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Swim Together’s Arrábida Island Tour offers a stunning open water swim from Alpertuche Beach to Galapinhos Beach in Portugal’s Serra da Arrábida Natural Park. This day trip includes a scenic boat ride back with dolphin sightings and a local lunch in Sesimbra.
Swim Together’s Arrábida Island Tour offers a stunning open water swim from Alpertuche Beach to Galapinhos Beach in Portugal’s Serra da Arrábida Natural Park. This day trip includes a scenic boat ride back with dolphin sightings and a local lunch in Sesimbra.
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Operated by Swim Together · Sesimbra, Setúbal
Serra da Arrábida Natural Park, on Portugal’s sun-drenched Setúbal coast, offers a distinct blend of rugged limestone cliffs, crystalline Atlantic waters, and protected marine life. This is the setting for Swim Together’s Arrábida Island Tour, a unique open water swim experience that brings you intimately close to the park’s remarkable seascape. Starting from Alpertuche Beach, participants traverse a scenic 3 to 5-kilometer swim toward Galapinhos Beach, a secluded cove embraced by soaring cliffs that frame the route with dramatic natural beauty.
The marine park’s geological character is defined by its limestone formations, creating underwater caves and clear, turquoise pockets amid the open ocean. Along your swim, you’ll encounter the coastline’s mosaic of white sand beaches and rocky outcrops, areas where the local biodiversity thrives in the calm, nutrient-rich waters.
The journey doesn’t end with the swim. After reaching Galapinhos Beach, the group boards a boat for the return trip to Sesimbra, a charming coastal town known for its seafood and maritime heritage. This boat ride often presents an unexpected delight: sightings of dolphins breaching near the vessel, adding a wild and natural highlight to the day’s adventure.
Swim Together elevates this tour with safety-focused guides, local knowledge, and a freshly prepared Portuguese lunch, making for more than just a swim — it’s a full cultural and natural immersion. Whether you’re an experienced open water swimmer or a keen adventurer wanting to connect with one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets, this tour offers both challenge and comfort with the backing of an expert team. Situated just under an hour from Lisbon, it’s an accessible day escape into a protected part of Portugal’s Atlantic coast that rewards with stunning views and memorable encounters.
moderate.
4–6 hours including swim and boat ride.
Participants should have good endurance and comfort with open water swimming over several kilometers.
Yes. The swim covers up to 5 kilometers in open sea conditions, so you should be comfortable and confident swimming in open water.
Experienced guides accompany the group, with boat and kayak support available for groups of eight or more, alongside personal accident insurance.
No, all necessary swimming gear must be brought by participants.
Lunch is included with vegetarian options available; water bottles and a regional cake are also provided. Additional drinks can be purchased separately.
There is a strong chance to see dolphins on the boat ride back to Sesimbra, along with various seabirds and marine species near the coast.
The tour meets at Marina de Sesimbra, about an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, which is the closest major city for overnight stays and transportation options.
The Serra da Arrábida park was established in 1976, protecting one of Portugal’s last remaining Mediterranean ecosystems and a rich maritime habitat vital to local fishing communities.
Swim Together practices low-impact tourism by limiting group sizes and educating participants on preserving marine biodiversity and minimizing waste on land and sea.
Swim Together is a specialist operator offering guided open‑water swimming tours and multi‑day swim camps across Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe. The company curates coastal and island swim experiences that range from half‑day cave and coastline swims to a seven‑day swim camp in São Tomé and Príncipe. Trips include cave explorations (Benagil, Lagos, Sagres), protected marine reserves (Garajau), island coastlines (Madeira, Ponta São Lourenço), and sandy Algarve beaches. Many experiences are led by experienced instructors and local guides who tailor routes to swimmer skill levels and safety conditions. Swim Together focuses on accessible, skill‑based open‑water sessions, combining navigation of sea caves, guided coastal swims, boat transfers, and onshore returns. Several tours include opportunities to spot marine life and dolphins, and some multi‑day itineraries feature cultural exploration, hiking to waterfalls, local cuisine, and wildlife events such as the release of baby turtles. The São Tomé and Príncipe Swim Camp includes an equator crossing experience and immersive island activities. Service offerings are factual and clearly described per trip: half‑day tours, full‑day beach and cave adventures, boat returns, and week‑long swim camps. Routes and distances (for example, multi‑kilometre cave swims around Ponte da Piedade and Benagil) are presented within trip details so swimmers can assess suitability. Booking information, meeting points, and required equipment are specified in each trip listing. Swim Together presents a focused portfolio for travelers seeking guided open‑water swimming and coastal exploration in Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe. Trip difficulty levels and safety protocols are listed per excursion online.
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