The new measures, which aim to regulate the traffic of maritime-tourist vessels, private individuals and beach users, both in the water and in the vicinity of the Benagil cave and caves, were published in an official notice on 30 July.

Disembarking or using the sand inside the Benagil cave by private individuals and companies is now prohibited, as is access to the caves by swimming or with flotation devices, and the rental of kayaks without a guide in the cave area.

There are also limits on the number of boats and kayaks inside the cave, maximum times for visits and a ratio of one guide kayak for every six kayaks with visitors for kayak tours in the area.

There are also plans for administrative offences (fines), which in the most serious cases can reach up to 216,000 euros, for operators of maritime-tourist vessels who do not comply with the rules set out in the notice.

The notice, which comes into force 10 working days after its publication, is the result of the work carried out by the Benagil Caves Working Group, formed in August 2023.

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