Benagil, Boats and Piña Colada: One Perfect Algarve Experience
Hey there firiends!
Welcome to the third chapter of our Big Summer Adventure.
Last week, we explored the stunning beaches of Lagos, the charming Algarve town that completely stole our hearts. However, I quickly realized that one article simply wasn't enough to contain all my enthusiasm for this beautiful corner of Portugal.
Today, I want to take you along for one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip and an activity I would recommend without hesitation to anyone visiting the Algarve.
And as a bonus, we'll finish the story with sunsets, marinas, cobblestone streets, and a piña colada that became a family legend.
Discovering the Algarve Beyond Lagos
One of the great advantages of renting a car in the Algarve is the freedom to explore towns beyond the one where you're staying.
Although Lagos was our base, we dedicated one morning to nearby Portimão, where we had booked a boat excursion to the famous Benagil Cave.
If you've ever searched for photos of the Algarve online, chances are you've already seen it.
That spectacular cave with a giant natural opening in the ceiling, allowing sunlight to pour into the golden sand below.
Yes, that one.
Benagil Cave is one of Portugal's most iconic natural landmarks and frequently appears on lists of Europe's most beautiful sea caves.
After seeing it with my own eyes, I completely understand why.
A Few Practical Tips
If you're planning a Benagil boat tour during the summer months:
✅ Book online well in advance
✅ Choose an early morning departure
✅ Bring sunscreen
✅ Bring water
✅ Arrive early
As far as we could see, every tour was fully booked.
We chose the 9:00 a.m. departure, which I highly recommend. The temperature was pleasant, the sea was calm, and the morning light made the cliffs look absolutely magical.
Operation Wake Up the Family
Of course, booking a 9:00 a.m. excursion meant one thing:
Operation Wake Up the Family.
As usual, I was the only enthusiastic person in the apartment.
The children wanted to sleep.
My husband wanted to sleep.
I strongly suspect even the furniture wanted to sleep.
Meanwhile, I was attempting to organize breakfast, apply sunscreen to three children at lightning speed, transfer all our beach gear to the car, and ensure we arrived at Portimão Marina fifteen minutes before departure, just as indicated on our tickets.
Fellow mothers and wives, you understand.
At some point, I simply decided to ignore the collective complaints of my sleepy travel companions and focus on the adventure ahead.
Sipping my coffee from the passenger seat beside an equally unimpressed husband, I reminded myself that sometimes the best family memories begin with a little resistance.
Along the Algarve Coast
The tour itself was exceptional.
Our Portuguese captain expertly navigated the coastline while sharing interesting facts and pointing out the unusual rock formations that have earned many of the caves their curious names.
For roughly ninety minutes, we cruised along one of the most spectacular coastlines I have ever seen.
Golden cliffs.
Hidden beaches.
Sea arches.
Rock formations.
Caves in every imaginable shape and size.
The scenery felt endless.
Every few minutes brought something new and breathtaking.
From time to time, secluded beaches would appear between the cliffs like secret treasures, accessible only from the sea.
It felt as though the Algarve was revealing its hidden side to us.
The Swim Nobody Wanted to Take
Then came the swimming stop.
The captain invited anyone interested to jump into the crystal-clear waters.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Well, almost nobody.
From the entire boat, only another brave passenger and I accepted the challenge.
My children watched their fearless mama with complete disbelief.
Apparently, adventure-seeking Mom had surprised them once again.
The water was refreshing.
Clear.
Brilliantly turquoise.
One of those travel moments that instantly becomes a core memory.
How many opportunities do we get to swim in the waters surrounding one of Europe's most beautiful coastlines?
Sometimes it's worth taking the plunge.
Literally.
The Magic of Benagil
And then, finally, we reached the moment we had been waiting for.
Benagil Cave.
Our small boat entered caves so narrow and intimate that we felt close enough to touch the sculpted rock walls around us.
Inside, sunlight streamed through openings above, illuminating the darkness with golden beams.
The reflections danced across the water.
The atmosphere felt almost surreal.
As if nature had built its own cathedral.
I constantly found myself turning from one side to the other, afraid of missing something.
Every cave seemed more extraordinary than the last.
From Complaints to Wonder
What made me happiest wasn't even the scenery.
It was watching my family.
Earlier that morning, I had been surrounded by sleepy faces and complaints.
Now I was seeing nothing but smiles, excitement, and wide eyes full of wonder.
Travel has a funny way of doing that.
The activity nobody wants to wake up for often becomes the memory everybody talks about afterward.
When we returned to Portimão, we were hungry, energized, and completely amazed by the experience.
The well-deserved breakfast that followed tasted glorious.
An Evening in Lagos Old Town
While the Benagil excursion was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our Algarve stay, Lagos itself continued to surprise us long after the day trips were over.
One evening, we dedicated our time to exploring Lagos Old Town.
The historic center is wonderfully charming, with cobblestone streets, lively squares, small shops, outdoor cafés, and beautiful churches adding to its traditional Portuguese atmosphere.
Rather than drive, we decided to walk from our apartment.
Parking near the center can be challenging during summer, and after the heat of the day, the evening air was simply too pleasant to resist.
We wandered through the streets without any particular plan, soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the relaxed pace that seems to define southern Portugal.
A Different Night at the Marina
On another evening, we headed to Lagos Marina.
And honestly?
The Marina surprised us.
We arrived just before sunset and watched as the changing colors of the sky reflected on the water and illuminated dozens of boats and yachts.
The atmosphere felt elegant yet relaxed.
Restaurants.
Cafés.
Pastry shops.
Cocktail bars.
Families strolling along the waterfront.
Everything felt lively without ever becoming overwhelming.
We crossed the pedestrian bridge and continued exploring, genuinely surprised to discover such a refined marina in a relatively small Algarve town.
Eventually, after our eyes had absorbed enough beauty and our legs had accumulated enough kilometers, we settled into one of the charming waterfront cafés.
The children ordered pizza and ice cream.
Daddy chose coffee and snacks.
And Mama?
Mama ordered a magnificent piña colada.
The looks on my children's faces were priceless.
They rarely see me drinking alcohol, and they were deeply amused by the mysterious ability of a little Caribbean rum to suddenly make their mother considerably happier and much more talkative.
To this day, it remains one of the funniest memories of the trip!
Until Next Time, Portugal
That evening in Marina felt like the perfect farewell to the Algarve.
A stay filled with dramatic beaches, hidden caves, family laughter, memorable meals, breathtaking scenery, and sunset cocktails.
The kind of trip that reminds you why travel is worth all the planning, packing, early alarms, sunscreen applications, and occasional family complaints.
But our adventure wasn't over yet.
Not even close.
The next destination would be completely different.
A new country.
A new culture.
And another chapter waiting to be written.
Stay tuned!
Love, Katerina
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