Sunset Watching + Historic Sagres Sites, Lagos

4.4 (8 reviews)
Visit natural and historic sites in the Algarve on this Jeep excursion that ends with a sunset viewing in St. Vincent Cape.
Show all photos
Jamie
Jamie B.
May 19, 2024
What a great tour to end our visit in Portugal with this adventure in the Algarve. This is more than a quick peek at the sunset.... Read more
Georgianne
Georgianne G.
Jun 15, 2023
This was the perfect end to our trip! Site’s beautiful and our guide great
Corrin
Corrin T.
Mar 08, 2023
WOW. This was a wonderful experience. We toured many beautiful cliff tops, and had lovely food and wine at the end. Our guide was really friendly,... Read more
Julia
Julia L.
Aug 29, 2022
We had the best time, beautiful sites, thoughtfully planned, away from the masses. Very friendly and knowledgable tour guide, overall great experience.
B
Brigette B.
May 18, 2022
There was no better way to end an amazing trip to Portugal than with an Algarve sunset experience guided by Pedro! Pedro was very personable, courteous,... Read more
Previous Next
See all reviews arrow_downward

Overview

Watch the sunset from Europe's most southwestern spot, once believed to be the end of the world and later used as a jumping-off point during Portugal's Age of Discovery in the 15th century. This Jeep excursion takes you around Sagres, and you'll get to visit historical and natural sites of the Algarve, like the picturesque village of Burgau, the 17th-century Almádena Fort, ancient Roman ruins on Boca do Rio beach, and the lighthouse of St. Vincent Cape. You'll end the day with a lovely picnic of chorizo, bread, and wine as you watch the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean, either from the lighthouse or nearby Cordoama Beach.

Highlights

  • Take a Jeep ride through the wild and rugged landscape of the Algarve 
  • Visit the St. Vicent Cape lighthouse, the most southwestern point in Europe
  • Watch the sunset while enjoying wine and traditional snacks
  • Learn about the history of Sagres, which played a major role during Portugal's Age of Discovery
  • See the ruins of an ancient Roman villa and mosaic pieces on Boca do Río

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
Enjoy local wine and snacks like bread and cured meats

What you'll do

This Jeep experience begins three hours before sunset and takes you from Portugal's south coast to its western side. The first stop is Ponta da Gaviota in Praia da Luz, a picturesque resort town near Lagos, where you can take in the soothing sight of the sea meeting large flat rocks. Next, you'll head to Burgau, a former fishing village made of whitewashed houses that marks one edge of Costa Vicentina Natural Park. 

You'll continue on to Almádena Fort, a 17th-century fortress almost directly between Lagos and Sagres that was used to spot intruders trying to enter the Bay of Lagos. Throughout the excursion, your guide will share the history of this region, which not only was a significant site during Portugal's Age of Discovery led by Prince Henry the Navigator in the 15th century but has also been home to the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, and Moors over the course of 3,000 years.

Next, you'll drive to an area just below the fort: Boca do Río beach in Vila do Bispo, where your guide will show you ancient Roman artifacts of mosaic tiles and the ruins of a villa. You'll move on to the 16th-century Lighthouse of St. Vincent Cape, the southwesternmost point in Europe that was believed to be the end of the world until the Age of Discovery led Portuguese and other explorers to venture across the Atlantic Ocean to other continents. You'll watch the sunset either from here or the nearby Cordoama Beach, and you'll be provided bread, chorizo, wine, and binoculars to relax while watching the sun dip below the horizon from the world's edge.

What's included

  • Transportation
  • Portuguese wine
  • Bread with chorizo
  • Binoculars

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Traveler photos
See all photos

Traveler reviews

8 total ratings, 7 with reviews
4.4
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.3
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.0
Jamie
Jamie B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 19, 2024
What a great tour to end our visit in Portugal with this adventure in the Algarve. This is more than a quick peek at the sunset. Our guide picked us up from our hotel in Lagos, and we made our way village by village over to Cape Saint Vincent, the most southeastern point in Europe. Because he grew up in this area, at each stop our guide gave insights into what made each little village special from his perspective. We ultimately made our way to Cape Saint Vincent where the Mediterranean meets... Read more

What a great tour to end our visit in Portugal with this adventure in the Algarve. This is more than a quick peek at the sunset. Our guide picked us up from our hotel in Lagos, and we made our way village by village over to Cape Saint Vincent, the most southeastern point in Europe. Because he grew up in this area, at each stop our guide gave insights into what made each little village special from his perspective. We ultimately made our way to Cape Saint Vincent where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, but this is not where we saw the sunset. Our guide timed it perfectly, and we went further to a very secluded spot and celebrated the setting of the sun. It was an amazing day.

Tips for future travelers

Definitely do it -- if it's May, take a jacket or sweater. It's quite breezy during the views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Nicholas was great. He was a local, and knew the cities and the coastline well. His ability to time the sunset viewing experience perfectly was admirable!
Transport
On time, vehicle suitable for the purpose.
A
Andy P.
Milton, GA | Reviewed on May 14, 2024
We weren't quite sure what to expect with this tour. It had been cloudy all day so we were afraid that we would not see the sunset, but in the end it cleared up and we were able to see it. Our guide was fun and showed us some out-of-the-way places you would never know to see. Our dinner was very good, some of the best chicken we had the entire trip Read more

We weren't quite sure what to expect with this tour. It had been cloudy all day so we were afraid that we would not see the sunset, but in the end it cleared up and we were able to see it. Our guide was fun and showed us some out-of-the-way places you would never know to see. Our dinner was very good, some of the best chicken we had the entire trip

Tips for future travelers

It was kind of cool that day, thank goodness we brought some extra layers to wear. The truck is open in the back and can get quite cold when it's moving quickly. This was a 45-minute drive from where we were staying and it ended late. So we had a long drive back at night to get back to the hotel around 11:00 pm which was kind of late

Quality of Experience
Sipping sparkling wine and watching the sunset was lovely
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Funny and gregarious
Transport
Old truck, a bit uncomfortable and difficult to see out of if you are in the back
L
Leigh S.
Indian Trail, NC | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2023
They were 30 min late and we were put in the back of the van (not a Jeep Wrangler as specified) and it was uncomfortable and very hard to see back there. It was extremely windy and cold so we couldn't really enjoy it although the places he took us to were pretty. We could only run out of the car for a quick photo and run back in. It should have been emphasized that you need a warm jacket (at least) to enjoy it. Read more

They were 30 min late and we were put in the back of the van (not a Jeep Wrangler as specified) and it was uncomfortable and very hard to see back there. It was extremely windy and cold so we couldn't really enjoy it although the places he took us to were pretty. We could only run out of the car for a quick photo and run back in. It should have been emphasized that you need a warm jacket (at least) to enjoy it.

Tips for future travelers

Dress warmly!! And, avoid the back of the van!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luis tried to make the experience as good as he could, but too many factors made it unenjoyable.
Transport
Should not put people in the back of this vehicle! A jeep (as advertised) would have been better.
Georgianne
Georgianne G.
Spring Hill, TN | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2023
This was the perfect end to our trip! Site’s beautiful and our guide great Read more

This was the perfect end to our trip! Site’s beautiful and our guide great

Tips for future travelers

Be sure to bring a wind jacket it was brisk!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Corrin
Corrin T.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 08, 2023
WOW. This was a wonderful experience. We toured many beautiful cliff tops, and had lovely food and wine at the end. Our guide was really friendly, knowledgable, and very intelligent. Highly recommended. 5 stars Read more

WOW. This was a wonderful experience. We toured many beautiful cliff tops, and had lovely food and wine at the end. Our guide was really friendly, knowledgable, and very intelligent. Highly recommended. 5 stars

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Julia
Julia L.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 29, 2022
We had the best time, beautiful sites, thoughtfully planned, away from the masses. Very friendly and knowledgable tour guide, overall great experience. Read more

We had the best time, beautiful sites, thoughtfully planned, away from the masses. Very friendly and knowledgable tour guide, overall great experience.

Tips for future travelers

Bring a jacket!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
B
Brigette B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on May 18, 2022
There was no better way to end an amazing trip to Portugal than with an Algarve sunset experience guided by Pedro! Pedro was very personable, courteous, and possessed a wealth of knowledge of the Algarve. En route to St. Vincent Cape of Sagres via a 4WD jeep, Pedro took us to see some of the most picturesque views of beaches and breathtaking landscapes, particularly Cordoama Viewpoint! Pedro planned our experience perfectly giving us plenty of time to take in these views along the way. Our... Read more

There was no better way to end an amazing trip to Portugal than with an Algarve sunset experience guided by Pedro! Pedro was very personable, courteous, and possessed a wealth of knowledge of the Algarve.

En route to St. Vincent Cape of Sagres via a 4WD jeep, Pedro took us to see some of the most picturesque views of beaches and breathtaking landscapes, particularly Cordoama Viewpoint! Pedro planned our experience perfectly giving us plenty of time to take in these views along the way. Our trip concluded at St. Vincent Cape of Sagres where we witnessed the most captivating sunset while enjoying great wine and bread with chorizo.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Algarve Experiences

Show more Algarve experiences
Previous Next

Lagos Experiences

Show more Lagos experiences
Previous Next

Portugal Experiences

Show more Portugal experiences
Previous Next

Best of the Algarve

Best of the Algarve
Previous Next

Trip Planning Essentials

Previous Next