Kayaking Albufeira is one of the most exciting activities to do in the Algarve’s adventure capital. The rugged coastline hides a wealth of secluded beaches and sea caves that can only be truly discovered on a kayak tour.
Albufeira is one of the most popular towns in the Algarve and there are a whole lot of water activities to choose from. If you are an active traveler, you will most likely choose to see the coast by paddleboard or kayak and in my opinion, it is the absolute best way to uncover Algarve’s coast from the water.
Whether you are a seasoned paddler or are completely new to kayaking, Albufeira has alternatives for you. Kayak rental Albufeira is available for anyone wanting to go at their own pace, while an organized Albufeira kayak tour with a guide is the best solution for newbies.
There is also another advantage of going on organized kayak tours. Albufeira is close to so many secret sea caves and a guide will point out the best ones, and make sure you enter safely where possible and stay away from the ones that can be dangerous due to swell and during high tides.
In this post, I will round up the best-rated Albufeira kayaking excursions so that you can start planning your adventure trip with one of the best activities in Albufeira.
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What to bring on an Albufeira kayaking trip
When going on an Albufeira kayak excursion, make sure you are prepared. First of all, you might fall out of the kayak and so might your belongings, so make sure you have your phone in a waterproof bag. Or even better, if you have a GoPro or other waterproof sports camera, bring that instead.
I have mostly gone kayaking barefoot, but many recommend wearing water shoes so that you can comfortably get out of the kayak on uneven ground (like spikey rocks.) And I agree, if you are not used to walking around barefoot, it can be painful if you are not careful.
It is also important to bring a bottle of water so that you stay hydrated. If you plan on getting out on a beach, you might want to bring a dry bag with a towel and sunscreen.
Talking about sunscreen, make sure you get reef-safe sunscreen so that you don’t harm the sea life and if you get easily sunburned, you could wear a t-shirt while you kayak Albufeira’s coastline. The sun gets pretty strong, especially in the summer.
Basics to bring for an Albufeira kayak tour:
- swimwear
- waterproof phone bag or GoPro
- reef-proof sunscreen
- water shoes
- water bottle
Best Albufeira kayak tours
Albufeira: 2-Hour Caves and Cliffs Kayaking Experience
Duration: 2 hours
What’s included in the kayak tour:
- Equipment (kayak, lifejacket, and paddle)
- Certified instructor
- Safety instructions
- Safety boat
- Photos of the tour
- Insurance
- Swimming stop
What’s not included in the boat tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Waterproof bags or phone cases
- Liability for lost or damaged personal items
Wonderful kayaking experience for the entire family including photos of the tour!
This is an excellent Albufeira kayaking experience for beginners and families with kids. The tour starts with the basics of kayaking for anyone that is new to the sport.
You are given time to get used to the kayak before the group moves towards the golden cliffs along Albufeira’s coast. I took this tour and there were kids in the group too that hadn’t kayaked before. There was also a safety boat following the group.
The guide was very patient, though everyone picked it up quickly, so I didn’t feel bored while “waiting”.
As long as the current, waves, and tides allow it, you might enter sea caves and board on a secluded beach where you can swim and sunbathe.
It is a lovely landscape around Albufeira which you can’t explore in any better way than by kayak or paddleboard as it allows you to get up close.
I highly recommend this tour and besides personal experience, I have only read great reviews. Especially the guide was spectacular.
DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT: KAYAK TOUR ALBUFEIRA
From Albufeira: Benagil Hidden Caves Tour by Kayak or SUP
Duration: 4 hours
What’s included in the kayak tour:
- Licensed instructor
- Kayaking/SUP equipment
- Wi-Fi
- Safety briefing
- Life jackets
What’s not included in the boat tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks (available for purchase with cash)
- Waterproof bags or phone cases
- Liability for lost or damaged personal items
Large group tour to Benagil Cave from Albufeira!
This is a group tour taking you from Albufeira by boat before you change to kayak or paddleboard by Benagil beach. The boat trip takes about 40 minutes each way.
It is a good option for families or groups of friends where some want to try paddleboard and others want to kayak as they offer both activities.
Besides exploring Benagil Cave, which is one of the most incredible natural landmarks in Portugal, you will uncover about 3 kilometers of coastline.
If the tides and currents allow it, you will be entering hidden caves and uncover secluded beaches only possible to access by the ocean.
According to the reviews, the boat takes up to 30-40 tourists at once which can lead to a lot of waiting to get onto the kayaks.
Yet, it doesn’t seem to affect the ratings of this tour, so even so, this is one of the absolute top-rated kayak tours in Albufeira.
And considering it takes you to Benagil Cave, I can vote for that being one of the most impressive places to see in Algarve. Therefore, I highly recommend getting on this tour if you haven’t already seen the majestic sea cave.
Note, that the only way you can see the cave from the inside, is by paddling as boats are not allowed to drop off tourists inside the cave.
DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT: ALBUFEIRA KAYAK TOURS
From Albufeira Marina: Benagil Caves Kayaking
Duration: 3.5 hours
What’s included in the kayak tour:
- Kayak equipment
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Boat
What’s not included in the boat tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Waterproof bags or phone cases
- Liability for lost or damaged personal items
The best small group Benagil Cave Tour from Albufeira!
This is a smaller group tour than the above-mentioned, where you take a boat from Albufeira to Benagil where you board your kayaks.
You will be given the basic instructions about kayaking if you haven’t tried it before and then explore the breathtaking Benagil Cave and the rest of the coastline nearby.
When the sea is calm, you can explore the smaller sea caves too, but your guide will only allow it if the sea is safe.
This is a great tour of Benagil Cave and the surroundings for solo travelers, families, and groups of friends alike. It is nice with a smaller group as you get a closer connection to the others on the boat as well as more attention from the guide if needed.
DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT: TOP TOURS KAYAKING ALBUFEIRA
Albufeira: Algarve Kayak and Coastline Tour
Duration: 2.5 hours
What’s included in the kayak tour:
- Kayak equipment
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Boat
- Swimming stop
What’s not included in the boat tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food
- Waterproof bags or phone cases
- Liability for lost or damaged personal items
The best small group tour to explore Benagil Cave from Albufeira!
This kayak tour in Albufeira starts in Albufeira Marina where you will board a catamaran taking you to Castelo Beach. From there, you will start the kayaking adventure.
Taking you along the breathtaking Algarve coastline and exploring hidden caves and beaches along the way, you will also stop at a secluded beach for swimming.
The catamaran stays nearby the whole tour, which makes this an excellent Albufeira kayak tour for families or people that haven’t kayaked before as the opportunity to shorten the adventure when tired is always available.
That said, the tour is a slow pace kayak tour, and beginners typically enjoy it. One reviewer also mentioned being generally scared of the water but felt very safe with the calm guides on this tour.
DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT: EPIC KAYAK TOUR ALBUFEIRA
Albufeira: Kayak Tour of Hidden Caves and Secluded Beaches
Duration: 2 hours
What’s included in the kayak tour:
- Kayak equipment
- Local guide
- Life jacket
What’s not included in the boat tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Waterproof bags or phone cases
- Liability for lost or damaged personal items
- Photos
Ideal beginner kayak tour in Albufeira!
This is a great beginner Albufeira kayaking tour. Caves and beaches will be explored as the sea conditions allow and you will have guides helping you out with everything from the basics of paddling to supporting you if you get tired.
To kayak Albufeira Portugal is an incredible place for first-timers since the coastline is so incredibly beautiful and there are so many unique places to see along the way.
Starting in São Rafael Beach, there are a few beaches and caves where this Albufeira kayak tour normally takes you like Praia do Ninho das Andorinhas and Xorino Sea Cave. You might also be able to get out of the kayak to explore.
However, as with all the kayak tours in Albufeira, it all depends on the sea conditions, which means that every kayak tour will be different.
DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT: EPIC ALBUFEIRA KAYAK EXPERIENCE
Reflections on kayaking Albufeira
There is no doubt, kayaking along the golden cliffs of the Algarve is one of the best things to do in Albufeira. It is a perfect activity for any active traveler, whether you travel with family or friends, your partner, or you travel solo.
I have enjoyed several Albufeira kayak tours solo and met amazing people on the tours, not to mention enjoyed the incredible scenery along the coastline.
If you want to try but are not sure if you should yet, I suggest you just do it! There is no way you can regret it. There is a guide to help you along the way if you are insecure about your kayaking skills, but honestly, it is not that hard so you will most likely get confident after a few minutes.
Happy travels!