A Sunset BBQ Boat Ride Along Portugal’s Algarve Coast
Portugal’s Algarve is known for its stunning coastal beauty. Think dramatic cliffs, sparkling sea and beaches just calling out for you to throw your towel down and soak up the sun. The water is one of the best viewpoints to take in the beautiful shoreline from – basically, if you don’t go out on a boat on the Algarve, you’re doing it wrong.
Being someone who doesn’t like doing things wrong, a boat trip was a non-negotiable in the three days we spent in Albufeira.
Algar Experience are one of plenty of companies along the Algarve offering boat trips along the coast, and we were recommended one by a friend – in particular, the evening Sunset BBQ.
When checking in, we were offered an optional €6 upgrade to have access to the boat’s top deck, restricted to only 12 people. Guaranteed seating, the best views and an included glass of bubbly? Worth it. We befriended some fellow Brits who’d also plumped for the upgrade, taking turns passing up drinks and chatting the boat trip away.
Speaking of drinks…one of the selling points of the Algar Experience Sunset BBQ is that there’s an open bar. Oh yeah. All the sangria or beer you can manage, along with pastries and snacks to keep everyone going until the BBQ itself.
As the sun began to reach setting point, the boat came to a stop a few hundred metres out from a small, beachy cove. The sounds of distant jazz music floated from the shore, and with lifejackets wrapped around our torsos, we began to disembark onto smaller motorboats that would take us to our ‘table’ for the evening.
I actually forgot to request the vegetarian menu, and by the time I’d got to the front of the queue, I was left with some bread, salad and crisps as the only veggie option, so I decided to indulge in some fish (I was playing the flexitarian card pretty fast and loose in Portugal anyway…).
After eating, we had some time to relax on the beach with another open bar as darkness truly fell. As the boat trip hadn’t included any swimming, I took the chance to take a dip into the sea – swimming probably wasn’t the best idea, so I paddled instead, feeling the tide push and pull against my calves, as the sand sucked back from the shore.
The ride back to Albufeira marina was more on the lively side, with the music louder, the bar open (again) and a bottle of fizz making its way around the top deck. Dancing, laughter and conversation floated into the dark Algarve night, with only clusters of lights shining out over the cliffs.
I’m a complete water baby at heart, and there’s something about being on a boat that makes me feel at peace with the world. The whole experience was absolutely wonderful, and something I’d definitely recommend if you’re visiting Albufeira, or the Algarve in general.
