Algar de Benagil, Natural sea cave in Lagoa, Portugal
This formation features two sea-level openings and a circular aperture in its domed roof that admits daylight into the interior chamber, illuminating the sandy floor below while the walls display patterns created by erosion processes.
Marine erosion carved this limestone formation over millennia, with wave action and tidal forces gradually wearing away softer rock layers to create the current hollow structure and its characteristic roof opening.
Fishermen from Benagil have worked the waters surrounding this formation for generations, developing intimate knowledge of tidal patterns and currents that shape their fishing methods and route planning along this coastal stretch.
Visitors reach this site exclusively by boat or kayak from Praia de Benagil, with tours running throughout the day and calm sea conditions between May and September offering the most suitable visiting conditions.
During low tide periods, an exposed sandy area at the base becomes accessible, permitting visitors to position themselves directly beneath the circular skylight that creates varying lighting effects inside depending on sun position.
Location: Lagoa
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
GPS coordinates: 37.08720,-8.42372
Latest update: November 27, 2025 20:36
From Ireland's 214-meter Cliffs of Moher to China's vertical peaks in Zhangjiajie, these natural formations mark Earth's most notable vertical landscapes. The collection spans coastal features like Dover's white chalk cliffs and inland monuments such as Yosemite's El Capitan. Notable sites include Norway's Preikestolen, Hawaii's Kalaupapa cliffs reaching 1,010 meters, and Pakistan's Trango Towers, the world's highest vertical cliffs.
This collection leads to places that remain outside standard tourist circuits. The selection includes natural landscapes and cultural sites that receive limited attention from international visitors. From the salt flats of Bolivia to ancient ruins in Turkish mountain terrain and the ice formations of Lake Baikal, the collection provides access to less frequented regions. Natural phenomena include the Benagil Cave along Portugal's Algarve coast, the Great Blue Hole off Belize, and the sandstone formations of The Wave in Arizona. Cultural sites such as Quinta da Regaleira near Lisbon, the abandoned nitrate town of Humberstone in Chile, and the fortified Berber village of Ait Benhaddou in Morocco show historical building methods and past ways of life. The Meteora monasteries in Greece and the Waitomo glowworm caves in New Zealand demonstrate the connection between human settlement and natural environment. The locations span all continents and climate zones. They range from tropical regions like the turquoise river at Hinatuan in the Philippines, through temperate zones like the Cinchado rock formation on Tenerife, to remote areas such as Pangong Lake in Indian Ladakh and the limestone pinnacles of Tsingy de Bemaraha in Madagascar. The collection allows travelers to experience regional characteristics without commercial tourism infrastructure.
The inland Algarve contains nature reserves, medieval castles, and Roman ruins. The region includes thermal springs in Monchique, the red sandstone castle of Silves, and the bone chapel in Faro. Natural parks like Ria Formosa host multiple bird species. Historical villages, coastal fortresses, and lighthouses mark the landscape.
The Algarve region offers diverse photo opportunities from coastal formations to historical structures. The Benagil cave displays a natural ceiling opening, while Ponta da Piedade presents limestone cliffs by the Atlantic. The red sandstone Castle of Silves stands on a hill, and Capela dos Ossos shows architectural elements made of bones. The region includes beaches like Praia da Marinha with rock formations, and natural areas such as Ria Formosa with its water channels and wildlife. Historical sites include the Sagres Fortress and Roman ruins at Cerro da Villa.
Praia da Marinha
1.1 km
Benagil
190 m
Algar Seco
3.8 km
Praia do Carvalho
758 m
Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha
3.5 km
Praia de Vale Centianes
2.9 km
Passadiço de Carvoeiro
4 km
Route of the Seven Hanging Valleys
988 m
Praia da Senhora da Rocha
3.3 km
Albandeira Beach
2.1 km
Alfanzina Lighthouse
1.7 km
Capela de Nossa Senhora da Rocha
3.4 km
Fort of Our Lady of the Incarnation
4.3 km
Praia Nova
3.3 km
Praia do Vale Covo
3.3 km
Arco da Albandeira
2.1 km
A Boneca
3.8 km
Miradouro do Vale Suspenso
2.3 km
Praia da Corredoura
191 m
Praia da Malhada do Baraço
1.5 km
Praia do Vale Espinhaço
1.5 km
Praia do Pontal
2.9 km
Praia do Barranco
3 km
Praia da Cova Redonda
4 km
Praia das Escaleiras
3.7 km
Praia das Fontaínhas
2.6 km
Praia da Ponta da Adega
3.7 km
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