Speedboat or Pirate Ship – Speed or the Experience?

Two boats tied up at the Marina de Portimão could hardly be less alike. One is an inflatable with a big outboard that passes more caves in ninety minutes than you can keep track of. The other is a wooden ship with dark sails on which everything happens more slowly, caves included. Both head for the same coast. They deliver two completely different days.

Price and duration

The RIB trip to the Benagil caves and Praia da Marinha costs €12 from Portimão and runs an hour and a half. It holds 4.8 stars from over 13,000 reviews — the most-run trip on this coast. An early-bird budget version starts at €11 for 75 minutes.

The pirate ship cave cruise is €35 for two and a half hours, with 4.7 stars from around 2,800 reviews.

Per hour, the RIB also comes out cheaper: roughly €8 against €14. So the price gap is real and there’s no arguing it away — the question is what the extra €23 buys.

What the speedboat does better

It goes inside. That’s the heart of it. A RIB is small and nimble enough to get through the low entrance into the Benagil cathedral and into several smaller caves along the coast. A larger vessel cannot.

It’s fast. In ninety minutes it covers the ground a sailing ship needs three hours for — and because less of the time goes on transit, more of it is spent at the rocks. If you only have one free morning, this gets you the most.

And it sits low. You’re at water level, you feel every wave, and you come back wet. For many people that’s exactly the appeal.

What the speedboat doesn’t have

No shade. No toilet. No backrest in any normal sense — you sit astride padded benches and hold on to grab handles. No luggage beyond what fits in a dry bag.

And it slams. In any swell the hull drops into the troughs, and that travels up your spine. If you have back or neck problems or you’re pregnant, clear it with the operator before booking and with a doctor if in doubt — most operators explicitly exclude these cases in their terms.

On minimum age: for RIBs in the Algarve it’s frequently six, some operators set four or five, a few set none at all. It isn’t a uniform rule, it’s the operator’s call. Ask specifically before you pay.

What the pirate ship does better

It has everything the RIB lacks. A deck to walk around on, sun and shade to choose between, an indoor space, a toilet, a bar with drinks and snacks. Meals usually aren’t included, but you’re generally allowed to bring your own — with children that’s worth a great deal.

It moves differently. A heavy wooden ship rolls slowly instead of slamming. If you know you turn queasy at sea, you’re usually better off here than on the RIB; what else helps is in seasickness on boat trips. For remedies and dosage, ask a pharmacist or doctor.

And it has a theme. For children between roughly four and ten, “we’re going on a pirate ship” is a completely different sentence from “we’re doing a boat trip”. That’s not a minor factor — it’s often the entire reason.

The catch you should know about

The big ship doesn’t fit into the cave. In the photo above it’s towing two small tenders — those are exactly why. The ship anchors off the coast and guests are taken in by tender in groups, often in rounds, with families and children going first.

That raises two questions worth asking before you book. First: is the tender run into the caves included in the price, or does it cost extra? Second: what happens in swell? Transferring between boats in the open sea is the first thing cancelled when there’s a sea running, and then you’re left with the cruise alone. Reputable operators put this in their terms; if it isn’t mentioned, ask.

The same goes for any tour promising “Benagil”. What is still allowed inside at all since 2024 is covered in our guide to the Benagil cave rules.

How to decide

Take the speedboat if the caves from the inside are the reason you’re going, if you’re short on time, if the children are over six and like speed, or if the budget is tight. It’s the most efficient booking on this coast.

Take the pirate ship if you have small children, if someone in the group needs shade, a seat or a toilet, if delicate stomachs are coming along, or if the afternoon itself is meant to be the experience rather than the mileage covered.

If you’re weighing up more than these two, our overview of which boat type suits you helps, and for families in particular boat trips with kids.

You’ll find all current cave tours from Portimão compared here, along with the calmer catamaran cruises as a third way between the two — sorted by real reviews, not by commission.

One note that applies to both: book the morning. The sea is flatter, the caves are emptier, and the light through the cathedral skylight is better. It costs nothing extra and changes the trip more than the choice of boat does.