Along the marina and the Avenida are many companies offering fishing trips, Grotto Trips, Dolphin Spotting Safaris and other boat trips. There are fishing trips suitable for both beginners and professionals, with an interesting variety of fish such as Sea Bass, Stone Bass, Bream, Squid, Cuttle Fish and Mackerel. There are boat trips to the caves, to see dolphins, to fish plus cruises along the stunning Algarve coastline. The Avenida and the Marina are lined with stands selling boat trips. Some of the dolphin-watching trips offer a guarantee so that if you aren’t lucky enough to see dolphins they will offer another boat trip on another day, so book early on in your holiday. Don’t forget to take sun factor and cover-ups to avoid burning.
Grotto Trips
Ponta da Piedade caves are among the most popular and unmissable attractions on the Algarve coast. There is a wide variety of caves and rock formations that resemble familiar figures such as the Titanic, the Elephant, the Cathedral, among others.
Benagil Caves
Like the Ponta da Piedade caves, the Benagil Caves are some of the most famous caves in the world. the Benagil Sea Cave is a spectacular light-filled dome enclosing a beach within its walls. It is a truly unique place. Departing from Lagos takes about 30 minutes to navigate the 11 nautical miles (about 20 km) separating Lagos from Benagil cave. The various caves in the area are not accessible from larger vessels.
You’ll find the seaside caves just around the corner from Benagil, a small fishing village located a short distance from Lagoa. Its dome is much larger than one would expect after seeing it from the outside. The cave’s only viable entrances are a couple of arched openings bathed by the sea. Because of that, you are left with two options to enter its inner space:
- Jump aboard a boat from one of the surrounding beaches or harbours.
- Rent a kayak, inflatable dinghy, or SUP.
Dolphin Watching
The Algarve coast, is a great place to go dolphin watching. Dolphins are some of the most loved marine animals because of their intelligence and playfulness. Any time you see one of these marine animals in their natural habitat you will feel the magic in the air. If you are lucky, you can even see them jump out of the water, which is truly amazing. Dolphin watching is one of the most fun things to do in the Algarve and will give you memories you won’t forget anytime soon.
The most common dolphin species that can be found near the Algarve coast are the Common dolphin, the Bottlenose dolphin, the Striped dolphin, the Harbor Porpoise and the Risso’s dolphin. Besides dolphins, there is a chance you might also come across the Minke Whale, the Orca, sharks or sea turtles.
Fishing
The clear waters and abundance of fish off the Algarve Coast have become a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts looking for a memorable fishing trip. Booking a fishing charter is one of the best ways to experience fishing, these are guided fishing trips with the equipment and expertise to catch fish in the area. Many charters are available ranging from half-day trips to full-day excursions.
The types of fishing available in the Algarve vary depending on the time of year and the location; including bottom fishing, trolling, and jigging. Bottom fishing involves dropping a baited hook to the ocean floor to catch bottom-dwelling species such as bream, red snapper, and sea bass. Trolling involves towing a baited line behind a moving boat, targeting larger species such as tuna and swordfish. Jigging involves bouncing a lure up and down in the water to attract predatory fish such as amberjack and grouper.