Lagos

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Swim and Chill at Benagil

Name: Swim and Chill at Benagil
Brand: Vagabundo Travel
SKU: 120441P2
Price: 49.36 USD
Rating: 5.0 (109 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceLagos, Portugal

4 hours 30 minutes
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
Lunch
Towels, beach games, shade, sunscreen, music
Alcoholic Beverages

A boat, we swim into the cave!!!

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

JAH SHAKA SURF SHOP
R. 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

Start time

02:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or 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

5.0

109 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 109 reviews

10/10 experience. Brodie...

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!

Incredible Day

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!

Do it! Best way to see the cave!!!

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!!!

Highlight of our trip!

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!

Ditch the mainstream tour and chill with Brody instead!

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

Benagil at its Best

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

Amazing time!!!

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!

Highly recommend!!!!

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!

Unique way to experience the Benagil cave!

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

Do this tour!!!!!

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!

10/10

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!!

Portugal cave swim

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

Brodie was awesome, the lifeguards were not.

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.

Gorgeous fun day!!

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

Amazing

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

Chilled Beach Day

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

Fun day out but room for improvement

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.

A lot of fun

Charita_K, Sep 2021

Supertrip with great guide

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!

Hippy tour

Gary_C, Jul 2021

What a laugh.... Beers beach swim.... Host fabulous. Met some awesome younger guests. Like going the beach with your buddies