The rules were put together in a joint effort between the National Maritime Authority, in coordination with the Municipality of Lagoa, the Administration of the Algarve Hydrographic Region, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests and with the support of the CCDR of the Algarve and the Algarve Tourism Region, the Portuguese Association of Congress, Tourist Entertainment and Events Companies and with the involvement of several Algarve Maritime Tourism operators.

This notice and navigation instruction creates a set of rules for the Benagil Caves, which aim to regulate the traffic of maritime-tourist vessels, private individuals and beach users, both in the water and in the vicinity of the Benagil cave and sinkhole.


Some of the navigation rules to be implemented on-site are:

• ⁠Prohibition of landing or use of the sand inside the Benagil Caves by individuals and companies;

•⁠ ⁠Prohibition of renting kayaks without a guide in the Benagil caves area;

•⁠ ⁠Prohibition of access to the caves by swimming or with buoyancy aids;

•⁠⁠ Limit the number of boats and kayaks inside the Benagil cave;

• ⁠⁠Maximum times for visiting the caves;

•⁠ ⁠Creation of a ratio of one kayak guide for every six kayaks with visitors for kayak tours in the area;


A set of administrative offences are also foreseen for operators of maritime-tourist vessels who do not comply with the rules set out in the Notice, which foresee administrative offences ranging from 300 euros to 216,000 euros as set out in the Framework Law on Environmental Administrative Offences, with the Benagil Caves area being located within the Recife do Algarve – Pedra do Valado Marine Natural Park.

The Notice will come into force 10 working days after its publication and will be promulgated by the Port Authority of Portimão in the coming days and posted at the Port Authority of Portimão facilities, at the Albufeira Maritime Delegation and accessible via the website of the National Maritime Authority, on the Port Authority of Portimão page.

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