Swimming in or near the Benagil caves is strictly forbidden
Authorities are reminding the public that swimming near or inside the Benagil caves is strictly prohibited following the rescue of two young swimmers who began to struggle in the water this weekend.
The incident occurred late Saturday morning (July 5) near the world-famous caves in Lagoa in an “unmonitored zone where swimming is banned due to heavy boat traffic, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) said in a statement. Luckily for the youngsters, they were spotted by members of the Ferragudo Lifeboat Station and the ‘SeaWatch Project’ during a routine patrol of the area and safely brought ashore to Benagil beach without requiring medical attention.
The case has led to a renewed appeal for swimmers to follow the rules for the area, which strictly forbid swimming in off-limits areas of the sea between Vale da Lapa and Albandeira beach. As AMN points out, the rules are in place due to the high volume of tour boats and private vessels in the area.
Since August 13, 2024, new regulations have been enforced around the Benagil caves to manage the intense flow of visitors and vessels. These include a ban on entering the cave by swimming, the prohibition of disembarking inside the cave, and restrictions on kayak rentals without a licensed guide.
Access to the cave’s sandy interior is now limited to licensed tour operators. Caps have also been introduced for the number of vessels and kayaks allowed inside at any given time, along with time limits for visits and a mandatory guide-to-group ratio for kayak tours.
Thus, authorities continue to advise the public to only swim at designated beaches where lifeguard and emergency services are available.
The rescue comes at a time when the municipal council of Lagoa is leading efforts to tackle overcrowding between Albandeira and Benagil, an area currently blighted by daily traffic jams, illegal parking, unsafe clifftop access, overcrowded beaches, and a rising number of minor accidents.
