Best ways to explore Ponta da Piedade in Lagos

Ponta da Piedade is a must-see coastal peninsula on Portugal’s southern Algarve coastline. At this imposing natural landmark near Lagos, vibrant orange cliffs rise from the ocean in a dramatic, craggy fashion, creating hidden beaches, caves and grottos, arches, and even rocky animal shapes. Exploring this area is probably the number one thing to do while you’re in or around the western end of the Algarve, and below I’ve highlighted a few ways to do it:

• Easy hike along a clifftop boardwalk
• Aim for a beach and pack your swimsuit
• Kayak or SUP around the peninsula
• Join a small boat tour to see the cliffs, or cruise around on a yacht or sailboat

How to see Ponta da Piedade from the land: Walk the clifftop boardwalk 

There has always been a trail along the clifftop of Ponta da Piedade peninsula, linking hidden beaches between Lagos town and Praia do Porto de Mós. Somewhat recently, the city has built a structured wooden boardwalk – with little huts and detours – around the point, making it easy (and safe) to explore.

But, as I made my way out to the little huts at the end of various walkways, I found myself struggling to see down to the amazing craggy orange cliffs and the weird and wonderful natural formations that nature has created. The views were better when it was more dangerous! 

Honestly, the short hike around the top is still worth your time – and it’s particularly dreamy at sunset – but I 100% believe the best way to truly see Ponta da Piedade is from the sea. For the best view from the boardwalk, follow the staircase down towards this grotto, where little boats offer tours of the cliffs. Apparently, fishermen used to shelter in the calm seas there, until at some point they started running tours as well, though these days most tours leave from Lagos Marina.

Best beaches along Ponta da Piedade

Lagos has some of the Algarve’s most beautiful beaches, all just a short walk or drive from town. Around the peninsula, the best-known would be Praia do Camilo, which is the final accessible beach before the cliffs get a bit wild. I’ve heard you can hike down to a few of the coves, but do so at your own risk (and in sneakers, not flip flops).

Read my guide to the best beaches around Lagos and Ponta da Piedade

How to see Ponta da Piedade from the sea: Kayak, SUP or boat

In my opinion, if you’re in Lagos, then you must see Ponta da Piedade from the sea. This is honestly the best way to appreciate this incredible wild landscape. You can explore by boat or kayak – we went for a combo of both, and I really loved the top-rated tour we chose.

Which Ponta da Piedade tour is best for you?

From my experience, if you have any level of fitness, kayaking is a great option to explore. Our kayaking tour had just over an hour of kayaking, but if you want more, go for this more hardcore 2-hour kayaking tour. If you love to SUP, this sunrise tour looks cool too.

Of course, if you don’t like to kayak or have younger kids, I’d opt for a small boat tour. Emphasis on small – if you go for a larger boat, you won’t be able to cruise into the caves (though some tours do a combo as well). I’ve listed my top options for boats further below.

We did this boat-kayak tour (and I’d book it again)

I’d seen a couple of Ponta da Piedade tours that were a combination of a boat ride and kayaking. Given that my partner Jorge and I are not active kayakers, we thought this two-hour caves tour would be the best option.

We set off early – I wanted to be first out on the water, and I know that the eastern side of Ponta da Piedade is best before the afternoon (when it will be in shadow). This eastern side is also where you’ll see most of the more iconic cliffs, rock shapes, coves, grottos and caves. 

We arrived at the Lagos Marina and boarded a catamaran loaded with kayaks and a fun crew of five young guys. For the first part, you just chill out and the boat sails along the gorgeous coastline past Lagos old town towards Ponta da Piedade.

Once you get close to cool parts of the cliffs, those five guys spring into action – you jump in the kayak on the boat and they slide you into the water. For the next 75 minutes, your small group will follow a funny guide paddling through narrow passages, under arches and into unique caves formed by waves. Good, active fun.

When you reach the western edge of the peninsula, the boat reappears, and the crew literally pull your kayak back up the ramp onto the catamaran. Unless you purposefully capsize, you won’t touch the water. Princess treatment! That makes this tour with Days of Adventure one I can recommend to do year-round.

Once on board again, we had some free time – maybe 15 minutes – to jump off the boat, swim or sunbake on the top deck before the boat turned around and cruised back to the marina. The whole experience was a 10/10 and one I’d repeat in a heartbeat.

• This is the 2-hour kayak-boat experience we did, which involved about 75 minutes of kayaking. If it’s booked out, this kayak-boat tour with Blue Fleet is similar.
• If you want more kayaking, I’d suggest this 2-hour pure kayaking tour, setting off from Batata Beach in Lagos. Or if you’re staying near Porto de Mós beach, this kayaking tour paddles from there to Praia do Camilo before towing you back to the start.
• Or, if you like to SUP, this sunrise SUP tour would be really cool.

Boat tours around Ponta da Piedade

There’s no shortage of boat tours to take from Lagos. While kayaking, I noticed a handful of large sailboats cruising along the coast, and while it might be more charming to kick back on a big boat with a glass of wine instead of putting along in a small metal dinghy, if you really want to explore the landscape, I say go small for your first visit. Once you’ve done that, go ahead and book the dreamy sunset yacht tour.

To explore the caves and grottos of Ponta da Piedade

I recommend that first-time visitors book one of these short and small boat tours:

• 75-minute Ponta da Piedade small boat with Days of Adventure
• 75-minute Ponta da Piedade small boat with Blue Fleet
• 75-minute Ponta da Piedade small boat with Lagos Grotto Trips
• 75-minute Ponta da Piedade small boat with Happy Time

If you’d prefer a longer boat journey, check out these tours that take you out on a big vessel and switch you onto small boats for the caves part. That gives you time to swim off the deck and chill out on the water, too.

• Happy Time offers a big-small-boat combo tour where you’ll cruise along the coast, switch to a small boat to dip into the grottoes, and then enjoy a refreshing swim or play on the aqua trampoline (includes a drink!).
• Or Bom Dia has a traditional sailboat tour that drops anchor so you can switch to a small boat to explore the grottos and jump in the ocean.

Other boat tours in Lagos

Otherwise, you may want to sail up and down the coast listening to music and knocking back a few wines, or perhaps the idea of a yacht at sunset sparks your interest, or maybe a dolphin-watching cruise calls. Take a look at your options below:

• 3-hour Boat Cruise from Lagos – this is with Days of Adventure, who run the kayak tour I love. It’s a great price, so I’d probably do this next time!
• Ponta da Piedade Half-Day Yacht Cruise
• Ponta da Piedade Sunset Boat Tour (small boat)
• Sunset Catamaran Cruise (luxe boat)
• Dolphin Watching Boat Trip w/ Marine Biologists
• Lunch cruise to Burgau (with peri-peri chicken feast)
• Booze Cruise (All-you-can-drink – need I say more?)

Or go private:

• Private Ponta da Piedade Sunset Cruise
• Private Boat Charter in Lagos
• Private Sailing Tour Charter Lagos

What tour would I do next time?

I would definitely repeat the kayak tour we did, as it offered a nice balance of boat and active adventure. Next time I’ll jump on one of the little 75-minute metal dinghy tours again – it’s so nice to see the landscape from the water, and they are a cheap way to explore.

If I have half a day, I might join this yacht cruise around the coast as it’s well priced and with the company that runs the kayak tour I really loved. But if I had a group of friends (or a big family), I’d book a private charter between us.

Boat tours to Benagil Cave from Lagos Marina

Benagil Cave is the Algarve’s icon – it’s a cave with a beach inside and a hole in the roof – and you enter by boat or kayak. Given that it’s so famous, I thought I’d mention it briefly here too.

While you used to be able to land on the beach and explore, now strict safety rules apply, and there’s little time to linger. Given that, I suggest skipping it if you’re short on time – the cliffs around Ponta da Piedade are just as beautiful, and, while they’re not a hidden surprise, they aren’t yet plagued by the overtourism hitting Benagil.

That said, if you wish to visit the caves from Lagos, you could either drive to a closer port or jump on a high-speed boat. Here are your options from Lagos Marina:

• Benagil Caves Speedboat Adventure, organised by Days of Adventure, who run the kayak tour I love. The guides are great!
• Dolphin & Benagil Tour with Marine Biologist – great idea to go dolphin watching on the journey to the cave!
• Or book a private charter with Blue Fleet and have your own speedboat.

Practical tips for visiting Ponta da Piedade

Before you set off, here are a few useful things to know to make your visit smooth.

How to get there

From Lagos town: It’s about a 30-40 minute walk from the old town to the cliffs, or 10 minutes by car or taxi. 

Parking: There’s a free but often busy car park right by the lighthouse. In summer, it fills up quickly, so arrive early or late in the day.

➼ Wish someone could shortcut your Portugal research? ➼ Talk to me – I offer 1:1 video calls to help cut through the noise and plan your perfect Portugal itinerary. Find out more here.

Best time to go

Morning: Calm seas and the best light on the eastern cliffs, where the majority of the sights are. Ideal for kayaking or SUP adventures.

Sunset: Gorgeous from the boardwalk above – especially near the staircase to the grotto I mentioned.

Season: Boat and kayak tours run year-round, but seas can be rough in winter and cancellations are common. May-October is the most reliable period. Not all companies will operate year-round.

What to bring

• Swimwear and towel (if you’re planning to swim)
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• Reusable water bottle
• Dry bag or waterproof pouch for phone/camera (especially if doing a kayak or SUP tour)
• Light shoes you don’t mind getting wet (for kayaks/SUP)
• Warm layers for sunset or evening cruises

Costs (approximate)

• Boardwalk: Free
• Small-boat grotto tour: €20-25
• Kayak or SUP tour: €35–50
• Half-day yacht or catamaran cruise: €30–80
• Private charters: From around €400+, depending on boat size and duration

Booking tips

• In summer peak season (June–September), book at least a few days in advance to get the tour and time you want.
• Outside high season, you can often book the day before or even walk up at Lagos Marina.
• Smaller boats sell out fastest because they’re limited to just a handful of passengers.

Accessibility

• The wooden clifftop boardwalk is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
• Small boats, yachts and catamarans are easier for families or less mobile travellers.

That’s my ideas for how to explore Ponta da Piedade in Lagos, Algarve. If you found this useful, I’d love to hear how you chose to explore in the comments below!…

Are you planning to visit the Algarve soon? Beyond the best beaches in Lagos, don’t miss my 7-day Algarve itinerary, and tried-and-tested Algarve restaurant guide.

Read next… 

• Itinerary: My ideal 7-day Algarve road trip
• 14 best things to do and see in the Algarve
• Where to eat in the Algarve
• My favourite towns in the Eastern Algarve
• What to eat in the Algarve
• Best tile painting workshops in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve
• 22 most beautiful castles in Portugal
• 16 most beautiful villages and small towns in Portugal
• The average person’s guide to A-list Comporta: Portugal’s luxe beach town
• Guide to autumn in Portugal: Where to go, things to do & more