Private Sailing Tour Portimão: Swim at Ponta de Arens

Sail the Algarve coast with locals who know which anchorages suit the day

A private sailing tour from Marina de Portimão led by locals with deep coast knowledge, lasting three hours and routing through Ferragudo, Praia da Rocha and Ponta de Arens based on weather and your interests. You swim in the sea, relax on deck, and can help crew the boat by trimming sails and helming. The boat moors at Ponta de Arens for views, swimming and Portuguese white wine.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private sailing tour along Algarve coast

• Start at Marina de Portimão
• Sail to Ferragudo fishing village
• Visit Praia da Rocha beach
• Sail past Praia do Alemão
• Stop at Ponta de Arens for views and swim
• Enjoy Portuguese white wine on board
• Optionally sail to Alvor
• Relax or help crew with sailing

The experience

Three hours on the water means the route shifts with the conditions and what appeals to you. Your guide, a local sailor, reads the weather and your mood, then chooses between Ferragudo's fishing village and big beach, Praia da Rocha's three-kilometre stretch of sand and rock formations carved over millennia, or Ponta de Arens, where limestone cliffs millions of years old rise from clear water and small rocks shelter seabirds. The boat leaves Marina de Portimão, which sits at the mouth of the Arade river in one of Portugal's safest harbours, framed by two historic forts.

Once at sea, you swim whenever the water calls you, or stay on deck and watch the coast. If you want to be part of the crew, the guide teaches you to trim the sails and helm the boat, no experience needed. The boat moors at Ponta de Arens so you can take in the views, swim again, and drink a glass of Portuguese white wine. Coca-Cola, water and beer are on board too.

The guide speaks English, Spanish or French, and the boat is built for sailing rather than just motoring, so you feel the difference between a tour and an actual passage under canvas.

What’s included

• Coca-Cola, water, wine and beer.
• a local guide fluent in English, Spanish or French.
• the choice to swim at sea or relax on deck.
• the option to help crew the boat by trimming sails and helming.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by WTT Sailing

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to actively sail the boat yourself (trim sails and helm) rather than simply relax on deck while the crew handles everything.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Ponta de Arens like when the boat moors there?

Ponta de Arens is a limestone headland where rocks millions of years old have been sculpted by rain, sea and wind into unique shapes. Small rocks emerge from the clear water and serve as refuge for birds. You swim there, rest on deck and drink wine while taking in the views.

Can I help sail the boat, or do I just sit and watch?

You can choose. If you want to be part of the crew, the guide teaches you to trim the sails and helm the boat. If you prefer to relax, you stay on deck or swim.

How does the guide decide which beaches to visit?

The guide reads the weather conditions and your own interests, then chooses the best places to visit and moor the boat for the day. This means the route is different each time.

What beaches might we visit besides Ponta de Arens?

Ferragudo is a fishing village on the Arade river with Praia Grande, a big beach suited to water sports. Praia da Rocha stretches three kilometres and is broken by rock formations the sea has carved over thousands of years. Alvor is also a possibility depending on conditions.