The best Algarve boat tours with kids

A family holiday in the Algarve isn’t complete without at least one boat trip, seeing the dramatic rock formations of the coast, spotting dolphins and more on some of the best Algarve boat tours with kids.

contains affiliate links*

Whether you’ve got teens looking for something more active or adventurous, or younger kids who’ll prefer something less adrenaline-fuelled, there are plenty of different boat tours of the Algarve, so you’ll be tempted to choose more than one. I always am, at least!

From the coastline’s untouched beaches, to hidden coves and dramatic caves, great wildlife, or even the chance to board a pirate boat, here’s my pick of the best boat tours of the Algarve with kids.

Dolphin-spotting boat tours

The western Algarve is one of the best places to see wild dolphins, with a string of tours leaving from Lagos. If you’re staying further east, you can also find boat trips from Albufeira too, as well as Olhao by the Ria Formosa.

If you’re lucky, there’s even a chance of spotting whales at certain times of the year.

Dolphin spotting tours from Lagos

Lagos is one of the best places to head out dolphin spotting in the Algarve, and this 90-minute catamaran cruise with Days of Adventure was a great option: as well as keeping a respectful distance from the dolphins, there’s a viewing platform around the front and shade over the catamaran’s seats for the journey to and from Lagos.

There are several trips led by marine biologists too – this 90-minute marine safari from SeaLife Dolphin Watching Algarve (part of Bom Dia) is great for older kids, or a good option if you’re visiting outside peak summer as there’s no shade on the boat.

For a longer trip, this catamaran cruise includes dolphin spotting and time to swim and sunbathe aboard during the two and a half hour trip. Although do bear in mind that the Atlantic can be pretty chilly.

Needless to say, no operator will guarantee dolphin sightings – they’re wild animals after all, and it does depend on the day and the weather. Most will offer a voucher for another trip if you don’t though.

During our cruise, the dolphins were hunting in the waters around Ponta da Piedade, so we hardly had to travel to find the pod, while the day before, the boat had to head 20km out to sea. But either way you’ve got a very good chance of spotting them first time.

Dolphin spotting tours from Albufeira & Portimao

Cruise along the coastline close to Albufeira and you might see dolphins swimming and jumping around in their natural environment here too.

There are many dolphin-watching boat tours available to book, including options complete with marine biologists who will fascinate kids with facts about these wonderful creatures.

Most combine the trip with a visit to the Benagil cave, so even if you don’t see dolphins, you’re guaranteed not to come home disappointed. Some aren’t suitable for kids under three or for pregnant women, so it’s worth confirming if you have little ones or a bump, but otherwise they’re mostly fairly similar.

Choose between this 2.5 hour dolphin and Benagil cave trip or this similar dolphin spotting boat tour.

If you’re in Portimao, there’s a 2.5 hour dolphin spotting and Benagil cave trip leaving from just across the water in Ferragudo.

Dolphin spotting tours from Vilamoura & Olhao

If you’re staying in the eastern Algarve, you needn’t miss out. The beautiful Ria Formosa natural park is a haven for wildlife, and there are boat trips from Olhao which will take you out into the protected waters to look for dolphins.

This 2.5 hour boat cruise of the Ria Formosa will take you to some of the loveliest areas, with the chance of spying wild dolphins too. This similar dolphin spotting boat tour departs from Fuseta, just east of Olhao.

Or set off from Vilamoura marina, where there’s another choice of boat trip combining dolphin spotting and caves, passing the unusual rock formations along the way.

The Benagil cave

The Benagil Caves (Algar de Benagil) are one of the Algarve’s most iconic sights and a must-see for the whole family.

Only accessible from the water, it’s easy to jump on a boat tour from Portimão to visit them – and a whole host of other less famous but equally eye-catching caves, plus the rest of this stunning stretch of coastline.

We booked with Atlantis tours (available via Viator and Get Your Guide) for a fantastic two-hour trip in a rigid inflatable boat, spotting rock formations, hearing more about the coast and getting tips on where else to visit as well as exploring the caves.

You can watch my video of our boat trip to the Benagil cave here.

While a lot of boat tours to Benagil leave from Portimao, around 30 minutes’ drive down the coast, you can also find tours leaving from Lagos.

To whisk you along the coast, this speedboat tour to Benagil is suitable for aged 6+, or for a slightly more relaxed option in a RIB boat, Lagos Grotto Trips has this two-hour Benagil and Carvoeiro cruise, for age 6+.

For a family-friendly option, if you’re travelling with younger kids, this 2 1/2 hour catamaran cruise from Lagos visits Benagil, as well as time to swim.

Or combine dolphin watching with a cruise to Benagil with this two and a half hour boat trip.

You’ll also find boat trips to the Benagil cave from Carvoeiro, or if you really want to get close to the rock formations, this kayak tour from Benagil beach lets you go right inside the caves – not suitable for under-fours though.

Ponta de Piedade

The rock formations and caves just down the coast from Lagos are one of the biggest attractions in the western Algarve and you won’t be short of choice for a boat trip taking you here.

Some travel in small boats from Lagos marina, while others take you down the coast in a larger boat before heading into the caves and coves in a smaller boat, such as this two-hour cruise with Boat Trips – the option we chose, which had a great guided tour from the smaller boat.

Incidentally, a lot of boat tours – including ours – include time to swim and snorkel. It’s worth knowing that there’s very little to see underwater around this area, as the sea is simply too cloudy, and even in peak summer, the water of the Atlantic are still on the chilly side!

For a shorter tour, you can speed down the coast from Lagos in smaller boats to go straight into the caves – Days of Adventure, Boat Trips and Lagos Grotto Trips are a few of the best.

Or travel in style with a sailing boat tour to Ponta de Piedade – although there isn’t a huge amount of shade on board, you can choose and earlier or later departure to avoid the heat of the sun in summer.

If you really want to get up close to the rock formations, you can kayak along the coastline, although if that feels a bit more effort than you want on holiday, there are kayaking boat tours where you cruise along the coast before heading out in a kayak – Days of Adventure and Actual Boat Trips are two of the companies offering this.

For more things to do in Lagos with kids, check out my top picks

Cruise around the Ria Formosa

The Ria Formosa lagoon is a nature lover’s paradise, consisting of a labyrinth of canals, islands, wetlands, and sandbanks – a world away from the busy resorts.

On a cruise around the Ria Formosa, kids can enjoy spotting the area’s wildlife, including many protected bird species as well as a chance of seeing dolphins.

There are various different trips on offer but I’d definitely recommend the full-day tour (approx 5-6 hours) with Odyssey tours, which takes you to three different islands as well as a guide around the waters – unspoiled Farol was my favourite, along with the sight of a sea eagle and stories of the endangered seahorses living in the protected waters.

For a shorter cruise, this two-hour tour of the Ria Formosa from Fuseta, just east of Olhao, makes one stop at Armona Island and gives you a taste of the reserve’s natural beauty.

Sail on a pirate ship

A pirate ship cruise is one of the most fun things to do in the Algarve with kids, sailing along the coastline in search of hidden bays and coves (with buried treasure? Who knows…)

Kids will love becoming pirates for the day on board a traditional ship, with plenty of pirate ship cruises to choose from. The Santa Bernarda is probably the Algarve’s most famous pirate ships, with half-day and full-day options from Portimao.

Speed boat tour

If you want to get your heart racing as well as seeing a few views of the coastline, there are also speedboat tours in the Algarve.

This Jetboat tour from Lagos is for age 6+ and you’ll spend 45 minutes hurtling along the coastline. You’ll see the Ponta da Piedade along the way, but the focus here is on adrenaline thrills, 360 degree turns and abrupt stops rather than soaking up the scenery on a sightseeing tour!

Or this 30-minute Jetboat ride from Albufeira is similarly fast paced – not suitable for kids aged five and under – with the focus on stunts and thrills as you speed along the coastline.

A lot of the tours to the Benagil caves are in RIB boats – Rigid Inflatable Boats – so you’ll zip along the water at high speed anyway,

How to buy – booking your Algarve boat tour with kids

In most cases, you can easily book tickets in advance for your Algarve boat tour – some have limited space so book up quickly, while popular options like the pirate ships also tend to sell out.

However, if you haven’t booked in advance, you can often try your luck on the day. In Lagos, there are kiosks around the marina where you might be able to negotiate a deal for the last seats, as the various companies try to sell their final places.

For many tours, the boats and sights are pretty similar so if you’re flexible, you might find a last-minute deal. However, if you’ve got your heart set on a particular date or trip, or if you’re visiting in peak season, it’s safer to book in advance.

If bad weather (including high winds in summer) cancel the trip, you’re normally given a voucher or automatic booking to a new date, which dolphin spotting trips which don’t spot dolphins usually have a free repeat tour to try your luck again.

This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Images copyright MummyTravels

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER