Can anybody tell me please where we can jump on a boat for a half day or full day trip?

We will be staying in Carvoeiro - anything local?

Any assistance welcomed.

The small boats on the local beach do a very good trip lasting about an hour tides and swell permitting. The smaller beaches such as Albandera operate a taxi service, they pull up to the beach and you jump on. Mike

I can strongly recommend Osiris from Portimao. A whole day trip out to the whales or dolphins then down to Ponte de Piede where you get off loaded into small boats to go into the caves, back to Osiris for a good BBQ cooked on board (sardines, port, salad and free drinks), swim off the boat then sail (yes SAIL) back to Portimao with some very relaxing music.

Not cheap if there is a whole family but I would still recommend it - I've done it more than once and still enjoy it.

The boat is a very old but beautifully maintained traditional Portuguese sailing boat owned by a skipper that cares about his boat's history. It is not a cheap replica.

You can see the boat moored in the evening if you want to see what you would be getting. It's got a white hull with varnished topsides.

We have taken several boat trips along the coast, starting in Portimao. There are several companies operating from the marina/harbour there - from replica 'pirate' type large boats, to deep sea fishing trips etc. We take the half a day trips which go along the coast as far as Armacao, stop for a swim off the boat then back again - drinks available on board. The company that we have used will come and pick you up from Carvoeiro if you need them to - finding the marinha in Portimao can be fun if you are not used to the town ! We have also taken the canoe trip up the river from Portimao to Silves - takes around 1 hour to get there, stop in Silves for lunch, then back again - lovely peaceful trip - dependent on tides as the channel is Very shallow now.

All my contact details are in our villa in CVO, not here in UK but I can get hold of them for you if wanted. The tourist information office in CVO would probably have them as well. One point - usually better to book direct as they will give you a better price than if booked through local hotel etc.

Haven't ever done the boat trips from the beach at CVO as each time we've thought about it the sea has been too rough. When we last asked about this the cost was 15e per head for the hour trip. The trips from Portimao are usually the same price for a half day. Would not recommend any of the long day trips if sea is remotely rough - too much sea sickness !

Too lazy to log in - Alison