8 Catamaran Cruises in the Algarve Worth Booking

1.Coastline and Benagil Caves Tour by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,077 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $35Our pick

Sail from Albufeira Marina toward Benagil on a spacious catamaran with guides speaking English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. You’ll pass São Rafael, Praia da Marinha, Albandeira, and other coastal sights, approach the Benagil cave, then stop for about 10 minutes of swimming. Onboard, you’ll find shaded seating, music, toilets, and cash-only drinks and snacks.

“The boat felt safe and it was very comfortable and clean.”

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2.Dolphins & Caves – Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,512 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $58Top rated

From Marina de Lagos, sail offshore with marine biologists such as Nadja, Diogo, or Larissa to search for wild dolphins. Then stop near the Algarve cliffs for swimming, jumping, and the catamaran’s inflatable slide. The 2.5-hour cruise includes shaded seating, live commentary, and fruit with a cookie.

“It was awesome, a beautiful trip! Me and my daughter enjoyed it very much, we saw a lot of dolphins and had a wonderful day! Thank you for this experience!”

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3.Algarve Cruise by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,408 reviews · from $38

Sail from Lagos to Praia da Luz and back aboard a steady catamaran, passing Ponta da Piedade’s cliffs and grottoes. You’ll get a swim stop with paddle boards and an inflatable water park, plus sun nets and a bar serving reasonably priced drinks. English and Portuguese guides lead the three-hour outing.

“AMAZING!! So worth it. Especially if you want a relaxing way to view the cliffs. The hosts were so kind and funny and helpful. I got to paddle board up to and inside the caves like they let you do for those kayak tours. So kind of a 2 in 1 with this cruise. I recommended it to my friends and they loved it too!”

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4.Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,394 reviews · from $41

From Lagos Marina, you’ll ride a comfortable catamaran to Ponta da Piedade, then slide into a kayak for about 75 minutes among sea caves, arches, and small beaches. Guides such as Thomas, Ricardo, Marianna, and Nuno keep the group together and share local stories. Afterward, you’ll have time to swim or use the onboard slide.

“Such a fun experience boating and kayaking to the sea caves. The whole crew was fun and engaging. Marianna did a great job keeping the group together and guiding us safely through the caves.”

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5.Caves and Coastline Catamaran Cruise to Benagil

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,385 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Set out from Albufeira Marina on a relaxed three-hour catamaran cruise toward Benagil. Your multilingual crew points out beaches, arches, cliffs, and caves from São Rafael to Praia da Marinha. Swim if sea conditions allow, stretch out on deck, use the free Wi-Fi, and finish with a cup of champagne. Cave entry is not included.

“This was an amazing trip the guys made us free really comfortable, they were genuine people and vibes and energy on 10. If you are going to pick a cave ride let it be this one.”

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6.4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,129 reviews · 5 hours · from $47

Cruise from Faro through the Ria Formosa with a multilingual guide such as João, Pedro, or Juan. Visit Ilha Deserta, Ilha do Farol, Culatra, and Hangares, with time for swimming, village walks, bird watching, oyster farming, and an optional fresh-fish lunch. Morning departures last about five hours; afternoon trips are shorter.

“The whole trip was exactly as described and more. The guide was thoroughly knowledgeable about the wildlife and it was an altogether wonderful experience. Nothing to fault except there could have been ice cream for dessert but that’s outside their control”

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7.Catamaran Cruise with BBQ & Open Bar on the Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 685 reviews · from $76

Set out from Albufeira Marina on a six-hour catamaran cruise along the Algarve coast. The crew points out Benagil, Galé, and Carvoeiro, then takes you by dinghy to a beach for a BBQ, drinks, swimming, and sun. Return with a glass of champagne.

“Amazing experience, the boat crew was awesome and helpful. We enjoyed seeing them carrying their duties perfectly well and organised. Stunning views and comfortable boat with delicious BBQ”

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8.Catamaran Boat Trip to Deserta Island with Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 636 reviews · 45 min · from $11Best value

From Faro’s Porta Nova pier, take a smooth catamaran through Ria Formosa Natural Park to Ilha Deserta. You get free time for the beach, dunes, and 2-kilometer boardwalk, with optional food at Estaminé Restaurant. Some departures include lively commentary from guides such as Joao. Return crossings let you stay for a few hours or most of the day.

“This trip was the highlight of our visit! I’ve got a wild 4 year old boy, who loves running & being a fun active 4 year old… The beach was EXACTLY what we needed. We got the 10am boat over & the 4pm boat back to Faro. He was able to run around, collect shells, dip into the water & just do whatever he wanted, without getting in anyone’s way or limiting his fun… we had a ball. We ended up going the following day before our flight home too cos we had so much fun! Also the guy with the glasses collecting our tickets was professional but fun! We…”

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