Hidden Coves & Lagoons
- 3 hours
- Up to 10
- All levels
- Good Feeling Surf School, Vila do Bispo
Explore secret beaches and crystal lagoons unreachable by foot — only by paddleboard.
Between Barranco and Zavial the coast stops being postcard and starts being wild. There is a run of small beaches and coves with no road access, no bar, no sunbed rental and, for most of the year, nobody on them at all. The only way in is by water, and a paddleboard draws so little that you can land where a boat would break up.
This is the tour for people who have already seen the caves, or who came to the Algarve specifically to get away from the crowd at Benagil. You cover more distance than on the cave tour — five to six kilometres — with two beach landings, a swim through a shallow arch and a long stretch of cliff where the only thing above you is birds.
Our guides pick the coves on the day based on wind direction, so no two of these tours run quite the same route. If you want the same beach twice, tell us and we will try.
Highlights
- Two landings on beaches with no road access
- Six kilometres of cliff coast between Barranco and Zavial
- A swim-through arch at low tide
- Genuinely no crowds, even in August
- Route chosen on the day for the conditions — not a fixed loop
Itinerary
- 0:00 – 0:20
Briefing and kit
Technique on the sand, plus a bit more on paddling efficiently — this one covers real distance.
- 0:20 – 1:10
West along the cliffs
Out past the developed beaches and into the quiet section, hugging the cliff line where the water is flattest.
- 1:10 – 1:40
First cove
Land, stretch, swim. Your guide will point out which of the beaches around you can be reached on foot — usually none of them.
- 1:40 – 2:20
Arch and lagoon
Through a shallow arch if the tide allows, then into a protected lagoon where the water is noticeably clearer than at the main beaches.
- 2:20 – 3:00
Second landing and back
One more beach stop, then a downwind paddle home which is the easiest and most enjoyable part of the day.
Meeting point
Good Feeling Surf School, Vila do Bispo
Every tour meets at Good Feeling Surf School in Vila do Bispo, where there is free parking, toilets and somewhere to leave your things. From there we drive the short distance to whichever beach the conditions favour that morning — Barranco, Ingrina or Zavial. The exact time and a Google Maps pin come with your booking confirmation. Pick-up and drop-off anywhere between Sagres and Lagos is €5 per person.
What's included
- Insurance
- A guided SUP tour for 3 hours
- All equipment — board, paddle and wetsuit (optional)
- Lifejackets available for children and non-swimmers
- Photos
- Pick-up / drop-off (between Sagres and Lagos) for €5 more per person
What to bring
- Swimwear under your clothes
- Towel and dry clothes
- Reef-safe sun cream — this is the longest tour on open water
- Water: at least a litre
- Shoes you can walk on rock in, if you have them
Good to know
- The most physical of our SUP tours. Average fitness is fine, but you will paddle for around two and a half hours.
- You need to be able to swim around 25 metres unaided.
- Which coves we reach depends on wind and tide. In strong westerlies we run a shorter, sheltered version rather than cancel.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Watch a clip