Yatch FINISMAR: 3hours Sailing to Benagil

We had such a great time on this boat trip! There were 12 of us on a friends’ holiday, and although we were told they don’t usually take groups this large, they kindly made an exception for us, which we really appreciated. From the moment we stepped on board, Ricardo and Renato were welcoming, friendly and chatty. They created a great atmosphere throughout the trip and shared lots of local insights with us. We couldn’t have asked for a better few hours on the water. We’d recommend this trip to anyone!

This is a sailing yacht trip so it is quite different from the speed boat and motor catamaran trips that most people go on. It is much more relaxing! The yacht takes 14 max but we had it to ourselves (family of 6) which was an unexpected bonus. We went on the (new) 4hr cruise to the Benagil Caves with a stop for swimming and with food & drinks included. We had a Captain and 1 crew member who looked after us really well and told us all about the sights and history of the coastline. They towed a small rubber dinghy so that we could go into the caves (although the Police arrived and closed them after only half of our group had visited, but that was not Algarve Charter's fault). We had shade and cool in the cabin which was very welcome on a hot day (this is not available on all boat trips and is worth checking). All in all, a delightful trip and well worth the money.

The crew were wonderful and the trip was smooth. The tapas were nice and abundant. The scenery was fabulous and we really enjoyed being able to jump off the boat and swim. The area they took us for swimming had two caves. Both beautiful, but I recommend swimming to the right as there is a cave that opens up to a giant amphitheater. Very beautiful!! My one note of caution is about the benagil cave. I was tempted to leave 4 stars (or less) due to this, but ultimately felt that the crew were so wonderful it felt like a disservice not to leave 5 stars. The description on our booking and what is still on the website today is this: “In Benagil, the adventure becomes even more special: a mini boat tour in small groups of just 4 people, allowing for a closer, more personal experience inside this natural wonder.” Yet there was no mini boat and we did not go into the cave. I had chosen this tour specifically because I wanted to go inside the cave, but despite the calm water we were told we weren’t going inside on this tour and no other explanation was given. We did end up booking a separate speed boat trip from Benagil beach that went inside over a dozen caves including the Benagil cave. I just would have preferred to have done that with one booking. I understand the Finismar itself is too large to go into the caves, but if they aren’t partnering with speedboats or bringing dinghies, they really need to remove that paragraph from the trip description. That said, after I got over my disappointment about the cave, it was a lovely trip. It was great that it wasn’t crowded (I think it’s 14 people max). We did the morning trip and it was cool when we were going into the wind, so think about bringing a sweatshirt, but after the first hour everyone was taking off layers and sunbathing so don’t forget the sunscreen.

this was a fantastic trip. We were lucky of course as we had very few people aboard so it felt almost private. the guide was very knowledgeable about the area and both the captain and the guid were super friendly. would highly recommend this tour

Another fantastic trip with the Algarve Charters crew in Albufeira. I’ve sailed with them a few times now and they always make the experience special, but this trip meant even more because I brought my nieces along. The caves are stunning, but the crew are what make the whole thing unforgettable. They’re funny, kind and amazing with kids, making everyone feel welcome and part of the adventure. We were all smiling like happy little sea otters floating along the Algarve coast 🦦🌊✨️ Huge thank you to the whole team for creating such a joyful memory for us - have a great season sailing ⛵️🌊✨️

Lovely boat, excellent crew, and a very chill way to spend an evening in the Algarve. Highly recommended.

Our tour with Yacht Finismar was fabulous! We did experience a date change as the boat was undergoing maintenance however this ended up working out better for us. The team was very quick to get us on the next available. Pick up location is accessible by walk (30 min) from Old Town with gorgeous views on the way. Upon getting to the Yacht we were welcomed by very kind staff. Ricardo was our tour guide who was very sweet, comedic, and knowledgeable. The captain was also great company that kept us feeling safe. All the views we experienced were unforgettable. I do wish we were able to see inside Benagil however this is now only accessible by kayak it seems. We had a fun stop for a swim, saw many historical spots, and enjoyed a cup of champagne on the soothing ride back. We did not want to get off this boat! Only warning is if it is windy and you aren’t up for it… don’t sit in the front. best seat in the house in our opinions however you will be drenched on the way. Thank you Ricardo & Captain! A tour to definitely remember!!!!

We arrived in Portugal on September 1st. We knew we would be exhausted from the overnight flight. We booked the yacht cruise to slow down and get in vacation mode. The cruise was absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect and the water was sparkling. We met some very night people and had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend this tour. The crew was super friendly and knowledgeable.

We had the best time with Ricardo and the Captain. The ride was smooth, the process was easy, instructions were clear, and the tour was incredibly fun. Highly recommend for those who are wanting a relaxed ride to see some caves. Tip: bring euros if you want some drinks on board. Thanks all!

Magical sailing experience. We booked this charter more than once and it was absolutely brilliant. When we went with our kids, they had an amazing time and loved swimming off the side of the boat. The captain and crew are highly attentive and informative. The yacht Finismar is a beautiful vessel and very stable in the swells. The captain is very experienced, which really showed when the sails were raised on one of the trips. It’s our third year in a row with this vessel and captain, and we can’t recommend highly enough.