Sesimbra: Secret Bays and Beaches Boat Tour with Snorkeling

Sesimbra’s best scenery is often viewed from the water, where cliffs open into quiet coves and small beaches remain difficult to reach by land. This tour takes you there in a small group, with time for snorkeling in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park and close views of sea caves and rock formations. I like the limited group size and the friendly, helpful guiding from crew members such as Marco, Vanessa, Jorge, and Catarina. I also like that the tour mixes sightseeing with actual swim stops, rather than keeping you seated for the whole 2.5 hours.

The main thing to consider is sun exposure. There is no shelter from the sun on the boat, and some swimming stops may feel brief if you want a long beach day. Bring a hat, towel, sunscreen, and swimwear, and think of this as a fast-moving coastal sampler rather than a full beach outing.

Key points at a glance

• Small group of up to eight: The boat stays personal, and guides can help with pictures, boarding, snorkeling, and local information.
• Several hard-to-reach coastal stops: You cruise past Ribeiro do Cavalo, Frade’s Bay, Cova de Mijona, Inferno Beach, and Baleeira Bay.
• Snorkeling equipment included: You can swim and look for marine life without bringing your own mask and fins.
• Caves and cliffs viewed from the water: The boat gives you angles you cannot get from the road or a walking trail.
• A regional drink included: The outing ends with a relaxed local touch, with wine or another regional drink offered on board.
• Good value at $58: You get a guided boat trip, equipment, life jackets, and several scenic stops in 2.5 hours.

Why this small Sesimbra boat trip works so well

I like this tour because it does not force you to choose between a sightseeing cruise and a water activity. You get both. The boat moves along the coast, pauses in calm bays, takes you close to caves, and gives you chances to swim or snorkel in clear water.

That balance matters in Sesimbra. A standard cruise can leave you admiring the coast from a seat. A beach-only outing can involve more time getting there than enjoying the water. This trip uses its 2.5 hours for a mixture of cruising, swimming, snorkeling, short beach visits, and local explanation.

The group size is one of the strongest details. With a maximum of eight people, this is not a large boat excursion where you need to compete for space at the rail. Guides can offer help getting on and off the boat, take pictures, and adjust their advice to the group. Past crews have included Marco, Vanessa, Jorge, Marcos, Catarina, and André, and the descriptions of their service consistently point to a warm, hands-on approach.

You should still keep your expectations sensible. The beaches are wild and scenic, not developed resort beaches with cafés, changing rooms, or shade. This is a boat-based outing in a natural area. The appeal is the quiet water and rugged coast, not a long list of facilities.

Leaving Blue Coast Tours Sesimbra

You meet the team at Blue Coast Tours Sesimbra, the stated starting and ending point. Before departure, the crew gives safety instructions and explains the route and what to expect.

Life jackets are included, and snorkeling gear is provided on board. You do not need to bring your own mask and equipment unless you prefer your personal gear. Food is not included, so eat beforehand or plan for a snack later. Drinks are not generally included as a category, but the tour does include a regional drink, and the outing has featured local wine or port-style wine.

The boat is described in the booking information as suitable for a small group of eight. That size helps the trip feel more like a guided coastal outing than a mass excursion. It also means you should reserve ahead during the busy summer months, since there are only a few spaces on each departure.

Praia da Cova: the first look at clear water

The first listed stop is Praia da Cova, with about 30 minutes for a break, photos, a guided look at the area, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing. The boat cruises through clear water before pausing, giving you an early chance to see why this coast is best appreciated from offshore.

This stop is useful for settling into the activity. You can test the snorkeling equipment, get comfortable in the water, and learn how the boat handles the swim stops. The crew also shares information about the local ecology and points of interest along the coast.

Water conditions can affect how much you see. The tour description emphasizes calm, clear water, but visibility is never identical on every departure. A cloudy day does not cancel the appeal of the cliffs and caves, but sunlight usually makes the water color and underwater life easier to appreciate.

Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach and the first beach break

Ribeiro do Cavalo is one of the main highlights, with around 30 minutes for a visit, photos, walking, swimming, snorkeling, and free time. The beach is known for its secluded feel, pale sand, steep cliffs, and clear water.

The stop is not simply a photo pause. You may get time to walk on the sand, swim, or snorkel, depending on the conditions and the group’s timing. Guides can point out nearby features and help you move safely between the boat and shore.

This is also where the short-stop format becomes noticeable. Thirty minutes goes quickly once you have disembarked, taken pictures, found a place for your belongings, and entered the water. One past participant felt the swimming stops could have been longer. That is a fair point, especially if your priority is staying in the water. The trade-off is that the tour reaches several different places instead of spending the whole trip at one beach.

Praia da Mijona and Frade’s Bay

The route continues toward Praia da Mijona, also called Cova de Mijona in the wider description. This stop allows about 30 minutes for photos, free time, swimming, snorkeling, and views of the cliffs and sea.

Frade’s Bay is also part of the coastal route. The information provided does not promise a separate long landing at every named bay, so you should expect some places to be viewed from the boat rather than explored on foot. That is not a weakness. Some of the best angles come from the water, especially where cliffs, caves, and rock shelves make land access difficult.

The crew’s local knowledge adds value here. You are not only looking at attractive rocks. You get an explanation of the coast, marine life, and points of interest as the boat moves between stops. Guides have also helped take and share group pictures, a useful extra if you want photographs without handing your phone to another passenger.

Inferno Beach and the short snorkeling pause

Inferno Beach receives about 20 minutes, making it the briefest listed stop. You can take pictures, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the clear water, but the limited time means you may need to choose one main activity.

If you want the best chance to see fish, listen to the crew’s advice rather than rushing into the water at every stop. The guides know which areas offer better conditions for snorkeling and can help you make the most of a short pause.

This stop is a good example of the tour’s overall rhythm. You keep moving along the coast, see a range of coves and beaches, and have repeated chances to get wet. If you prefer a slow, quiet afternoon at one beach, this pace may feel hurried. If you want variety, it keeps the outing interesting.

Baleeira Bay and the final coastal views

Baleeira Bay and Beach receive the longest listed stop, about 40 minutes. It combines a break, guided sightseeing, photos, free time, swimming, snorkeling, marine-life viewing, and a regional drink.

That extra time gives the final stop a more relaxed feel. You can swim without watching the clock quite as closely, take in the cliffs, and enjoy the drink on board before the return trip. The regional drink is a small detail, but it gives the outing a local finish rather than ending with a quick return to the marina.

The cruise back offers more wide views of the coast. By this point, you have seen the cliffs from several angles and can compare the different coves, beaches, and rock formations. The crew uses the final stretch to answer questions and share additional information before returning to Blue Coast Tours Sesimbra.

Snorkeling in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park

The tour takes place in the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park, a protected marine area along the Sesimbra coast. The attraction here is not a guaranteed list of particular species. It is the chance to look into clear water and observe marine life in its natural setting.

You receive snorkeling equipment and can swim at several points along the route. Past outings have included plenty of fish, and guides help identify the better places to enter the water. The tour is not presented as a technical snorkeling session, so beginners can enjoy it without signing up for a formal lesson.

Comfort in the water matters. You should bring swimwear and a towel, and life jackets are available. If you are not a confident swimmer, tell the crew before entering the water so they can explain the safest way to take part. The calm bays help, but conditions can still change.

What $58 buys you

At $58 per person, the tour offers solid value if you want several activities in one half-day outing. The price includes the boat trip, local guides, life jackets, snorkeling gear, and a regional drink. You also get access to several coastal locations that would be difficult to visit efficiently on your own.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise pay separately for a sightseeing cruise and a snorkeling activity. You get both, plus guide commentary and time at wild beaches. The small group also makes the price more appealing than a basic large-boat cruise.

Food and general drinks are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You must make your own way to the meeting point at Blue Coast Tours Sesimbra. Those are normal costs to factor into the day, particularly if you are staying outside Sesimbra.

The 2.5-hour duration is another point in its favor. It is long enough to feel substantial, but short enough to fit around a beach afternoon, a meal in Sesimbra, or another Lisbon District plan. The route does not try to turn a short cruise into an all-day expedition.

Sun, clothing, and practical comfort

Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, towel, swimwear, and comfortable clothes. The boat has no shelter from the sun, so sunscreen alone may not be enough for a full departure, especially in summer.

Wear something that makes it easy to move between the boat and the water. You may walk briefly on a beach, board with wet feet, and spend time sitting after swimming. Keep valuables to a minimum, since the tour is centered on water and outdoor activity.

The crew can help passengers get on and off the boat, but you should still be comfortable with the basic movement involved in a small-boat outing. If you want a long, dry sightseeing ride with no swimming, this is not the best match.

The tour runs in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French. That makes it practical for mixed-language groups, and the live guide format gives you a chance to ask questions during the route.

Who should book it

I would choose this for couples, friends, families with water-loving older children, and solo visitors who want a social but small-group activity. It suits people who like scenic boat rides but do not want to sit still for the entire trip.

It is especially good for anyone staying in or near Lisbon who wants a coastal outing with a strong sense of place. The combination of caves, cliffs, quiet bays, swimming, and marine life gives you a useful introduction to Sesimbra’s coast in a short time.

I would be more cautious if you need shade, dislike getting wet, want a long uninterrupted beach stop, or expect a full meal and drinks to be included. The schedule has several stops, but most are measured in 20 to 40 minutes.

The free-cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve-now-pay-later booking is available. Check the starting time when booking, since departure times depend on availability.

Should you book the Sesimbra secret beaches tour?

Book it if you want a compact coastal adventure with clear water, caves, several wild beaches, and snorkeling equipment included. At $58, the small group and variety of activities make the price reasonable, especially if you value personal help from the crew.

Go in prepared for strong sun and short swim periods. Bring your own shade in the form of a hat, accept that not every named beach may be a long shore visit, and let the guides direct you to the best snorkeling spots. With those expectations, this is a lively and well-priced way to see the Sesimbra coast from its most revealing angle, the water.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start?

You meet the guide at Blue Coast Tours Sesimbra. The tour also returns to this location.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $58 per person.

How many people can join the boat?

The tour is limited to eight participants.

Which beaches and bays are included?

The route includes Praia da Cova, Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach, Praia da Mijona or Cova de Mijona, Inferno Beach, Baleeira Beach, and Baleeira Bay. Frade’s Bay is also included in the coastal route.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and life jackets are included.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes. Swimming is offered at several stops, including Ribeiro do Cavalo, Praia da Mijona, Inferno Beach, and Baleeira Beach.

Is a drink included?

Yes. A regional drink is included. Food and additional drinks are not included.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French.

What should I bring?

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, towel, sunscreen, and comfortable clothes. There is no shelter from the sun on the boat.