Alvor: Secret Caves & Beaches Boat and Kayak Tour

4.97

(181 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder what it’s like to just drift past the regular crowds and find your own quiet spot? That’s how our day in Alvor started — a bit of salt in the air, seagulls yelling over the estuary, and this old wooden boat called Frontino waiting for us. Our skipper Rui waved us on board like we were friends he’d known for ages. The wood underfoot felt solid but kind of soft from years of sun and sea. I didn’t expect the boat to have a bar (or music), but somehow it fit — people chatting quietly, someone laughing about sunscreen that smelled like coconut and metal at the same time.

We cruised out past Alvor Beach while Rui pointed out little things I’d never have noticed — a fisherman mending nets with his son, the way the cliffs change color when the light shifts. Then came Praia dos Três Irmãos, which I’d only seen in photos before. But honestly, it’s not really about ticking off beaches. It’s more about how you can hear your own paddle dipping into the water once you climb into a kayak — that gentle splash-slap sound echoing off cave walls. João de Arens was where it got interesting: narrow rock tunnels, sudden bursts of cool air inside the caves, sunlight flickering through cracks above us. I probably grinned too much but who cares.

I tried to say “João de Arens” properly and Rui just laughed — apparently my accent is hopeless. We stopped at this tiny cove that didn’t even look real; pale sand, water so clear you could see fish darting around your toes. Some people swam right away (the water was colder than I thought), others just sat on their kayaks eating snacks from the boat. There was this moment when everyone went quiet for a second — just waves and gulls and that weird feeling you get when you realize you’re somewhere special but can’t quite explain why.

The way back felt slower somehow — maybe because nobody wanted it to end yet. We passed back through the reserve with its marshy smells and reeds brushing against each other in the wind. When we docked again at Alvor estuary, Rui gave us one last story about his grandfather fishing these waters before tourism was even a thing here. I still think about that view from inside the cave looking out at all that blue light.