13/08/2024
FYI...
ALGARVE’S BENAGIL CAVES WITH NEW ACCESS RULES STARTING TODAY
Lagoa, Faro, 13 Aug 2024 (Lusa) – The Benagil Caves, in the municipality of Lagoa, in the Algarve, have new access rules as of today, which include the prohibition of disembarking and swimming access to their interior.
The new measures, which aim to regulate the traffic of maritime-tourist vessels, private individuals and beach users, both in the water and in the vicinity of the Benagil cave and sinkhole, were published in an official notice on July 30.
It is now forbidden for individuals and companies to disembark or use the sand inside the Benagil cave, access to the caves by swimming or with flotation devices, and the rental of kayaks without a guide in the cave area.
There are also limits on the number of boats and kayaks inside the cave, maximum times for visits and a ratio of one guide kayak for every six kayaks with visitors for kayak tours in the area.
There are also provisions for administrative offences (fines), which in the most serious cases can reach up to 216,000 euros, for operators of maritime-tourist vessels who do not comply with the rules set out in the notice.
Located off Benagil beach, the caves are considered to be a relevant natural heritage site and one of the main tourist attractions in the Algarve, which, in the summer, has attracted the interest of more and more visitors, especially by sea.
The notice, which comes into force 10 working days after its publication, resulted from the work developed by the Benagil Caves Working Group, formed in August 2023.