By David Simoes, local kayak guide - updated for 2026
Getting to Benagil: meeting point, parking and what to bring
Benagil is a small fishing village with one road in, one public car park and a beach at the bottom of the hill. Simple once you know it. This guide covers the few things that trip people up: where exactly we meet, where to leave the car, when to arrive and what to have with you when you walk down to the water.
Where we meet
We meet at the public car park in front of Restaurante Litoral, at the top of Benagil, on Estrada da Caramujeira. Look for the red Salty Cliffs flag. A guide will be there with the group list and the life jackets.
Set your GPS to the address below rather than typing "Benagil Cave". The cave is only reachable from the water, and some map apps will send you to a viewpoint on the cliffs instead of the village. If the app shows you a place with no car park, you are in the wrong spot.
Coming from Lagoa or Carvoeiro, follow the signs to Benagil and stay on the main road until you reach the car park. From Albufeira it is about 30 minutes by car, from Lagos about 40. Taxi and ride-hailing drivers know the restaurant by name.
From the car park to the beach is a short walk down a steep lane, five minutes at a relaxed pace. We do it together as a group, so nobody has to find the way alone.
Address
Estr. da Caramujeira, Benagil, 8400-403 Lagoa, Portugal
GPS
37.08892, -8.425978
Get directions in Google Maps →Parking
The car park at the top of the village is public and paid, around €3.50 for the morning, paid in cash at the machine. Bring coins. Keep the ticket: you show it on the way out.
In July and August the car park fills up by mid-morning. For an early tour you will have no trouble. For a late-morning tour, arrive with time to spare or come by taxi. There is no parking on the lane down to the beach.
Please do not drive down to the beach. The lane is narrow, there is nowhere to leave the car at the bottom, and turning around is a pain for everyone, including you.
When to arrive
Arrive 15 minutes before your tour time. That gives us time to check you in, hand out life jackets and dry bags, and walk down to the beach together for the briefing. Tours leave on time because the sea does not wait: we plan the route around the tide and the light inside the cave.
If you are early, the restaurant terrace is right there and the view over the cliffs is a good way to start the morning. A coffee, a look at the sea, and then we go.
What to bring
You will get wet, in a good way. Dress for the water, not for lunch afterwards.
- Swimwear, worn under your clothes so you are ready when we reach the beach
- A towel and something dry to change into after the tour
- Sunscreen, ideally reef-safe, and a hat that stays on
- Water, at least half a litre per person
- Shoes that can get wet: water shoes or sandals with a strap, no flip-flops
We provide the kayak, the paddle, the life jacket and a dry bag for your phone, keys and wallet. Leave anything you do not need in the car.
If you are running late
Send us a WhatsApp message as soon as you know. A few minutes we can usually absorb. If it is more than that, we will tell you honestly whether the group can wait or whether it is better to move you to the next departure. No message means we assume you are not coming, and the group leaves on time.
Ready to paddle?
Now you know where to go and what to bring, the rest is the easy part. Two hours on the water, the cave from the inside, and a swim at Marinha beach on the way back.