Albufeira: Sunset Cruise — Unwind
Highlights
- ✓Capacity limited to 18 people — this is not the boat with hundreds on it
- ✓Welcome drink with sparkling wine, fruit and warm bites
- ✓Canapés and mini cheeseburgers during the cruise
- ✓Fig cake, Algarve platter and fig brandy on the way back
- ✓Arrifes, São Rafael and the Albufeira caves facing into the sun
About this activity
Sunset on an 18-seat catamaran out of Albufeira, with sparkling wine on arrival and three Algarve tasting moments included in the ticket.
You leave Marina de Albufeira in the late afternoon on a premium small-group boat. West of the marina lie São Rafael and Castelo — tall red cliffs facing straight into the setting sun, which is the hour that rock was made for.
There are 18 seats, and that is what changes everything: room to sit without elbows beside you, and the food is not a little bag — it is sparkling wine on arrival, canapés and mini cheeseburgers halfway, and fig cake with brandy on the way back. All already in the ticket.
Itinerary
- 1Check-in at the operator's desk, 30 minutes before departure
- 2Boarding at Marina de Albufeira — you take your shoes off before stepping on, and flip-flops are handed out on board
- 3Welcome drink as the boat leaves the marina
- 4West along the coast — Arrifes, São Rafael and the Albufeira caves
- 5Tasting of traditional Algarve produce as the sun goes down
- 6Back to Marina de Albufeira
What's included
- ✓A 2.5-hour catamaran cruise, with capacity limited to 18 people
- ✓Welcome drink — sparkling wine, fresh orange juice and water, with fruit skewers, mini salt-cod cakes and mini alheira sausage balls
- ✓During the cruise — mini cheeseburgers, mini wrap canapés and a selection of premium cold canapés
- ✓On the way back — slices of fig cake, a miniature Algarve platter, premium cold canapés and fig brandy
- ✓Vegetarian options
- ✓The coast of Arrifes, São Rafael and the Albufeira caves
- ✓A dedicated crew
- ✓Onboard flip-flops
- ✓Life jackets
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
- A light jacket — it cools down at sea late in the day
- A camera
Not recommended for
For safety reasons, there is no landing and no swimming inside the caves.
Cancellation policy
Full refund up to 12 hours before for bookings of up to 9 people, and up to 24 hours before for bookings of 10 or more.
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 catamaran has a bar on board that takes card payments and two toilets, and sails under canvas whenever conditions allow. Towels can be rented at check-in against a deposit. The activity is free for children under 2 years old.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get wet?
On a catamaran, normally not. You will get wet if you go in at the swim stop, where there is one.
What languages is the activity in?
The crew or guide speak Portuguese and English.
Do we actually get to see the sun go into the sea?
Honestly: not in summer. The Algarve coast faces south and the sunset point swings with the season — in June the sun sets to the north-west, some 35 to 45 degrees beyond the point where the land runs out, which is Cape St Vincent. So it goes down over the western coast and the hills, not over the water. What you do see is the whole sea lit up ahead of the boat and the light shifting on the cliffs, which is the photograph people take home. The sun touching the sea horizon is a winter thing, from late October to March. And the sky is not to order: with low cloud it fades earlier.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Bringing your own food or drink on board is not allowed, with the exception of food for small children. Boats with a bar sell drinks and snacks, and trips with a meal included bring everything you need.
Will we see dolphins?
This is not a dolphin-watching trip: the route follows the coast and the caves. Dolphins do turn up now and then, and when they do the boat slows down — but that is not what the trip goes looking for. For that we have dedicated dolphin trips, with their own route.
Are there life jackets on board?
Yes, for adults and children, and the crew shows you where they are before departure. Wearing one at all times is only mandatory on the boats and routes where the law requires it — you are told at boarding.
Pregnancy, back trouble, a wheelchair or a pushchair — is it possible?
Nearly always, and the right answer is given before you book, not on the quay. As a rule a pregnant passenger can go, with the final word resting with the skipper depending on the sea that day. Anyone with a sensitive back will feel the impact far more on a small fast boat than on a catamaran, which is stable and has proper seating. For a wheelchair or a pushchair, some boats have a boarding ramp and on others boarding requires you to be steady on your feet, and the toilets on board may not be adapted. Tell us the specifics and the date you want: we confirm with the operator which departure works, and only then do you pay.
What happens in bad weather?
The decision to sail is always the skipper’s, for safety. If a departure is cancelled because of the sea or the weather, you choose: a new date or a full refund — the booking is not lost.
Can I bring my pet on board?
As a rule no, with the exception of guide dogs with proper documentation. Some operators will consider it case by case — if you want to bring yours, tell us before booking and we will check with the boat operator.
Can I bring a backpack?
You can, as long as it fits on your lap. Bring only the essentials.
What if someone feels unwell on board?
Every operator follows safety protocols and has maritime support. If it happens, tell the crew straight away — that is what they are there for.
From €80