Portugal’s most beautiful sea cave, Benagil Cave
The coastline of southern Portugal is full of the most beautiful natural caves, sea stacks and secluded beaches. It’s a nature wonderland, as the Atlantic ocean waves have carved out intricate cave formations that are breathtaking.
While some caves are completely dark and submerged under water, some are extremely small and narrow. However, the Benagil Sea Cave is the most spectacular and attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Benagil Sea Cave is located east of the town of Benagil, Algarve. The cave is airy and well-ventilated, since there are two holes that make up a window to the sea. A huge circle on the cave’s roof provides ample sunlight, which creates an ethereal spectacle of colors and nature. This makes the cave a natural haven for photographers and tourists. There’s also an “indoor beach” within the cave, that would provide a secluded retreat for visitors.
From Algave, a boat tour can be arranged to visit Benagil. Aim to visit just before dawn or sunset, in order to catch a breathtaking twilight.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Algar de Benagil, Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal
- Access
- Visit by boat or guided kayak; unguided non-motorized tours/rentals prohibited. No swimming into the cave or landing on its sand. Life jackets required
- Time needed
- Time inside the cave limited to 2 minutes for motorized boats or 8 minutes for non-motorized groups; add the rest of your tour
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-10
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