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Things to do in Porches, Portugal

Our most recommended things to do in Porches, Portugal

Armação de Pêra: Benagil Caves Guided Boat Tour

1. Armação de Pêra: Benagil Caves Guided Boat Tour

Explore Benagil from the deck of a boat on a cruise with a guide. See the Rock Lady Chapel and the Paria Nova Tunnel, and learn where the Echo Cave got its name. Board at the typical fisherman's beach of Armação de Pêra and begin your cave exploration. Sail with your captains and guides to the 15 top caves between Armação de Pêra and Alfanzina lighthouse. Sail by the beaches of Lagoa and looming rock formations. Visit the Rock Lady Chapel and marvel at the Praia Nova Tunnel. Next, head to the Praia da Cova Redonda and Praia da Marinha. Stop to admire the Marinha Arches, the Yellow Submarine, and the Albandeira Arch. Continue to the iconic Captain's Cave, the famous Benagil Cave, the sonorous Echo Cave, and the calming Paradise Cave.

Algarve: Landscapes, Pottery, and Winery Tour

2. Algarve: Landscapes, Pottery, and Winery Tour

Much of the Algarve’s charm resides in its ability to provide top class tourist facilities and yet retain its own identity, easily visible in the traditional villages and activities of the area. Porches is renowned for its beautiful and original pottery. The Porches Pottery workshop is one of the best representatives of this art and many of the traditional methods of production are still used here today. You can see the pottery being made and painted by hand by the artisans. The fishing village of Benagil is perched above the Atlantic and a tiny but picturesque beach, the sound of the Atlantic the uninterrupted sound track to the village’s activities. Heading towards the resort of Carvoeiro we visit Algar Seco where you can see the amazing caves and grottoes carved from the coastline over the centuries. Enjoy a stroll through the village of Ferragudo, along the cobbled streets and down to the small harbor. Our last stop is in a winery where you can enjoy a guided tour and taste some of the wines produced in this region.

Porches: Algarve Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting Experience

3. Porches: Algarve Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting Experience

Enjoy a privileged visit to our family-run vineyard in the Algarve and taste some of our best wines. We invite you to get to know the origin of Quinta dos Capinhas and create great moments in the heart of this picturesque vineyard. Your guide and wine expert will welcome you to our property hidden between the ocean and the mountains, where you'll feel at home at once - just like we do. In this wine tasting experience, you'll learn all about Algarve winemaking traditions, the story our vineyard, and how our unique terroir affects our wines. You'll taste three wines produced by Quinta dos Capinhas (rosé, white, and red) paired with delicious local tapas. An opportunity to open your senses and let the wine speak to you. Afterwards, follow the guide on a short walking tour along the most scenic areas of the vineyard with chances for amazing photos - always holding a glass of wine, of course!

Discover the Grottos and Caves in a SUP Guided Tour

4. Discover the Grottos and Caves in a SUP Guided Tour

This tour lasts about 2 and a half hours and begins at Barranco Beach, a wild and hard to reach beach. Here you can marvel at the scenery, cliffs, grottos, and caves at this beautiful spot. From the beach, you will head out to sea to begin your journey through the different caves while learning about this sport. Admire the different caves, the light-colored limestone cliffs, and the ruins of a 17th Century fortress across the blue waters. If you are feeling brave, you can also jump from the rocks.

Inland Safari & Sea Kayaking, two different worlds together

5. Inland Safari & Sea Kayaking, two different worlds together

Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Algarve on this Land Rover safari and kayaking tour from Albufeira. Uncover old villages full of Moorish architecture and stop to swim in crystal clear springs. Learn about local cork production.  Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in Albufeira. Sit back and relax on your Land Rover adventure. Head inland where your guide will help reveal age-old traditions as you take in breathtaking scenery. Savor local liquors and honey during a guided tasting. Feel the thrill of taking the road less traveled as you chart your own course off-road through mountainous terrain. Reach the top of a mountain where you can learn about cork production from cork trees. Pass through villages where time seems to have stopped. After your Land Rover tour, take a break where you can do an purchase lunch. Begin your kayaking trip along the coast. Paddle by caves, beaches and dynamic coastline. Have time to take a dip in the turquoise waters before returning to shore and transferring back to your accommodation in Porches.

Algarve : Rocky coast and fishing villages

6. Algarve : Rocky coast and fishing villages

Your local guides, will pick you up from your hotel and we will head west, our first stop being the pristine white chapel of Nossa Senhora Da Rocha which appears to be suspended over the ocean. This iconic site of the region is located near Praia Nova, which dazzles with its golden sand and crystal clear waters. Another popular spot for travellers is the Albandeira Arch and its surrounding cliffs, which are natural monuments that offer a postcard image. You can discover unique views by walking along the paths surrounding the site. We continue with the discovery of the fishing village of Carvoeiro with its colourful houses on the edge of a small beach where boats rest on the sand. Then we will immerse ourselves in the unusual places of Algar Seco with its cavities where the waves come and go and the cave of Boneca with its "natural window" on the ocean which is cut into the rock. Our last stop will be a visit to Ferragudo, a small fishing port in the Algarve that will not leave you indifferent as it is so charming. Walking through its typical streets or along its quay is a treat for travellers in search of authenticity. We will take you back to your place of stay or to your hotel.

From Armação de Pêra: Private Benagil Beaches Boat Tour

7. From Armação de Pêra: Private Benagil Beaches Boat Tour

Discover the most beautiful wild beaches in the municipality of Lagoa. Incredible rock formations, curious places such as the the “Rock Lady” Chapel and the Praia Nova Tunnel. Discover iconic beaches such as Cova Redonda, Marinha and Carvalho beach. On this guided tour, we pause to admire the Marinha Arches, the “Yellow Submarine” and the Albandeira Arch. We enter 15 caves, including the fantastic Capitain´s Cave, the famous Benagil Cave, the sonorous Echo Cave and the shy Paradise Cave. This tour is calm, private and more complete allowing you to enjoy a variety of scenarios with all the explanations included and with a greater involvement.

Algarve : Rocky coast and hinterland in a Volvo 4X4

8. Algarve : Rocky coast and hinterland in a Volvo 4X4

We will pick you up at your place of stay according to the pick-up area (Quarteira, Vilamoura, Albufeira and Armação De Pêra) and head to the beautiful town of Silves. On the way we will discover the small chapel of Senhora Da Rocha, which is located on a cliff overlooking a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by yellow cliffs. Another natural site nearby that is well worth a visit is the majestic Albandeira Arch and its surroundings, which are a delight to the eyes of travellers, offering a grandiose spectacle at any time of the year. In the middle of the morning, we arrive in the ancient capital of AL-Gharb (Silves). During a walk, we will stroll through the narrow streets of the old town with its tumultuous past, dominated by a cathedral and the walls of the castle which is the symbol of the Arab occupation of the Algarve for several centuries. Depending on the season, the sky of Silves is the scene of a majestic sweep of storks, which you can easily observe on the roofs and chimneys of the houses. We will continue on a beautiful track lined with eucalyptus trees along the lake of Funcho, where wild landscapes and a feeling of escape are mixed, several stops will allow you to admire this landscape of unique beauty. We will reach the small authentic town of Sao Bartolomeu de Messines where you will have lunch (lunch not included) in a "churrasquiera", a real institution where you can enjoy a quality local cuisine with an excellent quality-price ratio. However, you have the possibility to bring your own lunch box if you wish. After a walking tour in the "old Messines" which is not lacking in interest we will go to Alte which is one of the most typical white villages in the south of Portugal. The atmosphere it exudes will be an immersion in the daily life of the hinterland. Its walking tour will be one of the highlights of the day. Depending on the season, you will enjoy the bathing pool with its transparent spring water or you will discover a bucolic waterfall with a postcard look, located below a stream. At the end of the day, we will take a track in the heart of the Algarvian Barrocal that climbs through centuries-old olive trees, orange and carob trees before climbing with the 4X4 on a hill that reveals magnificent panoramas of the countryside as well as an abandoned hamlet where time seems to have stopped. We will share a moment of conviviality around an aperitif in the heart of this unusual place, a testimony of a bygone era, before bringing you back to your place of stay with unforgettable memories.

Other Sightseeing Options in Porches, Portugal

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What people are saying about Porches, Portugal

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 12 reviews

great boat trip, the guide on the boat speaks French which helps to understand the name and history of the caves. We were only 10 on the boat, not giving a mass effect on the boat, which allowed us to greatly appreciate the ride. the boat is small enough to fit in all the caves. I highly recommend this excursion.

We have loved the experience. The caves are fabulous, and the guides are great. Thank you very much!!!

Super nice. Good group size and the boat can go anywhere the larger boats can't.