening, so it’s difficult to get a good view down into the cave.
The view into Benagil Cave from the upper cave opening.
If you are active and adventurous, the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is one of the most beautiful walks in Portugal. This hike is 5.7 km/3.5 miles one-way and takes 2 to 3 hours of your time.
If you don’t want to do the full hike, you can park nearby (at ‘Free Parking Benagil’ on Google Maps) and it’s a 5-minute walk to Benagil Cave.
But it’s also very important to note that from the hiking trail, you cannot hike down to the shoreline and Benagil Cave. You will only view Benagil Cave from its skylight.
Things to Know about Benagil Cave Boat Tours
On a boat tour to Benagil Cave, not only do you get to visit the cave, but you also get to see the stunning coastlines of the Algarve.
Boat tours leave from Benagil (these are short tours which take you right to the cave), Portimão, and Albufeira. Talking to the concierge at our hotel, who is also training to be a boat skipper, she recommended Portimão over Albufeira, as the coastal scenery is much more interesting between Portimão and Benagil Cave.
We took a 2-hour boat tour from Portimão, while the restrictions were in place.
Here are a few things to know about the Benagil Cave boat tours:
The type of boat you choose impacts whether or not you can enter Benagil Cave. Small boats can enter the cave, larger boats cannot (regardless of Benagil Cave restrictions). When booking your tour, confirm that the boat is small enough to enter Benagil Cave (and other sea caves on the coast).
The tide also impacts your experience. Some sea caves can only be entered at high tide and others can only be entered at low tide. Benagil Cave can be entered regardless of the tide.
If the sea is rough, boat tours will not operate. For the first four days of our visit to the Algarve, boat tours to Benagil Cave were not running because of rough conditions. In the summer, the sea tends to be calmer. Fall through spring, rough conditions are more likely, so keep this in mind if your visit will be at this time.
Benagil Cave Boat Tour from Portimão: What We Did
We took a boat tour from Portimão. Here is an overview with photos on what to expect during this tour. As you will see, this is a gorgeous trip from start to finish. Our photos were taken between 11 am and 1 pm.
Ferragudo Castle is one of the first landmarks you will see after leaving Portimão.
Praia da Afurada
When sea conditions are right, and if the boat is small enough, your boat will cruise through this sea arch.
Paradise Cave, a cave that looks similar to Benagil Cave, with a secluded beach and much wider skylight.
Praia do Carvoeiro
Algar Seco
Algar Seco is famous for its two cave openings. The man with the blue shirt is standing in this cave. Learn more in our Guide to Algar Seco.
Sea pillar near Praia de Vale Covo
Praia do Carvalho
Benagil Beach
One of the entrances into Benagil Cave
Entering Benagil Cave
Inside Benagil Cave
The second Benagil Cave entrance
Praia do Cão Raivoso
Benagil Cave Tour Options
It looks as if many of the 1.5 hour tours from Portimão go as far as Benagil Cave and then turn around. Longer tours, usually those around 2 hours, go a little past Benagil Cave, to viewpoints of Marinha Beach. We took a 2 hour tour and seeing Marinha Beach from the water was very nice, but I don’t think it’s an absolute must-see. So if a 1.5 hour tour works better in your schedule or with your budget, this is a great alternative.
This 2-hour tour from Portimão gets very good reviews and includes Marinha Beach. This 2.5 hour tour is a little bit more expensive, also includes Marinha Beach, but is done with a marine biologist who will be on the lookout for dolphins
This 1.5 hour tour from Portimão is our top pick if you like the shorter tour option. You will see the beaches, sea arches, and sea caves along the coastline, plus a visit to Benagil Cave. It does not look like it goes all of the way to Marinha Beach.
This tour was recommended to us by one of our awesome readers. It is a one hour tour that starts at and visits Benagil Cave, Albandeira Arch, and Marinha Beach.
If you prefer to start in Albufeira, this speed boat tour to Benagil Cave is our top pick.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: When choosing a tour, pay attention to the starting point, the duration of the tour, and the type of boat. Larger boats cannot enter Benagil Cave.
Getting to Benagil Cave by Kayak or SUP
A kayak or SUP tour is the other legal way inside Benagil Cave, and it gives you a completely different experience from a boat tour: no engine noise, a slower pace, and a closer view of the cave walls as you paddle in.
Like boat tours, kayak and SUP tours must be guided. Self-guided kayaking or paddleboarding to the cave is no longer allowed. Guides typically lead groups of up to six kayaks, and everyone wears a life jacket. Tours usually run around 2 to 3 hours and depart from Benagil Beach or nearby marinas, often stopping at other sea caves along the way in addition to Benagil.
The same restrictions that apply to boats apply here: you won’t be able to disembark onto the beach inside the cave. What you get instead is quiet, up-close time under the skylight. Many people who’ve done both say the kayak experience feels more intimate than the boat tour, even with the same rules in place.
This kayak tour gets nothing but rave reviews and you’ll visit both Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach. If you prefer a SUP experience, take a look at this small group tour.
GOOD TO KNOW: kayaking and SUP take more physical effort than a boat tour, so it’s a better fit for visitors who are reasonably fit and comfortable on the water. If conditions are rough, kayak tours are the first to get cancelled, so build some flexibility into your schedule if this is your plan.
Tours of Benagil Cave
Setting Your Expectations
Benagil Cave is one of the most popular destinations in the Algarve. Don’t expect a quiet, tranquil, crowd free experience.
Online, you’ll see plenty of photos of an empty beach and cave, with nobody else around. That view isn’t possible to get anymore, since swimming to the cave and disembarking from boat tours are both banned. Everyone in the cave stays on the water, and so will you. So don’t expect a photo like the one below.
Rad Radu/shutterstock.com
This view (photo below) is more likely…we took this photo on our boat tour.
With all that being said, a boat tour of the Algarve is worth it, not only because you can see Benagil Cave, but the other sea caves and beaches are just as beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to visit Benagil Cave?
For most visitors, a boat tour is the better choice: it’s less physically demanding, and it usually includes other Algarve highlights like sea arches and hidden beaches along the way, not just Benagil Cave itself. If you’d rather skip the engine noise and get a slower, quieter view from the water, a guided kayak or SUP tour is the better fit.
Why is Benagil Cave famous?
Benagil Cave’s dramatic skylight and golden interior made it a favorite for photographers long before it became an internet sensation. It gained even wider recognition after being featured as a Windows 10 wallpaper, and it’s now one of the most Instagrammed spots in Portugal, drawing visitors who plan their entire Algarve trip around seeing it in person.
Can you go inside Benagil Cave?
Yes, but only as part of a licensed boat or guided kayak/SUP tour. Swimming or paddling in on your own has been banned since 2023. And “going inside” comes with a catch that a lot of people miss: even on a tour, you stay in the boat or kayak. Stepping out onto the cave’s sandy interior beach isn’t allowed for anyone anymore, tour group or not. Your time inside is brief, since only a limited number of vessels can be in the cave at once, but it’s enough to take in the domed ceiling, the shaft of light through the skylight, and the beach below.
Plan Your Trip to the Algarve
Where Benagil Cave fits into a bigger Algarve trip → Our Algarve Itinerary shows you how to combine it with the region’s best beaches, boat tours, and coastal towns across 5 to 9 days.
Pairing your visit with a beach day → Our Best Beaches in the Algarve guide rounds up the region’s 10 most beautiful beaches, including nearby Marinha Beach.
Finding more dramatic coastline like this → Our Ponta da Piedade Guide covers another jaw-dropping stretch of sea caves and pillars, just down the coast near Lagos.
Exploring another of the Algarve’s famous caves → Our Algar Seco Guide covers a different cave system nearby, known for its tunnels, grottos, and unique photo spots.
Discovering more top experiences in the Algarve → Our Things to Do in the Algarve guide rounds up 20 top experiences across the region.
Starting your Portugal planning from scratch → Our Portugal Travel Guide covers everything from the best time to visit to how to get around the country.
If you have any questions about how to visit Benagil Cave, let us know in the comment section below.
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