Swim and Chill at Benagil
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Lagos, Portugal
- 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Skip the cliché boat ride to Benagil Cave and swim there instead. Offering more than the standard sail-by experience, this is one of the only tours that takes you right inside the cave. After a quick transfer by van, you’ll swim along the coast and head into the cave to feel the sand between your toes. Fun guides, lunch, drinks, and music complete the experience.
- Get your exercise fix and see the Benagil Cave at the same time
- Enjoy an experience that’s suitable for moderate level swimmers
- Leave behind your own stuff, and use towels, shade, and sunscreen
- Hire a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak on the day, if you prefer
What's Included
- Life jackets, boards, inflatables
- LunchDeli lunch, vegan and vegetarian options, ham, chouricao, cream cheese, hummus, veggies, bread, condiments, chocolate and crisps
- Towels, beach games, shade, sunscreen, music
- Alcoholic BeveragesPortuguese beer and sangria
- A boat, we swim into the cave!!!
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- JAH SHAKA SURF SHOPR. Cândido dos Reis 112, 8600-681 Lagos, Portugal
Jah Shaka surf shop is very centrally located in the old town of Lagos. Great if you can be at the starting point at 13.55 to meet the others joining you on the tour
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.2:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Praia De Benagil
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Charita_K
We had a great time. Brody, who is the guide of the trip, is a very friendly guy. He showed us the benagilcave and a bit around the area. Would recommend this to everyone who’s in for a day full of fun.
Reviews
4.8
based on 112 reviews
Mary_A, Jun 2024
All around a great time with Brodie. It was a nice small group, just us and one other couple. We all got to know each other which made the whole experience even better. Brodie is the Aussie version of Matthew McConaughey, inside and out. He provided us with boogie boards to swim into the cave with and a spread of some lunch afterwards. As well as all the sangria and beer we could want to drink. The swim into the cave wasn’t too challenging and was so rewarding!
Leanna_W, May 2024
10/10 experience. Brodie was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with. Very knowledgeable and an overall good human being!
Andrew_C, Oct 2023
Incredible day! We had booked this activity with Brodie to do the swim to the Benagil Cave but days before they had shut down the cave to all visitors. This all occurred days before the activity. Frankly, we had considered canceling as we were disappointed with the cave's closing to visitors. Thankfully we didn't!
Brodie was quick to message us and update us to the unfortunate closing of Benagil. He seamlessly put together an unbelievable day for us including a picturesque hike along the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. Meanwhile, Brodie set up a spot along the beach at the end of the trail complete with homemade sangria, beer, snacks, and sandwiches. We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the crashing waves and beautiful glowing cliffs of the Seven Hanging Valleys.
If you are in the area, we highly recommend looking into an activity with Brodie. He gets you out of the touristy area and shows you beauty of the Algarve coast. The way he speaks about Portugal and its people will make you fall in love with the country all the more.
Thanks Brodie! Have a good one!
Philip_S, Aug 2023
Very very cool. Brodie is such a great guide and it was a very chill and cool group. We think this is the best way to see the cave and additionally have a great time with new people you meet. It is definitely the money worth it. This tour is unique and with all his experience and his good vibe, brodie is the best tour guide!!!
Kellie_W, Aug 2023
We had a great time on this adventure!!! I would highly recommend doing something different then the “regular” tours. Brodie was fun and good energy vibes. He included every one and made it comfortable. We had such a good group. One of the highlights of our trip.
Thank you Brodie. Cheers!
William_C, Jul 2023
Absolute 10/10 experience, will recommend to anyone visiting Lagos.
Brody is a super chill bloke whose unique adventure is so much better than renting a kayak or taking an overpriced boat in to see the unreal Benagil cave.
Brody’s van gets you to Benagil in 40 mins, while enjoying beers, banter and some good tunes. When you arrive at the beach, it’s crazy overcrowded but Brody gives you everything you need (towels, boards, sunscreen etc) and sends you to a quiet spot on the beach.
The swim to the cave is bloody cold but not far at all, and easy for any adult. Brody brings your phone in a waterproof bag, and you spend a good half an hour in the cave admiring it before swimming back.
Brody then provides a sandwich lunch with his famous homemade hummus (hand mashed) before taking you to look at the cave from above.
Follow this up with a cruisy drive back to Lagos, and it’s such good value for €50.
If you feel like stepping away from the cringe mainstream tour, this is perfect.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thanks Bill, what a ripping review I love this. Had a great time with you kiwis so glad a swim and chill at Benagil made it to your famous spreadsheet haha
Julia_W, Jul 2023
Absolutely the best way to experience the cave! Brody made the trip as smooth as possible and his lunch, sangria, and beers were fantastic. Don’t get trapped by kayak rentals or boats that barely enter the cave! The swim wasn’t bad and he offers life jackets and pool noodles as aids if needed. Brody also hangs around on his surfboard and will make sure boats or kayakers keep their distance so you can focus on swimming. Nothing beat being able to come out of the water and sit on the beach in the cave. The food was great and it was nice to hang with the rest of the group and learn where everyone was from!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thanks Julia for your awesome review, glad you had a great day out with Vagabundo Travel. Enjoy the rest of your time in Portugal
Britta_E, Jun 2023
What an amazing adventure!! Brody was awesome and so much fun to be around. Swimming to the cave rather than kayaking/taking a boat is definitely the way to go. You won’t regret adding this experience to your trip!
Annique_P, Jun 2023
My friends and I booked this and it was the best day we’ve had on our whole europe trip! Brodie was super friendly, chatty and organised lunch and drinks for everyone which was amazing! Thank you so much Brodie, it was great to meet you!!! Would recommend to anyone visiting lagos!
Sheree_T, Jun 2023
Brody was a fantastic host! Highly recommend for a different way to see the Benagil cave. Very chill day in Lagos which is absolute stunning!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thanks Sheree, I had a great time with you and Brian. Enjoy the rest of your trip and thanks for sitting up front with me and all the good chat. Cheers Brodie
Charlee_V, Jun 2023
Such a cool experience!! The guide was super chilled and friendly. We had a great time, and would recommend over a boat or kayaking tour. The waves were a bit choppy when we went out but he provided everything we needed (life jackets, etc) to ensure we could still make it into the cave. Lunch and drinks being included was a bonus and really good value. 10/10 would recommend!
Maria_H, Jun 2023
My friends and I booked this tour and had an amazing time. Brody was so kind and provided everything we could have wanted including a delicious picnic lunch ft. his homemade hummus. 10/10 would recommend!!
Paula_A, Jun 2023
This is a great outing if you are not already lodging on the beach. Brody gets you to the beach area and brings everything you need to have fun. Of course it is very crowded and you are swimming among big boats. The water was rough but we felt pretty safe and not like we were going to get slammed on the rocks. I would not have wanted to be on a boat the day we went because I would have gotten sea sick. Hard to take good pictures because there are so many people. Brody takes you on a little walk after the beach to see the cave from above. He is a relaxed host and most of his equipment is old and well loved. Lunch was simple and I was appreciative that we didn’t need to bring anything. Definitely not the highlight of our trip but fun
Mark_M, May 2023
Wife & I are late 40's, and love adventure and cool vibes which is why we booked this. Brodie is the type of dude I would grab a beer with. His vibe is great and he loves what he does.
Pickup at surf shop was seamless & the shop allows you to change clothes pre and post trip.
Proptips: Let Brodie know what your athletic level is. If you are not a great swimmer, tell him and he will hook you up to a lifejacket or floaties and swim out with you on his paddle board. . <- this is key to enjoying.
If you are traveling outside of the hottest months, bring wetsuit vest. We did this end of May and had 3mm vests and it was perfect.
Following is our report of the local lifeguards, which as a former lifeguard myself, I was very disappointed in their judgement:
Wife and I are very experienced swimmers. The life guards had the green flag up and the seas were slightly rough. We swam out and the group decided to turn back because of cold water and waves increased, but wife and I were used to this so we swam on to the entrance (90% of the way out). At that point the lifeguards changed the flag to yellow and blew their whistles for us to swim back. Being experienced swimmers we knew that was bad decision. Kayakers and power boats were near us and we continued on until I saw the Brodie with the lifeguards. We didn't want him to get into trouble so we swam back. It was very poor decision making on the lifeguards part as it was challenging for us to swim back. Im still baffled at their decision to call us back. Had I been on duty, I would have hopped on my paddle board and guided the two swimmers into the cave.
Brodie was cool about it, we sat on the beach, drank beers, had some lunch and enjoyed the sun and went for a short hike.
Post trip Brodie gave us some recommendations for food and drinks: 5 star recommendations, seriously some of the best food/drinks at VERY reasonable prices. Honestly the best caipirinha I have ever had outside of the ones made by our Brazilian friends.
Dahlia_F, Aug 2022
We loved this day! Brody was so cool as was the rest of the small group that joined us. We met up in town and had a comfy ride over to Benigal. Got to make a couple of stops to check out views and learn more about the area. The swim was such a fun alternative compared to all of the kayaks and boats. Do this if you want something different than the typical experience! Recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Thanks Dahlia, I had a great family day out with you. Thanks for the lovely review, it's much appreciated. Cheers Brodie
Elisabeth_N, Aug 2022
Went on this trip with my friend from the US! Had the most incredible time, and felt safe and secure swimming to the cave. The cave was so beautiful! 10/10 recommend
Eric_G, Jul 2022
What an awesome way to experience the Beagil caves up close and personal! Brodie is an amazing host with the perfect laid back attitude for a trip like this. He brought everything we could possibly need (towels, sunscreen, surf boards, life jackets, lunch, and drinks) to enjoy our day at the beach. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique Algarve experience
Stephanie_R, Jun 2022
The two tour guys were friendly and chatty.
Van/bus we went in was very run down.
Swim to the cave from beach was tough and really needed one guide at front and end of group - there was one at front. Felt a little unsafe.
Overall a fun day out but would recommend a little more structure.
Charita_K, Sep 2021
We had a great time. Brody, who is the guide of the trip, is a very friendly guy. He showed us the benagilcave and a bit around the area. Would recommend this to everyone who’s in for a day full of fun.
Amber_v, Aug 2021
Best trip in a long time! Brody is an excellent, joyfull guide. He makes sure you’re safe while swimming, serves lunch and drinks on the beach and showes you around. Perfect day spend in Benagil. Thanks!
Gary_C, Jul 2021
What a laugh.... Beers beach swim.... Host fabulous. Met some awesome younger guests. Like going the beach with your buddies
AmitKumar_J, Jun 2019
This was a great trip, our guide Birdy was really very helpful, though we all were non swimmers for ocean but the guide helped us to get us to the cave, Birdy really was a great help for us, I recommend this trip!!!
Ertugrul_C, Sep 2021
Super Erlebnis. Sehr viel Spaß gehabt. Viele, tolle Bilder geschossen. Unser Guide Brodie war sehr sympathisch und freundlich. Kann ich jedem weiterempfehlen
Ophlie_R, Jul 2019
Vous vendent du rêve, vous transportent dans un van sale et délabré pendant 40min. Arrivé là bas pas de bateau, accès à la grotte à la nage avec difficulté.
Grotte magnifique mais beaucoup trop de monde.
Allez y de votre côté et louez y des planches, beaucoup moins cher.
Emilie_O, Jul 2019
Bonjour à tous,
Je ne vous conseil absolument pas de passer par eux, ils vendent simplement du rêve, vous arrivez, vous montez dans une voiture horrible (très sale etc...), 40 minutes de route pour arriver sur une plage et devoir aller dans la grotte en nageant... alors que vous pouvez le faire de votre côté en louant des planches ou autres (donc moins cher), attention, il n’y a pas de bateau !
La grotte est magnifique, mais beaucoup de monde, et très fatiguant !
Response from Host, Jul 2019
Thankyou for your review. I don't understand your 1 star review. You booked through trip advisor which YES explains that this is NOT a boat trip! Yes we swim 60m into the beautiful Benagil cave. We provide life jackets, floatation devices and surfboards. We personally, don't think, that for €40 you cannot eat and drink all day, and get from Lagos and back to the Benagil cave for under this amount. I hope people like you read this response as it will stop people booking excursions that are above their expectations. Our company (Vagabundo) means carefree and fun which is what we provide, thank you for your 1 star, we hope people like you don't book our tour and maybe pay €40 for an hour boat trip where you don't get to go inside the cave. Enjoy your stay
Tristan_H, Jul 2019
Une merveilleuse après-midi, avec une ambiance joyeuse et conviviale. Je recommende bien évidement cet excursions !!
Response from Host, Jul 2019
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis!!!! X
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