Hello, I’m Márcio Ramos, your Kayak and SUP Instructor.
Born and raised in Albufeira, and coming from a family with strong ties to the local fishing community, I have always had a close connection to the sea. While many of my friends were passionate about fishing, my passion was always sport.
From an early age, I immersed myself in a variety of water sports. My journey began in the 1980s, and I still remember surfing on a discarded foam board left behind by tourists.
As a child, I also enjoyed skimboarding, using a homemade board crafted from a simple piece of plywood.
Later, I became more seriously involved in bodyboarding, even competing in championships. I also discovered surfing and quickly fell in love with the unique feeling of riding a wave while standing.
Bodysurfing has always been another passion of mine, and I still own a dedicated board for it today.
Over the years, I have practiced numerous action and adventure sports. Football, footvolley, and the famous brazilian “altinha” have always been part of my life and remain activities I enjoy to this day.
I worked for several years as a Lifeguard and completed certified First Aid training, gaining valuable experience in safety and emergency response.
My professional career has always been closely linked to the Fitness Industry. I spent five years living in London, where I further developed my expertise by specializing in various fitness disciplines and completing numerous professional courses.
From 2009 to 2019, I owned and managed a Health Club. Prior to that, I worked as a gym instructor, group fitness instructor and personal trainer.
Throughout my career, I have taught a wide range of classes, including: Indoor Cycle, Pilates, Cross Training, Functional Training, Circuit Training, Mobility, Total Abs and Personal Training sessions. Today, I focus exclusively on Indoor Cycling classes at King’s Studio, which I founded in 2022.
In 2015, I discovered Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and I have never looked back.
Since then, I have explored countless locations both within and beyond the Algarve. Outside the region, I have paddled in places such as: Arrábida and Vila Nova de Milfontes. Within the Algarve, I have extensively explored the coastline, including Albufeira (covering more than 20 km of coastline), Carvoeiro, Benagil, Praia da Marinha, Vale Covo and Lagos.
My passion for SUP has also taken me abroad, allowing me to paddle in destinations such as: Boracay in the Philippines, Koh Samui in Thailand, and, more recently, Sal Island in Cape Verde (more then once).
I practice both SUP touring and SUP surfing. One of the things I love most about the sport is its versatility—almost any sea condition offers an opportunity to enjoy the water, something that was not always possible with surfing or bodyboarding.
In 2018, I became a Certified SUP Instructor and founded Ilovesup, with the goal of showing people that Stand-Up Paddleboarding is truly a sport for everyone.
Today, under the name Kayak & SUP Benagil, I organize guided kayak and SUP tours to the Benagil Caves, sharing with visitors what I consider to be the true Algarve’s Masterpiece.
