HIRING BOATS
If you want to hire a sit-on-top kayak, inflatable or SUP by the day or week, Decathlon have many branches throughout the Algarve. Also paddles, wetsuits, pumps etc.
Western Algarve kayak hire: sit-on-top kayaks can be hired from http://www.paddle-fun.com/, and various beach operators.
Central Algarve kayak hire: São Rafael beach Albufeira for sit-on-tops.
However hiring a craft without a guide is prohibited in the Benagil area, and beach operators will be more expensive than Decathlon for a long trip.
“Real” sea kayaks can be rented from Sea Kayak Sagres to the suitably qualified and competent. If you don’t have the qualifications, take one of their tours instead. The equipment is high quality – in the picture my friend is paddling a Valley Sirona with a Celtic paddle.
SUP hire: the kayak businesses above also hire SUPs, as do surf shops (eg Jah Shaka in Lagos), and beach operators like the Watersports Hut at Praia da Luz. Search online, check local beaches and surf shops as the businesses come and go every year.
The photo to the left shows the Roman Bridge by Praia dos Estudantes, Lagos. SUP heaven.
TOURS WITH GUIDES – WEST TO EAST
Sea Kayaking Sagres do excellent tours of the wild SW coast of Europe. I have been out with them twice and recommend them for being safe, experienced and have good quality equipment, so ideal for experienced paddlers as well as beginners.
KT adventures have popular beginner-friendly tours leaving Lagos every half hour in summer. They use double sit-on-tops and escort you through the arches and caves between Lagos and Ponta da Piedade, then after rounding the headland you get towed back by a motor boat. They usually run from April to October.
Shorter kayak and SUP tours are available from the boats that leave from Lagos marina. Companies like Days of Adventure take you out on a big catamaran past the sights of Lagos, and when you get to the cliffs they anchor, get out the double sit-on-tops and send you off under the arches and into the caves. Good if you don’t have the stamina for kayaking all the way, or if you have a non-kayaker in your party, who can stay on the boat or swim.
Lagos Boat Charter do trips on smaller motorboats which include paddle boarding and snorkelling.
For a dedicated SUP trip, I have heard multiple recommendations for David at Nowhere2farSUP https://www.nowhere2far.com/sup-tours both as a guide and for instruction/confidence building, including peaceful early morning SUP paddles from Lagos.
SUP guides in the Alvor/Portimao area include http://www.honuhele-academy.com/ and https://www.alvorpaddletours.com/ .
Heading east, Benagil heaves with guided tours all summer – either kayaks from the beach or take a motorboat from Portimão or Lagos and swap to kayaks just to get in to the caves. Fernando from http://www.benagilkayaks.com/ is a recommended guide, although the inflatables that they use aren’t as good as hardshell sea kayaks.
Moving on towards Central Algarve, try https://albufeirasurfsup.com/ who do kayak and SUP tours, SUP rental and Coasteering (swimming under arches, jumping off rocks. exploring the coast that way). We have met them at The Swallow’s Nest Beach, Albufeira.
The Ria Formosa is a hotspot for kayak and SUP tours, though I don’t have personal experience of any of them. They stick to the inland lagoon rather than going out in the surf. You can sign up at the booths by Faro Harbour or online.
ANOTHER OPTION…
Finally, me! I don’t do commercial guiding but I am a U.K. qualified Sea Kayak Leader. I live in Lagos where I rent out three properties:
- Rondor– two bedrooms, in the old town, by the central restaurants and bars but in a quiet pedestrian cobbled alley.
- Villa Afrique four bedroomed townhouse with swimming pool and games room.
- A pequena fábrica luxury one bedroom development with pool.
Although I give no guarantees as I might not be in town, I would like my properties to be rented by enthusiastic kayakers rather than random folk, so if you are interested in renting one of these properties, which would be done through the agency Algarve Retreats, drop me a line info@seakayakalgarve.com and we might be able to meet up and go for a paddle together. If you don’t have your own craft, I have one seat spare in my double inflatable, and possibly other options as well.