Cascais-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to Cascais
Cascais-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to Cascais
Cascais Intro - Cascais Sights - 1 Week in Cascais - Cascais Beaches - Day Trip to Cascais - Lisbon to Cascais
Boca do Inferno, Cascais
The Boca do Inferno is a unique sea-arch and cliff formation close to the town of Cascais.
The coastline to the west of Cascais comprises of high eroded cliffs, battered by the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. The Boca do Inferno was originally a sea cave, which subsequently collapsed leaving a chasm and sea arch.
Into this opening the Atlantic waves continually crash, and during violent winter storms water explodes upwards similar to an erupting volcano – hence the overdramatic name of Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth).
The sea arch and chasm of the Boca do Inferno
As a visitor this is a dramatic section of coastline for you to visit, with giant waves smashing into the cliffs and high-tide waves roaring through the arch into the base of the chasm. At the Boca do Inferno is a seaward viewing platform, a decent seafood restaurant and a selection of handicraft tourists stalls.
The ideal time to visit the Boca do Inferno is at sunset, and watch the sun sink below the ocean horizon and illuminate the sky in orange glows – magical.
Related articles: Cascais guide - Day trip to Cascais
Ferocious winter waves smashing through the sea arch
Seaward entrance to the Boca do Inferno
Boca do Inferno tourist information
The Boca do Inferno is free to visit and there is no entrance fee for the viewing platform. During the winter or in storms the viewpoint may be closed. There have been numerous occasions when people have been swept of the cliffs or slipped down the perilous cliffs.
A typical visit is 30 minutes, but if you are visiting as part of an organised tour, 10 minutes is sufficient to see the cliffs and sea arch.
The viewing platform is a magical location to watch the sun set out across the Atlantic Ocean
The Boca do Inferno lies 2km to the west of Cascais and is a popular 20minutes walk from the centre of the town.
The best route follows the coastal road (the Avenue Rei Humberto Ii de Itália) out to the west of Cascais, and passes the Condes de Castro Guimarães museum and Santa Marta Museum. This route to the Boca do Inferno follows a cycle path (clearly marked in red) and hiring a bike to cycle here is an alternative option.
A taxi from the train station would cost €5-6, but a return taxi may be difficult to find.
While the waves are calm, the Cascais cliffs are a favourite location for fishing
Warning: While at the Boca do Inferno you will see locals fishing at the very edge of the cliffs, do not follow their example, these cliffs are very dangerous.
Close to the Boca do Inferno Cascais are a set of small market stalls which sell some of the best value tourist gifts in Cascais. To fully appreciate why Boca do Inferno was given its name, sneak a look at the postcards on sale at the gift shops.
The seafood restaurant at the Boca do Inferno, the Restaurante Mar do Inferno, has a very good reputation and romantic sea view setting. Their menu can be seen of their website:
https://www.mardoinferno.pt/
For a less expensive meal option the café next door, the Rocha do Inferno, is highly recommended.
Formation of the Boca do Inferno
The Boca do Inferno was formed by the erosion of a weak vein of limestone in the cliff face. This initially led to a cave being excavated which slowly expanded over the generations. The tougher outer rock remained while the weaker rock was eroded to such a stage that the roof of the cave collapsed forming the unique Boca do Inferno.
During the winter the waves crash into the Cascais coastline
The interior of the opening has been eroded in differing rates
In 1930 Aleister Crowley a magician, astrologer and mystic, faked his own death at the Boca do Inferno Cascais. As part of the stunt, he secretly left Portugal to reappeared three weeks later at an exhibition of his work in Berlin. The whole controversy was wildly and excitedly reported in the newspapers of the era and helped to promote his work.
Our most popular guide for Cascais and Lisbon
A complete list of all of our guides to Portugal in 2023
Cascais-Portugal.com, Sintra-Portugal.com and Lisbon-Portugal-Guide.com with over 800 pages,
if its not here it's probably not in Cascais, Estoril or the Lisbon coastline!
-
