Private Yacht Charters from Portimão | The Sailor… Skip to content
The Sailor

The Algarve coast, a private day at sea.

An 11-metre flybridge for up to eight guests, departing from Portimão. João D'Arens, Benagil and Alvor all within reach.

Check availability See routes
5.0 · Google reviews
Trusted by guests from 14 countries
RNAAT licensed since 2023

RNAAT nº 1118/2023 · Capt. Agostinho Escudeiro

40+
Years on this coast
Captain Agostinho's licence
5.0★
Super host on Click&Boat
5/5 verbatim from every reviewer
5
Languages spoken
PT · EN · ES · IT · DE
8
Max guests on board
One group, one day, one boat
  • Google rated 5.0 ★
  • RNAAT licensed · nº 1118/2023
  • Operating since 2023
  • Up to 8 guests · 11 m yacht
  • Departing from Portimão
Julieta seen from above, anchored over clear water off the Algarve coast. Two minutes · A day on Julieta
A day on Julieta — two minutes
Why a private day

A coastline you'll feel you have to yourself.

Most boats out of the Algarve run shared tours from the busy marinas, on a tight clock, with a price per head. We do the opposite. You leave from the river side of Portimão, where the cruise crowd never goes. Captain Agostinho knows every cove between Benagil and Alvor and chooses where to anchor by what the water is doing that day. You pay once, for the day, for the boat — your guests, your pace, your route.

Why we built The Sailor

A family tradition we decided to share.

The aft deck of Julieta with the Algarve cliffs behind.
On board, anchored under the cliffs of the Algarve.

Forty years ago, we started taking the boat out to escape the crowded summer beaches of the Algarve. What began as a family refuge — a place for rest, laughter, and time together — slowly became a tradition. Friends joined us to share the joy, and little by little, those days at sea became something we wanted others to experience too.

We made a quiet decision. One boat, refitted in 2023 to the standard we wanted for our own family. One group at a time. The day belongs to whoever booked it. Isabel cooks the food on shore — the kind we'd serve at home. Cintia answers the messages. Agostinho takes the wheel.

When the sea allows, we go to Benagil. When it doesn't, we know where the water stays flat and the cliffs still look the way they should. Forty years of holding a master mariner's licence on this coast — that's what we offer. The rest is the boat, the food, and the time you have together.

— Agostinho & Arlete Escudeiro

Three routes

Three coasts. One private day.

Pick the stretch of the Algarve that fits the day — or let Agostinho choose by the wind.

01 Joao d'Arens
Route 01

4h or 7h

Joao d'Arens

One of the Algarve's last quiet corners.

Benagil's sea cave is the Algarve's signature shot. We approach the slow way — coasting past Marinha and Carvalho's hidden coves, then easing the tender inside the cave when conditions allow. On the 7-hour route we keep going east toward Albufeira's striated cliffs and pause for a long swim at one of the quiet inlets only the boat crews know.

What you do

  • Cruise along the cliff chain
  • Explore natural arches, sea stacks, and hidden coves
  • Anchor in front of Joao beach (weather permitting)
  • Swim, snorkel, or paddle in sheltered waters
  • Enjoy lunch at anchor with the cliffs as your backdrop
  • Take a final slow cruise before returning to Portimao

From

€1,200

Total · 4 hours · 1–4 guests

Open route page See all pricing tiers
Enquire on WhatsApp
02 Benagil Cave
Route 01

4h or 7h

Benagil Cave

The Algarve's iconic sea cave, experienced at a gentler pace.

Benagil is one of the Algarve's most remarkable natural landmarks, but the journey there is just as memorable as the destination itself. We cruise along a coastline of golden cliffs, hidden beaches, and dramatic rock formations, passing Marinha, Carvalho, and the smaller coves tucked between them.

When sea conditions allow, we explore Benagil Cave by tender, taking our time to appreciate the light, colours, and scale of the cave away from the rush of larger tours. On our full-day route, we continue east along the coastline, stopping for swimming, snorkelling, and lunch in quieter anchorages along the way.

What you do

  • Anchor inside Benagil cave (conditions permitting)
  • Snorkel over Marinha's sandstone shelves
  • Paddle the tender into the smaller caves
  • Lunch at anchor, away from the tourist boats
  • Optional swim at Carvalho beach

From

€1,200

Total · 4 hours · 1–4 guests

Open route page See all pricing tiers
Enquire on WhatsApp
03 Alvor Bay
Route 01

4h or 7h

Alvor Bay

The Algarve as the locals keep it.

Protected from the open Atlantic by the dunes of the Ria de Alvor, this wide bay offers some of the calmest waters on the coast. On a clear day, the shallows turn shades of turquoise, creating a landscape that feels far removed from the busier beaches nearby.

We anchor over sand for swimming, paddleboarding, and time to simply enjoy the peace of the bay. On lower tides, sandbanks emerge from the water, inviting a short walk across one of the Algarve's most beautiful natural settings. For full-day trips, we continue west towards the cliffs of Lagos before returning to Portimao.

What you do

  • Anchor over the turquoise shallows of Alvor Bay
  • Swim, snorkel, or paddle in calm sheltered waters
  • Walk the sandbanks at low tide (seasonal)
  • Enjoy lunch at anchor overlooking the dunes
  • Relax away from the busier beaches

From

€1,200

Total · 4 hours · 1–4 guests

Open route page See all pricing tiers
Enquire on WhatsApp
Transparent pricing

Build your day.

Pick the three things below — the price updates instantly.

Route
Duration
Group size

Included with every charter

  • Captain & crew
  • Fuel for the day
  • Drinks & Food
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Two paddleboards (SUPs)
  • Towels
  • Bluetooth audio
The boat

Julieta — 11 metres. Eight guests · refitted 2023.

Length 11.5 m
Capacity 8 guests
Cabins 2 cabins · 2 bathrooms
Year refitted 2023
Builder Guy Couach 1150 FLY
Top speed ~24 knots
Cruising speed ~16 knots

Fitted as standard

  • 2 cabins · 2 full bathrooms
  • Interior salon
  • Two large terraces — flybridge and aft deck
  • Bluetooth audio (guest playlist control)
  • Fresh-water swim
  • Snorkel equipment
  • Two stand-up paddleboards (SUPs)

Julieta is a Guy Couach 1150 FLY, carefully renovated in 2023 to offer the comfort and feeling we wanted for our own family days at sea. She keeps the same strong hull and character the captain has known for years, now refreshed with new upholstery, thoughtful details, and a more welcoming atmosphere on board.

Operated by the Escudeiro family, Julieta is not just managed — she is cared for. A boat looked after with the same attention we would give to something of our own.

A half day on Julieta

What actually feels like.

Every charter is different — wind, light, the people on board. But the rhythm is mostly this.

  1. 11:00

    At the dock, before the day unfolds.

    Your yacht is prepared and waiting. A chilled bottle of champagne is ready to welcome you on board, inviting you to start the day with a toast to the occasion, the company, and the moments ahead.

    After a brief welcome and safety briefing from Cintia, the engines start, the dock slowly fades into the background, and your private journey along the Algarve coast begins.

  2. 12:00

    First anchor — the cliffs of João d'Arens.

    Engine off. The first swim. The water is colder than you expect for ten minutes, then perfect. The captain points where to look for beautiful small caves.

  3. 13:00

    Lunch at anchor.

    With the yacht resting quietly at anchor, lunch is served. Prepared at home by Arlete before every trip, it may include fresh salads, local specialities such as alheira, bread, cheeses, seasonal fruit, or any special requests arranged in advance.

    Cold drinks are brought from the fridge, conversations slow down, and the cliffs become your backdrop. There is nowhere else to be and no schedule to follow — just good food, good company, and time to enjoy the moment.

  4. 14:30

    One last swim before heading home.

    Before we slowly make our way back to Portimão, the captain invites everyone for a final swim. As the coastline drifts by, ice cream is served on board.

    With the sea breeze, the Algarve views, and a sweet taste lingering, slowly we make our way back.

  5. 15:00

    Back to Portimão, salty and a little sunburnt.

    The Bluetooth playlist is still going. The light on the way home is the part you'll remember. The boat ties up, the captain shakes your hand, and that's it.

Always included

Everything you need for the day.

  • Captain & crew

    Agostinho at the helm, a second hand on deck and a third in the kitchen. Three crew so the boat runs quietly around you.

  • Fuel for any of the routes

    All three coasts priced the same way — fuel is in. No surcharge for choosing Benagil over Alvor.

  • Wine, beer, soft drinks & bottled water

    Local Rosé and beer or cold water and a small selection of soft drinks aboard.

  • Snorkel masks & fins

    Sets of goggles and fins, in adult and junior sizes. The Algarve coves are the best part of the day.

  • Bluetooth playlist control

    Pair your phone to the cockpit speakers. The boat plays your music, not ours.

  • Towels & sun shade

    Beach towels for the swim stops, full shade on the flybridge for the rest of the day.

Add-ons available on request: special food requests, photographer aboard, sunset extension.

Why The Sailor

What sets the day apart.

  • Owner-operated.

    Cintia and Agostinho built and run the operation themselves. No agency markup, no rotating crew, no handover between booking and the day at sea.

  • The captain knows the coast.

    Forty years of sailing the Algarve. Every cove, every cave, every weather window — the route is shaped by what the sea is doing on the day.

  • A flybridge, not a deck chair.

    Shade for the whole party. Real seating, real space for eight without the elbow-to-elbow feel of the nine-metre boats most charters run.

  • One price, the boat is yours.

    Total for the day, not per person. The day is shaped around your group, your pace, your stops — never someone else's schedule.

A note from the captain

"I don't run a charter company. I run one boat. The day you book is the only day Julieta sails — and I plan it the morning of, by the wind."

Capt. Agostinho Escudeiro

Owner · since 2023

See

  • The dome of Benagil — sky cut out of stone.
  • Sandstone amphitheatres at João d'Arens.
  • Turquoise sandbars in the Ria de Alvor.

Feel

  • The exact moment the engine cuts.
  • The cold of the first swim.
  • The salt drying on your shoulder, going home.
Made for occasions

The day that fits the moment.

Three reasons people charter Julieta — and how we shape the day for each.

Family days 01 · Family

Family days

Calm anchorages, shaded flybridge, swim ladders kids can actually climb.

What we set up

  • Generous swim platform with handrails kids can grip
  • Shaded flybridge for the hottest hours of the day
  • Snorkel masks and fins sized for under-12s
Tell us about your day
Anniversaries & proposals 02 · Couples

Anniversaries & proposals

Sunset cruise with champagne, music and the cove of your choice.

What we set up

  • Chilled champagne or magnum, your choice of label
  • Your special song set up before
  • The captain anchors at the cove you pick — or his recommendation
Tell us about your day
Birthdays & retreats 03 · Groups

Birthdays & retreats

Birthdays, retirements, hen and stag mornings. Eight guests, one boat, the day shaped around the group.

What we set up

  • We coordinate the cake
  • Chilled magnum or wine on board, included or as add-on
  • Beautiful decoration
Tell us about your day
Real days, real photos

The day described in photos.

Every photo here is from a real charter — taken by us. The cliffs, the light, the table at anchor, the in-between moments.

Tap any photo to open · use ← → arrows to browse

What guests say

In their own words.

Three reviews from real charters in 2025 — pulled verbatim from our Click&Boat profile, where we hold a 5/5 average and Super-host status.

"Incredible from start to finish. The best service you could receive — I felt cared for as if they were my family.

Christian

Booked via Click&Boat

September 2025

"We had a great day on the boat. Cintia and the team were fabulous and we thought it was worth the investment.

Anthony

Booked via Click&Boat

August 2025

"A day to remember. The weather was perfect, the water was calm, and the whole experience was super relaxing.

Grace

Booked via Click&Boat

June 2025

Guests

What people say.

Recent Google reviews · 5.0 average

"We took the João d'Arens route for our anniversary. Agostinho timed the swim stop perfectly — the cliffs were lit gold by late afternoon, and we had the cove almost to ourselves. The boat is beautifully kept, the briefing precise, the day completely unhurried."

— Sophie L., United Kingdom, September 2025

"Benagil at the right hour, before any of the small boats arrive — that was the difference. Agostinho took us inside, then on to a quieter cove for snorkelling. Our two boys (9 and 12) climbed back on board a dozen times. Calm, considered, unflashy."

— Marcus B., Germany, August 2025

"Seven hours, Alvor Bay, eight of us. The captain read the day perfectly and changed the order of the stops when the wind picked up. We anchored on the sandbar at low tide and walked out into the lagoon. Genuinely one of the best afternoons of our trip."

— Emma R., Ireland, July 2025

"Sunset cruise as a surprise for my partner. Champagne ready, the music we'd asked for, and Agostinho gave us the space we needed without ever feeling absent. The flybridge at golden hour, the lights of Portimão coming on as we returned — discreet, generous, exactly right."

— Henri D., France, June 2025

"Agostinho knows this coast the way some people know a garden. He chose the route by the wind and we ended up at a cove I haven't seen photographed anywhere. Julieta is a real boat — comfortable, properly equipped, easy to move around. We'd come back tomorrow."

— Olivia M., United States, May 2025

Read all on Google
Julieta returning to the Portimão marina past the river fort.
Bartolomeu Dock · Portimão
Where we meet

Bartolomeu Dock, Portimão.
11:00 sharp.

The river side of Portimão, away from the cruise crowd. We send you the exact pontoon and parking instructions on confirmation, and our hostess meets you at the gate.

Pontoon
São Bartolomeu Dock (Cais Bartolomeu Dias)
Time
5 minutes before departure
Parking
Straight in front of the meeting point
What to bring
Swimwear, towel optional, no shoes on the boat
Open in Google Maps
Captain Agostinho Escudeiro at the helm of Julieta
The captain

Forty years of this coast.

Agostinho Escudeiro arrived in Portugal in 1975 after Angola independency and has held a master mariner's licence for more than forty years. He runs Julieta as a small family operation: his daughter Cintia handles the bookings, and his wife prepares the food — the dishes that come on board with you.

Routes are decided on the morning of the charter, at the dock, by the wind, the swell and what the guests on board want from the day. The crew speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian and German — and he prefers to give one full day to one group rather than rotate boats through the afternoon.

"I plan the day at the dock, an hour before. The coast tells you what it'll allow."
Capt. Agostinho Escudeiro
  • Master Mariner
The family behind the boat
The family behind Julieta — Agostinho, Cintia and the team that runs the day.

Three roles, one family, one boat.

The Sailor is run by the Escudeiro family. The same hands that built the operation are the ones you meet on the day — no agency, no rotating crew.

  • Capt. Agostinho Escudeiro Captain & owner
  • Arlete Escudeiro Food & owner
  • Cintia Escudeiro Business manager & crew
  • Isabel Crew on board
Common questions

Everything you'd want to ask.

How do I book?

Send us a message via WhatsApp or the form below with your preferred date, route and number of guests. We confirm availability the same day and hold the slot with a 400€ deposit. Final payment is due on the day of the charter, by card or transfer.

What happens if the weather turns?

If the captain decides conditions aren’t safe, we reschedule at no cost or refund the deposit in full. Light wind and Atlantic swell are part of sailing the Algarve — we adjust the route rather than cancel whenever it’s safe to do so.

Is the price per person or per boat?

Per boat. The rate covers the full charter — Julieta, crew, fuel, food & drinks — for up to eight guests. There is no per-person surcharge below capacity.

What time do we leave?

Most days we depart between 10:00 and 12:00 for morning charters, and around 14:00 for afternoon ones. Sunset cruises depart roughly two hours before sunset. We confirm the exact time the evening before.

What should we bring?

Swimwear, a towel (we also provide), sun cream, a light layer for the return. We provide food and drinks, snorkels and towels on request. Socks only — no shoes on the deck.

Can we bring food on board, or do you cater?

You're welcome to bring your own food and drinks, although most guests prefer to enjoy the homemade food and refreshments we serve throughout the day.

If you choose to bring something extra, we simply ask that you avoid greasy foods, red wine, and strongly staining items. Life at sea is always more enjoyable with lighter meals and a comfortable swim afterwards.

Where exactly do we meet you?

Julieta is berthed at São Bartolomeu Dock, Zona Ribeirinha, Portimão. We send precise pontoon directions and important information a week before. Parking is on the quay; the walk to the boat is one minute.

What if it's windy on the day?

Light Atlantic wind is normal and we adjust the route to stay in sheltered water. If conditions become genuinely unsafe, the captain decides — we either reschedule at no cost or refund the deposit in full.

Are children welcome?

Very. Most of our guests bring children. The flybridge is shaded, the swim platform is wide and stable, and we keep child-size life jackets on board. Tell us ages at booking and we'll plan calmer anchorages.

More questions? WhatsApp us — Capt. Agostinho usually replies within the hour.

Send a message

Send Cintia a message.
She'll reply today.

No automated form, no booking widget. You message Cintia directly on WhatsApp — she usually replies within the hour, and always before the day ends.

Cintia Escudeiro

Usually replies within the hour

Open WhatsApp

Hi! I'd love to book Julieta for a day in July. We're 4 adults + 2 kids. Is the 12th still available?

10:42 ✓✓

Hi! Yes, the 12th is open for a 7-hour day. Benagil is the most likely route in early July — I'll pencil it in. Want me to send the deposit link?

10:51

Yes please 🙏 do you do birthday cakes too?

10:53 ✓✓

We coordinate with the marina bakery — just send me the name and the day before, it'll be on board iced.

10:55

Real conversation style