Kayak Algarve - Secret Algarve — Attraction in Lagoa

We booked kayak tour with this company because of the good rating, and we thought we can go on the shores as well as the one inside the cave with kayak as it was advertised, but we weren't allowed to and had a bad experience.

We arrive 10 minutes before the tour per requested and got ready to start the tour on time. But we were put together with a large group (approx. 15 people) that arrived late and had to wait at least 30 minutes for them to get ready. We were promised at the reception that we would get the 3 person kayak and a waterproof bag per kayak. When we got to the beach, they don't have the 3 people kayak anymore so we were split into single kayak and a double kayak and given no extra water proof bag, so the person on the single kayak couldn't take pictures at all because everything is in 1 waterproof bag. The (female) guide also dragged our single kayak guy into a wave soaking his glasses smearing them with the salt water with nothing to clean them with making entire start almost impossible to see. Thankfully the other guide (male) had some wipes to clean them off when we arrived to the cave. We had 2 guides, but the second one (male) left after 30 minutes with a group that couldn't continue and came back eventually. The guide (female) that stayed only cared about the large group, leaving us behind the entire tour. She was very rude and seemed irritated any time we interacted with her. After we came back to the beach we were waiting in a line to return the kayaks and a boat decided to drive directly in front of me and the kayaks leaving the beach. The guy yelled at me to back up while I stuck by waves he caused and nearly crashed into me. When we returned the kayaks we were singled out and asked to return the waterproof bags immediately for the next group; our phones and belongings got wet because we just got out of the water. They also forgot the person in the single kayak in the water and the (female) guide left without him. After the tour, we were all lined up and waiting for shower, this staff (male not one of our guides) started spraying everyone with the water hose, soaking all of our towels and clothes in our hands. The cave and the cliff itself were the only good parts about the tour, the company and the guide was not good at all, and they charge more than most companies around. The changing room was really cramped and the toilet...

First, my tour was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday because of low tide, with only a 30 minute notice (tides are predicable) via email before the tour was to start. I arrived to the company not realizing it had been canceled, so that was a waste of about an hour of my morning. I rescheduled to Sunday; all of the Sunday times were consolidated into a single session. The tour was supposed to run from 11:30 to 1330 and we were asked to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before 11:30, presumably so we could have our gear ready and depart on time. We waited on the beach, as a group, in the rain and cold while the guides moved all the kayaks from the parking lot into the water. They gathered us in a cave specifically stated as dangerous with a fine to enter to give us a short briefing. They only provided a paddle and a lifejacket, no dry suit or other protective clothing for the chilly March temperatures. It was 1200 before we were actually in the water. There were approximately 20 kayakers in rough waters with only two guides on the water with us. One woman never went out on the kayak because of the risks, and two others in addition to me decided to go back once we were on the water. The guides provided minimal instruction and communication, especially considering the rough seas. It was dangerous, uncomfortable, and bordering on incompetent. Because the waters were so rough… Anywhere from 1 to 2 meters high, we were unable to navigate into Benagil Cave to actually see the top. Out of frustration, discomfort and fear, my two person kayak partner and I opted to paddle back to the shore, where we capsized upon arrival to the beach. I’m sure this would be a lovely tour in calm seas, but there is nothing about Secret Algarve that I would recommend. Find a safer company willing to invest in...

The review on Google map was so high that I didn’t even research further and wish I did.

I signed up for the 8am tour on Monday and was told the waves were too high and placed on a midday tour the day before and it was SO crowded. This is only end of April. There were many other kayak tour groups and motor boats of various sizes all getting in and out of the caves we were trying to go into. I wish I went with a different operator on Airbnb who was willing to take me out at 7am on Monday. It would have made a much more pleasant cave kayaking experience.

because of the size of the group - over a dozen kayaks - we were always waiting for them to catch up. I’d have gone with an operator with smaller sizes so you are more nimble. Many people on this tour never even kayaked.

a child almost blinded me with his paddle in the cave because it’s not that easy for complete beginners to get in and out of the cave and the entrances are narrow and we were all too close together.

we stopped mysteriously for a “rest break” people were offered a chance to swim but no one did. We just baked in the sun.

the echo cave was very cool. I wish I went with a smaller group and saw more caves instead of waiting around and taking rest breaks

their operation seemed fairly disorganized. I had to proactively ask where are we meeting. What time is kayak launch. The guide for the Portuguese group was very snarky.

Yeah honestly can’t recommend this....