Can anyone recommend a boat trip 1-3 hrs departing from anywhere between Carvoeiro and Lagos? We have seen some people with their advertising boards, but the boats look like nothing more than a two man old fishing vessel. I would like to take the kids on a more reliable looking boat ! We are only really bothered about seeing the caves and some of the coastline.

If you want to see the caves in detail, then the small boats from the CVO Town beach are best. It only takes one hour and they will take you out even if they have 2 or three passengers. The boatmen are very capable, believe me, and the boats perfectly OK. Also the price is reasonable. Longer trips are available from Portimao, Lagos & Albufeira. Tend to be better in the morning as the sea is less rough !

Enjoy !

JK - I can thoroughly recommend the 'old fishing vessel' - these boats are small enough to get right inside the caves for a fantastic trip. The 'skippers' are also very skilled and from the ones I have seen they maintain their boats well and have a high safety standerd (It is their livelihood after all). We took our kids (6 and 3) and they loved it - 1 hour is long enough though.

I would just sit on the beach at Carvalho and hail the first boat that comes along looking for business.

You should be able to search and find previous similar topics.

One trip that always seems to be recommended and I've done it more than once is Osiris from Portimao riverside. All-day trip to see dolphinsm whales and caves at Ponte de Piade - includes drinks and BBQ. Normally comes back under sail from Lagos with peaceful music playing - perfect.

Take your swimming gear as you can swim of the boat as well.

If you only want a half day then they do this as well but not sure on what days.

Not cheap but worth it.

Excellent, thanks for the recommendations, I will check them out today.

About how much would one of those 1hr long trips, in a small boat cost for a couple? Thanks

i can definitely recommend the "Osiris" it relly is a fantastic trip. four times and counting

We've just got back from CVO. We took a great boat trip with a fisherman called Fernando - he operates from Marinha Beach. He charged us 45euros (2 adults and 2 kids) the trip was amazing. I've just got photos back and they have brought back great memories.

Enjoy your trip - whatever one you do!

Last year we went on the 'Santa Bernarda' ,the pirate ship from Portimao. A two mast sailing ship. They have different programmes, i.e a caves expedition, caves of Carvoeiro, caves of Lagos. All are great fun and it has a little boat attached that you clamber aboard and enter the caves etc. Really recommend. We loved it. The German owners and Captain and Portugese small boat guide are all very friendly and good fun.

Thanks for the excellent info and recommendations all, we went on one of the traditional boats out of Carvoeiro beach (8 per boat) and had a wonderful trip along the coastline in and out of the caves/caverns for 15 Euros. The sea was calm and there was time for swimming too. It was good that we went in a fairly small boat as it allowed access to all the amazing caves. The boats are all equiped with life jackets and a very capable/experienced skipper.

Does anyone know if you can book the Osiris trip locally?

Do the boat trips stop in the winter months?

Julie