Benagil

Small in size but extraordinary in every way, the former fishing hamlet of Benagil on Portugal’s Algarve coast is renowned for its breathtaking coastline, rewarding those who arrive by sea the most. A growing charter destination, much of the hamlet’s international fame is built on the Algar de Benagil, a vast sea cave carved out of golden limestone by thousands of years of Atlantic waves crashing into it. The cave features a circular oculus in the ceiling through which natural light pours onto a hidden sandy cove below. The interior beach is only accessible from the water, adding to its charter appeal. The surrounding coastline is equally rewarding to charterers. The cliffed section between Benagil and the nearby Praia da Marinha to the east is filled with natural arches, sea stacks, and more caves waiting to be explored, whilst Praia da Marinha itself is consistently ranked among Portugal’s finest beaches. To the west, Carvoeiro and Portimão offer well-equipped marinas with everything you’d need for a stop and more. What’s more, Benagil’s location mid-way along the central Algarve makes it a great place to stop on a wider itinerary around Lagos and the western Algarve.