Algarve Tour: Chapel of Bones, Silves Castle & Boneca Cave

A 16th-century chapel built entirely from human bones sits in the heart of Alcantarilha.

This private tour from Albufeira visits three landmarks across the central Algarve: Silves Castle and its medieval fortifications, the Chapel of Bones in Alcantarilha, and Boneca Beach with its sea cave and fossil-rich limestone cliffs. Your guide leads the route in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and pickup from your hotel is included. You set the pace at each stop, moving through the Old Town of Silves, the Municipal Market, and the natural rock formations that erosion carved over millions of years.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Silves Castle1h 30m
2. Silves30m

Explore Silves and Algarve landmarks

• Visit Silves Castle
• Explore Silves Municipal Market
• Walk through Silves Old Town streets
• Visit Chapel of Bones in Alcantarilha
• Enjoy Boneca Beach and Cave views

The experience

Five hours covers four stops across the Algarve's interior and coast. The tour opens in Silves, the former capital, where you walk past the statue of King D. Sancho I at Silves Castle's entrance and explore the medieval fortifications that date to the Christian Reconquest. From there, the Old Town's craft shops and the Municipal Market (busiest on Saturdays with regional fish, seafood and produce) give a picture of daily life in the region. The route then turns inland to Alcantarilha, a small parish in the heart of the Algarve where the Chapel of Bones sits attached to the 16th-century Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

The Chapel of Bones is one of the region's most unusual landmarks. Built in the same style as similar chapels in Évora, Faro and Lagos, it dates to the 16th century and was constructed from human remains: a practice tied to burial customs and space constraints of the era. The chapel is a single, intimate space. Visitors step inside to see the walls and architectural details made from bone. It is the kind of place that stays with you, and the tour gives you time to take it in without rushing.

The day ends at Boneca Beach, where a natural sea cave opens into rock formations shaped by erosion over 24 million years. The limestone cliffs are full of marine fossils, but the landscape itself is the draw: natural pools, openings and balconies carved into the rocks create what feels like a lunar terrain. You can walk inside the Boneca Cave and look out at the sea from within the rock, a vantage point that works well for photos and for simply standing still. An air-conditioned vehicle carries you between stops, and your guide handles the route so you can focus on what you're seeing.

What’s included

• Your private tour includes the air-conditioned vehicle for all four stops.
• hotel pickup from Albufeira.
• and a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese who leads the route and explains each location.

Before you book

Lasts 5h, runs every day at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00, from € 62 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 3

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Enjoy Albufeira Drivers

Is this one for you?The five-hour duration fits a half-day outing without an early start, and the private vehicle means you and your group move together at your own pace rather than waiting for a shared-tour schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What is the Chapel of Bones in Alcantarilha, and why is it built from human remains?

The Chapel of Bones is a 16th-century chapel attached to the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, constructed from human remains as part of burial practices and space management of that era. It follows the same architectural style as similar chapels in Évora, Faro and Lagos, and is one of the most unusual landmarks in the Algarve.

Can I visit Silves Castle on this tour, and what will I see there?

Yes, Silves Castle is the first stop. You'll see the medieval fortifications that date to the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, including the statue of King D. Sancho I at the entrance. The castle sits in Silves, the former capital of the Algarve, and the tour also includes time in the Old Town and at the Municipal Market nearby.

What is Boneca Beach and Boneca Cave like?

Boneca Beach is a set of rock formations in Carvoeiro shaped by erosion into natural pools, caves and openings that look like natural windows and balconies overlooking the sea. The limestone cliffs are over 24 million years old and full of marine fossils. You can walk inside the Boneca Cave and view the sea from within the rock formation.

Is this tour private, and does it include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, this is a private tour with an air-conditioned vehicle. Hotel pickup from Albufeira is included, and your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on your preference.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

The tour involves moderate walking at each stop: through Silves Castle and the Old Town, inside the Chapel of Bones, and around the rock formations at Boneca Beach. The pace is set by you. There is no fixed schedule pushing you through each location.