Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Portugal Lagoa Benagil Caves
AO Edited

Benagil Caves

Perhaps the most spectacular grotto along the Algarve coastline.

Lagoa, Portugal

Added By
Sarah
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Benagil Caves   Julius_Silver - Pixabay - CC0
  meganparmele / Atlas Obscura User
  meganparmele / Atlas Obscura User
Benagil Caves   RPN - Pixabay - CC0
Benagil Caves   Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan / Atlas Obscura User
Benagil Caves   Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan / Atlas Obscura User
  coljay72 / Atlas Obscura User
  coljay72 / Atlas Obscura User
  coljay72 / Atlas Obscura User
  coljay72 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Opt for the morning tour to see the grottoes at their best, with the perfect incidence of light. 

Out of the dozens of grottoes that populate Portugal's southern coastline, there’s one that stands out, the Benagil Caves.

Just like any other sea cave in the Algarve region, this one was shaped by the pounding Atlantic waves. Yet, unlike other grottoes, the Benagil cave bathes in light thanks to a natural skylight.

Erosion has not only hit the cave at the base of the cliff, but erosion has also taken place at the top where rainfall has caused the softer segments of limestone to erode and collapse. This beautifully shaped skylight, often referred to as "the eye", allows the sunlight to flood inside. Even though "the eye" has been fenced, visitors can still catch a glimpse of the inside of the cave from atop the cliff.

There’s a second feature that sets the Benagil cave apart from other grottoes in the area and that’s the wide, sandy beach found inside. What makes this beach so intriguing, is the fact that you can only reach it from the water. Visitors will find many tour operators offering such excursions at the nearby beaches. 

The easiest way to visit the Benagil cave is by boat. In high season, visitors will see dozens of boat tours entering and exiting this wonderful grotto on a daily basis. Because of the heavy traffic, passengers are only allowed to pass through the cave and take in its beauty from the boat.

The only visitors allowed to actually access the beach are kayakers and stand-up-paddle-boarders. Note that these tours are not organized during the winter season.

Swimming is not recommended because of high boat traffic and strong waves. Falling rocks from crumbling cliffs pose yet another risk for swimmers.

The best incidence of light occurs in the morning. That's also the best time of day to visit in order to avoid rush hour inside the cave.

This popular grotto has transformed the quiet fishing village of Benagil into a tourist hotspot. The natural surroundings of the region are not designed to handle the streams of tourists, so expect narrow roads and limited parking.

Related Tags

Caves Natural Wonders Natural History Ecosystems Nature
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon

Explore Portugal through food, from the cities to the seaside.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan

Edited By

Osage, cordegeleia, mustashley, meganparmele...

  • Osage
  • cordegeleia
  • mustashley
  • meganparmele
  • coljay72

Published

February 9, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://cosmopoliclan.com
  • https://www.visitalgarve.pt/en/2222/praia-de-benagil.aspx
  • https://cosmopoliclan.com/travel-with-kids/inspiration/benagil-cave-portugal/
Benagil Caves
Lagoa, 8400
Portugal
37.087207, -8.423722

Nearby Places

Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)

Alcantarilha, Portugal

miles away

Passeio dos Poetas Stone Faces

Barão de São João, Portugal

miles away

Capela de Ossos Bone Chapel

Faro, Portugal

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Portugal

Portugal

Europe

Places 166
Stories 11

Nearby Places

Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)

Alcantarilha, Portugal

miles away

Passeio dos Poetas Stone Faces

Barão de São João, Portugal

miles away

Capela de Ossos Bone Chapel

Faro, Portugal

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Portugal

Portugal

Europe

Places 166
Stories 11

Related Stories and Lists

21 Caves That Offer Otherworldly Experiences

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • The Fugaku Wind Cave.

    Narusawa, Japan

    Fugaku Wind Cave

    One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

  • Caglieron Caves

    Fregona, Italy

    Caglieron Caves

    These caves are home to a small church and were used to age cheese.

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • Grutas del Palacio

    Flores, Uruguay

    Grutas del Palacio

    This wonderful rock formation constitutes the first geopark in Uruguay.

  • Chinhoyi Caves

    Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

    Chinhoyi Caves

    The stunningly blue waters of these beautiful caves also have a violent past.

  • Moqui Cave

    Kanab, Utah

    Moqui Cave

    This ancient cave is home to a museum, bar, and is filled with fluorescent minerals.

  • View on Halvikhallen from the bay at Fårøya.

    Hellvik, Norway

    Halvikhula

    The largest cave in Northern Europe.

  • The cave entrance is unassuming.

    Oracle, Arizona

    Peppersauce Cave

    An off-the-beaten path cave with an underground lake.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.