Event Review: Swim Party Algarve 2024

A unique opportunity to swim along a beautiful stretch of coastline

First light. The air is fresh, having blown in from the Atlantic. We descend the long flight of steps towards the beach. I hear the chatter of nervous but excited swimmers, in Portuguese, Spanish and English. We’re about to swim 10km and it might be tough.

Near the bottom of the steps, we enter a tunnel through the rocks and emerge onto a deserted beach hemmed in by towering limestone cliffs. After being given our final instructions (head to the rock stack in the bay, turn right and keep going) we wade in and start swimming.

This stretch of coast faces south. The sun rises in the east and swings around towards the south through the morning. This means the golden cliffs are bathed in warming sunlight and they look amazing.

These cliffs and the caves of the Algarve are justly famous. But this normally makes swimming here tricky. Tourist and other boats race through these waters hunting out caves and secret bays and pay little heed to swimmers.

The beauty of this swim is that the Coast Guard shuts down marine traffic for a rare few hours. All you need to do is relax, keep swimming parallel to the shore and enjoy the views. The swim is a unique opportunity to admire this special stretch of coastline from the water.

The marathon distance is always a challenge. Conditions today are mostly calm, but this is the Atlantic. Now and then I swim into a bumpy patch and have to remind myself to relax, stay calm and hold my technique. The water is also cooler than I expected – around 17 degrees. I am therefore happy to be wearing a wetsuit, but a few are swimming without.

Remember to eat and drink

The field spreads out quickly. I soon find myself swimming alone – but not on my own. I notice one of the safety kayakers keeping an eye on me. The first feed station comes around quickly and I grab a drink and a gel.

The volunteers on the station tell me I’m doing great. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know, but it’s encouraging. I bump into a couple of other swimmers there. I wasn’t as separated from them as I thought.

I press on and soon find myself at the second feed station. I don’t feel ready for more food but I take a gel just in case. This was lucky as I only see the third station after I’ve passed it.

The only navigational challenge comes just before the end where we have to loop back on ourselves before swimming onto the wide beach at Caneiros to finish. I can’t see the turn buoy and start wondering if I’ve misremembered the map. Then I see one of the lead swimmers heading towards me and I know I’m close. I spot the buoy, make the turn and up my tempo for the final charge to the finish arch.

I stand up as my hand touches the sand, and I’m promptly knocked off my feet by a wave. I crawl out of the breakers, try standing again, and then run up the beach to the finish. Here, I’m handed a drink and a snack to keep me going until the official celebrations start.

Party time

After many swims, the first swimmers have changed and gone before the final swimmers return. Not here. Swim Party took over the beach restaurant at Caneiros to celebrate our swims. I settle down in a lounger, enjoy a delicious meal and then join the line for some Swim Party cake. I chat with my fellow swimmers and we agree it would be fantastic to come back next time.

Next edition: 6 September 2025

https://swimparty10km.com