Albufeira: Kayak Tour along the Coast
Highlights
- ✓A small group — 18 people at most, with two guides
- ✓The boat follows the group: you are picked up at the end, no paddling back
- ✓The bays, beaches and caves of the Albufeira coast
- ✓A stop at a secluded beach for a swim
- ✓And one last jump off the boat on the way back
About this activity
Fifteen minutes by catamaran from the marina to Praia do Castelo, then the rest of the time kayaking the bays and caves of Albufeira, with two guides and the boat behind you.
With Seacret you leave Marina de Albufeira by catamaran and, in about fifteen minutes, arrive off Praia do Castelo. There you get into the kayak and follow the cliffs, through bays, beaches and small caves you can only reach from the water.
The difference from tours that start on the beach is simple: the boat follows you the whole way. At the end, instead of paddling back, you climb aboard. And if the sea allows, there is a stop at a secluded beach for a swim — plus one last jump off the catamaran before returning to the marina.
There are 18 people at most, with two guides. Ideal for families and for anyone who has never paddled before.
Itinerary
- 1Check-in at the operator's shop, in Marina de Albufeira, 30 minutes before departure
- 2About 15 minutes by catamaran to Praia do Castelo
- 3Transfer onto the kayaks
- 4Kayaking through the bays, beaches and caves of the Albufeira coast
- 5A stop at a secluded beach, for a swim
- 6Picked up on board, one last jump off the boat and back to the marina
What's included
- ✓A catamaran ride from Marina de Albufeira to Praia do Castelo, about 15 minutes
- ✓Kayak and all the equipment you need
- ✓Two experienced guides alongside the group
- ✓Kayaking through the bays, beaches and caves of the coast
- ✓A support boat alongside throughout — you head back on board
- ✓A stop at a secluded beach for a swim, if conditions allow
- ✓One last jump off the catamaran on the way back
- ✓Guiding in Portuguese and English
- ✓Life jacket
- ✓The insurance required by law
Stops and access may be adjusted on the day, depending on sea or weather conditions.
Location
Where this activity starts
Marina de Albufeira
Marina de Albufeira, Passeio dos Oceanos, Lote 3, Loja 7, 8200-394 Albufeira
Important information
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel
- Water-resistant sunscreen and a hat
- Sunglasses with a strap
- Dry clothes for afterwards
Not recommended for
Not recommended for children under 5 or for pregnant women. Whether the trip runs, whether the caves are visited and whether there is a swim stop always depend on the sea and the weather.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations less than 24 hours before the activity, and failure to show up by departure time, are not refundable.
This deadline is the operator’s and applies to bookings made online. If you book with us on request, our own booking conditions apply. Booking conditions for direct requests.
More information
The trip runs in small groups, with a maximum of 18 people and always two guides. There is a minimum number of participants. If the departure does not happen — because that number is not reached, or because the sea will not allow it — Seacret refunds the full amount paid. The decision to return to port early because of the weather is always the skipper's.
Frequently Asked Questions
What languages is the activity in?
The crew or guide speak Portuguese and English.
What if I get tired halfway?
You climb onto the boat. The support catamaran stays with the group from start to finish — you never paddle back to the starting point, and at the end it picks everyone up. There are always two guides on the water and the group is small, so nobody is left behind unnoticed.
I am bringing children of different ages. Can they all come?
Generally yes, and what decides it is not age alone — it is where each of them sits. Anyone old enough to count as an adult on that departure paddles their own kayak; younger ones go with a responsible adult, who sets the pace, and on departures with double kayaks that is where they ride. There are always guides with the group and a support boat behind, and nobody has to paddle back. The accepted ages change from departure to departure and are in the quick facts on this page — if your case is borderline, tell us when you book and we confirm with the operator before any payment.
Do I need experience for kayak or SUP?
No. The guides give the instructions and the safety briefing before you set off, and the pace is the group’s — beginners manage it fine. What matters more than experience is being comfortable in the water: you wear a life jacket the whole way, and it is the jacket that keeps you afloat. Falling in is possible, and on a SUP board it is likely — what is needed then is to stay calm until the guide reaches you, and a guide is always close. If that worries you, talk to us before booking.
Is a life jacket mandatory?
It is. The life jacket is handed to you at the start and worn throughout the activity — it is not optional, and it does not depend on how well you swim.
When is the best time, and what is worth bringing?
The good season runs from April to October, with warmer water and a calmer sea; outside it, tours still go out whenever conditions allow. As for what to bring, nothing is compulsory — what usually helps is arriving in your swimwear, sunscreen and shoes that can get wet. Leave the towel and dry clothes ashore or in the guide’s dry bag: there is nowhere to put them on a kayak, and even less on a board. In the colder months a thermal top makes a difference.
From €35