- Official website
- algarvecharters.com
The blue speedboat Matrix for a 2.5-hour caves and dolphins trip, plus the catamaran Mara and the yacht Finismar for shared or private charters from Marina de Albufeira.
Who Algarve Charters are and what they run
Algarve Charters is a family boat business based at Marina de Albufeira. Its website says it has been running trips since 1982, which makes it one of the longest-standing names in the harbour. Check-in is at the operator's own office in the marina, and the site works in English, Portuguese, German, French and Spanish. We are an independent guide and do not sell tickets; what follows is from the operator's site and the live listings when we checked in August 2026.
The fleet is three boats with three different jobs. Matrix is the blue powerboat, one of the three colour-coded speedboats people photograph from the pontoon, alongside the yellow Dreamer and the orange X-Ride. Mara is a catamaran with a toilet, bar service, Wi-Fi, a large net at the bow and, in the operator's words, about 40 seats in the shade. Finismar is a sailing yacht used for the slower coastal trips and for private days. Any of the three can be booked privately.
Tours and formats, and which guide covers each
The Matrix trip is the classic 2.5-hour caves and dolphins run described in our speedboat and RIB guide: a safety briefing, the cliffs and caves between Albufeira and the Benagil and Carvoeiro stretch, then a dolphin search in open water and one swim stop at a spot the captain chooses. The operator runs four departures a day in season, from mid-morning to late afternoon, with sunset departures from June to September. Its own site priced adults from €35, children aged 3 to 9 from €20 and babies up to 2 from €10, with the note that prices change by date; on GetYourGuide the Benagil caves and dolphin speedboat tour was from about €34.
- Mara, 3 hours: caves and coastline to Benagil and Carvoeiro, the shaded catamaran option for anyone who wants a toilet and a calmer deck.
- Mara, 6 hours: beach BBQ cruise with rock formations, caves and a barbecue on a beach; our BBQ boat trip guide sets out what those days include. On GetYourGuide the comparable beach BBQ days were from about €70.
- Finismar, 3 hours: a sailing trip to Benagil with time for swimming.
- Finismar, 6 hours: caves and coastline as far as the Carvoeiro lighthouse, with a BBQ.
- Private hire of Matrix, Mara or Finismar, with a route the group helps set; see our private tours guide for how that compares with the yacht desks in Vilamoura.
On every trip that includes dolphins, the operator states plainly that they are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed. Our Benagil cave guide explains what the cave stop looks like from a boat.
Cave rules that apply to all three boats
Matrix, Mara and Finismar are all subject to the Capitania do Porto de Portimão rules for Benagil. According to the Capitania notice (Edital 019/2024, amended by 009/2025), motor boats enter through the west entrance for about two minutes, with a maximum of five boats inside at once; nobody lands on the inner beach, and no swimming or inflatables are allowed into the cave from a boat. The speedboat gets closest and in and out fastest; the catamaran and the yacht may hold further off. A private charter does not change the rule: paying for the whole boat buys you the timetable, not longer in the cave.
Who Algarve Charters suits, and who should look elsewhere
This is the operator to pick when a group cannot agree on a format, because one desk sells all three. Thrill-seekers and photographers who want to be nearest the cave mouth take the Matrix; grandparents, small children and anyone worried about seasickness take the Mara, and the morning departures are the calmer ones. Groups who want to set their own lunch stop, or who number enough that per-seat tickets no longer make sense, ask about a private day on Mara or Finismar.
Look elsewhere if you want a specific named speedboat: the yellow Dreamer belongs to Dream Wave and the orange boat to X-Ride, and on a busy day the three are often fully booked separately. If you want a long time inside the cave rather than a short motor-boat look, only a guided kayak or SUP trip gets about eight minutes through the east entrance.
Where Algarve Charters checks in
Check-in is at the operator's office in Marina de Albufeira, 30 minutes before departure according to its site; our marina guide covers the walk from the Old Town, taxis, parking and what to do if you are running late. Shared boats leave on time. A private charter has whatever flexibility is written in the booking, so agree the departure time in writing.
How to book and what to check on the listing
You can book direct on algarvecharters.com or on GetYourGuide and the other platforms, where Matrix is listed next to every other Albufeira speedboat and the Mara and Finismar days next to the Vilamoura yachts. The photos tell you which boat you are on: a blue speedboat is the Matrix, an orange one means you have drifted to X-Ride, and a white deck with a bow net is the Mara. Before you pay, check:
- Shared seat or private boat, stated in the first line of the title.
- Boat name: Matrix, Mara or Finismar.
- Dolphin search included, or a coastline-only trip.
- Child and baby prices and the minimum age for the speedboat; the listing is the rule.
- What is included on the long trips: BBQ, drinks, snorkel gear, water toys.
- Cancellation: if the skipper cancels for weather you are refunded or rebooked; if you miss check-in, you are not.
In July and August the named speedboats sell out first, often two or three days ahead. Private days need more notice, and a deposit is normal; read the deposit and cancellation terms before paying.
How Algarve Charters compares with the nearest alternatives
For the speedboat, the direct comparison is Dream Wave and X-Ride: same marina, same 2 to 2.5-hour route, same rules in the cave, so pick by departure time, price on the day and which boat still has seats. For the catamaran and the BBQ day, AlgarExperience with the Belize Terceiro is the closest match and the larger brand. For a private yacht day with a skipper, EasyDream Charters and the Vilamoura yacht operators sit in the same price band as a Finismar charter; compare what is included before choosing by name alone.
Whichever boat you choose, prices and free seats change through the week. The figures here are from August 2026; the live listing is the rule.
FAQ: Algarve Charters
Which boat is the Algarve Charters Matrix?
Matrix is the blue powerboat Algarve Charters runs from Marina de Albufeira, one of three colour-coded speedboats in the harbour alongside the yellow Dreamer and the orange X-Ride. It does the 2.5-hour caves and dolphins trip with a swim stop. Listings do not always print the name, so look for a blue speedboat in the photos and the operator's name in the title.
Is there a toilet on the Matrix speedboat?
Assume not: a 2.5-hour speedboat trip is planned around no toilet on board, so use the facilities at the marina before check-in. If a toilet matters, the operator's catamaran Mara has one, along with bar service and about 40 shaded seats according to its site, and it runs a 3-hour caves trip and a 6-hour BBQ cruise over the same coast.
Does Algarve Charters guarantee dolphin sightings?
No, and it says so on its own site: dolphins are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed. Common and bottlenose dolphins are the species most often seen off this coast, and the search is in open water after the caves. If dolphins are the priority, morning departures on a calm day give the best odds; our dolphin watching guide explains what to expect.
Can children and babies go on the Matrix?
The operator's own site priced children aged 3 to 9 and babies up to 2 separately on the Matrix trip when we checked, so young children are accepted. The listing you book on is the rule for minimum age and life-jacket sizes, and the speedboat is a bumpier ride than the catamaran; for infants, grandparents or anyone who gets seasick, the Mara is the gentler choice.
Can I hire the Mara or the Finismar privately?
Yes. Algarve Charters offers private tours on all three boats, with a route the group helps set, a skipper included and a longer or customised day on the catamaran or the yacht. Prices depend on boat, duration and season and are quoted on request or on the live listing; a deposit is usual. Our private tours guide compares this with the Vilamoura yacht operators.
Where is the Algarve Charters office for check-in?
In Marina de Albufeira, where the operator asks you to check in 30 minutes before departure at its own office. Our marina guide covers the walk from the Old Town, taxis, parking and what happens if you are late. Shared trips leave on time; a private charter follows whatever departure time is written in the booking.
How far ahead should I book the Matrix in summer?
Two or three days ahead in July and August, earlier for a specific departure time, because the named speedboats sell out first and each has limited seats. Off-peak, a day ahead is usually enough. If the skipper cancels for weather you are refunded or rebooked, so booking early carries little risk; missing check-in is the only way to lose the money.
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