Lagos coastal tour: Ponta da Piedade caves and Ferragudo village

Seven to nine hours tracing the coast from cliff-top chapels to hidden cave entrances

A private full-day coastal tour of Lagos and the surrounding Algarve, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle, stopping at the Chapel of Senhora da Rocha, Ferragudo village, Fort of Santa Catarina, and the historic center of Lagos. The optional boat trip to Ponta da Piedade caves costs €25 per adult and €13 per child. Lunch is not included but free time in Lagos allows you to eat at one of the local restaurants before a guided walk through the old town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Algarve Coast and Lagos

• Visit Chapel of Senhora da Rocha
• Walk cobbled streets of Ferragudo village
• View from Our Lady of Conception church
• Descend to Angrinha Beach
• Visit Fort of Santa Catarina at Praia da Rocha
• Optional boat trip to Ponta da Piedade caves
• Visit Lagos Municipal Market and viewpoint
• Free time for walk and lunch in Lagos
• Guided walking tour of Lagos historic center
• Visit Arch of Saint Gonçalo and statue
• Brief visit to Praia do Pinhão and Ponta da Piedade

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and heads to the Chapel of Senhora da Rocha, built on a cliff overlooking the coast. The chapel sits on the site of a 15th-century fortress that once guarded the entire coastline between Faro and Lagos before the 1755 earthquake destroyed it. From there you move west to Ferragudo, a traditional fishing village that overlooks the Portimão estuary, where you walk the cobbled streets and climb to the viewpoint at the Church of Our Lady of Conception for photographs of the Arade River and the city below.

Continuing east, the tour stops at Fort of Santa Catarina to look out over the river mouth and Praia da Rocha beach: a good place to pause for a drink before heading to Lagos. Once there, you have the choice of a one-hour-fifteen-minute boat trip through the caves and rock formations of Ponta da Piedade (optional, €25 adults / €13 children), then free time to walk the Lagos Municipal Market and its viewpoint overlooking the marina, or to find lunch at one of the local restaurants. The meeting point afterward is the Statue of D. Sebastião at Praça Gil Eanes.

The guided walk through Lagos's historic center covers the Slave Market (the first in Europe), the 18th-century Santo António Church, the Arch of Saint Gonçalo at the gateway to Old Town, and the small fort of Ponta da Bandeira. You also pass Praia do Pinhão and see the lighthouse and cliffs at Ponta da Piedade from above. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, depending on your preference. Children from age 5 are welcome, and the vehicle is air-conditioned with WiFi on board and bottled water provided.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• a guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• entry to the Chapel of Senhora da Rocha, Ferragudo village, Fort of Santa Catarina, and the historic center of Lagos with a guided walk.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Johnny´s Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see the caves from the water on the optional boat trip rather than from the clifftop viewpoints at Fort Santa Catarina and Chapel Sra. da Rocha.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the Chapel of Senhora da Rocha and why is it on this tour?

The Chapel of Senhora da Rocha sits on a cliff overlooking the Algarve coast and was built on the site of a 15th-century fortress that protected the coastline between Faro and Lagos. The fortress was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, but the chapel remains and offers views of the rock formations and coast below.

Is the boat trip to Ponta da Piedade included in the price?

The boat trip to Ponta da Piedade is optional and costs €25 per adult and €13 per child. It lasts one hour and fifteen minutes and takes you through the caves and rock formations. You can choose to skip it and spend the time in the Lagos Municipal Market or exploring the town instead.

How much free time do I have in Lagos for lunch?

The itinerary includes free time in Lagos for lunch after the optional boat trip and visit to the Municipal Market. Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the town has authentic restaurants throughout the historic center and along the waterfront.

What is the Slave Market in Lagos and what will I see there?

The Slave Market in Lagos was the first slave market in Europe and is a historic site in the old town. The guided walk passes by it as part of the tour through the center, along with the 18th-century Santo António Church and other landmarks of the old town.

Does the tour include pickup from my accommodation?

Yes, the tour includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel, apartment or villa. The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi and bottled water.