Everybody feel free to surf Portugal coast! :)

[WhiteShark]

hi!
i'm from Portugal, i'm new in this forum, so i thought that the best way to join the forum is invite everybody to surf Portugal waves

bye

[surf patrol]

Hi WhiteShark, welcome to Surfing Waves.

How about some info about where you surf - are there some good waves around? where is a good destination for surf in Portugal?

[PapaW]

Yeah that would be great, Me and my lady are going to be traveling down though Franch, spane and portugal in our van next year. Would be great to highlight some good spots :)

[WhiteShark]

heya again

in Portugal we got many types of spots, spots for newbies, and spots that the devil wont wet is ass!














NORTH/NORTE


Cabedelo

On the south side of the Mondego river , a tarmac pier runs to the sea for about ½ Km. A long classic right breaks on the sandbanks with thick lips and grinding barrels. A useful rip runs alongside the pier. Usually it’s crowded but there are more than enough waves for everyone.

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Rights
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – Mid-Tide
Offshore – West





Leça da Palmeira

The most consistent peak of Porto area, rarely gets flat, even in the summer and the harbor helps form good sand bars in the winter. The water quality is however, bad.

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Beach Break, with shifting peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – All
Offshore - West



Vila Praia de Âncora / Afife

A long river mouth, which can be one of the best spots in the area depending on the sand bar. The water is a little polluted and crowds are a constant factor. (near Porto)

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – River Mouth
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – Low Tide
Offshore – South-West



CENTER/CENTRO



Consolação

Righthander over a rocky bottom, often flat, with a hollower left on the N side of the point. Less swell gets in here than at Supertubos, but it’s a very pretty spot with excellent water quality.

Crowd - Not crowded
Type of Wave - S Side - Right, N Side Left
Type of Bottom – Rock Sand Covered
Tide – Low tide
Offshore - South-West




Nazaré

One of the biggest wave spot in Portugal... from 6 to 22 ft sand bottom. Frequently hit by swells with big waves.

Crowd - Not Crowded, but it's a board braker wave
Type of Wave – Beach Break with shifting peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – High only
Offshore – West


Buarcos

Very long right over rocky bottom and also sand bars in front of hotel Tamargueira. The beach holds good sized swells and has no crowd problems outside high season (summer)

Crowd – Crowded
Type of Wave - Pointbreak
Type of Bottom – Rock sand covered
Tide – Not high
Offshore - South-West



CENTER/CENTRO (PENICHE zone)


SuperTubos

One of the most known portuguese waves out of country. Famous for its perfect tubular lefts. Crowd is not very friendly and the flavor emanated from the fish factory nearby are trade marks.

Crowd – Usually very crowded
Type of Wave - Left
Type of Bottom - Sand
Tide – All except low
Offshore - South-West



(city of PENICHE behind.)


CENTER/CENTRO (GRANDE LISBOA zone)


Guincho

Surfer Magazine publish about that spot in late 67. Better know for its windsurfing qualities, gives a lot of surfing days per year, with multiple peaks

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Shifting peaks
Type of Bottom - Sand
Tide – All
Offshore – West




Carcavelos

One of the first peaks being surfed almost 20 years ago. Multiple peaks, which perfection depends on sand bars. Usually crowded and quality water is not very good. (near Lisbon)

Crowd – A lot!
Type of Wave – Shifting peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – All
Offshore - South


Praia do Castelo

Sand bars conditionate if it’s rights or lefts, but usually it’s multiple peaks. The best quality water in the next 20 km from Lisbon and the crowd are minimal.

Crowd - Not much
Type of Wave – Shifting peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – All
Offshore - West


CENTER/CENTRO (COSTA DA CAPARICA zone)


Costa da Caparica

The most popular surfing spot near Lisbon. Usually crowded. Got nice rights and lefts when sand bars allow that. Good quality water. A good place for beginners, not only for the quantity of peaks, but because the waves are mellow.

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Rights & Lefts peak
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – All
Offshore - West

(there's a lot of beaches to surf in Costa da Caparica)


SOUTH/SUL


São Torpes

Normally uncrowded, the quality of the wave depends on the sandbars

Crowd - Not Crowded
Type of Wave – Shifting Peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – All
Offshore - South-West

in the south, in Alentejo there's a bounch of nice spots in Porto Côvo, beautyfull waves.
thats the place when I started.

other spots: Praia do Pego, Funil, Costa do Norte, Aviados


SOUTH/SUL (ALGARVE zone)


Arrifana

In the South of Portugal is one of the most versatile waves. On big days you got a big right. On small days in the middle of the beach some little tubes for both sides.

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Big right on big days, and shifting peaks on smaller days
Type of Bottom – Rock and sand
Tide – All


Zavial

It is a long righthander, and has a cover up section, but it takes a big swell to make it break. Good quality water.

Crowd - Not crowded
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom – Flat Rock
Tide – Mid Tide
Offshore - South-West


Praia da Rocha

Famous for its barrels, which normally break left. Sometimes it’s really crowded. The nearest spot from Faro, in the south of the country.

Crowd – Usually Crowded
Type of Wave – Shifting Peaks
Type of Bottom – Sand
Tide – Mid Tide
Offshore - South

other spots: Sagres, Telheiro, Faro island, Ponta Ruiva


The Islands:


Madeira Island

Lots of good spots spread all over the island, with tubular rights and lefts. The great difficulty is not to find them, but to choose them. Crowd doesn’t exist in this rocky bottom. Some nice spots; Jardim do Mar, Ponta Pequena, e Paúl do mar.


Açores

Each island has a limited number of surf spots. With a few quality beach breaks, the remaining reefs are shallow and dangerous. Surfers can find here lots of good and big waves. Some localism, when visitors abuse from local hospitality.


Locals and the population

every people that visits Portugal said that is the country that show more hospitality to the tourists, people are friendly and always nice when you treat them right, the majoraty of locals are friendly too and if you have problems they will help you for sure.

[WhiteShark]

CENTER/CENTRO (Ericeira)

if you come to Portugal you must get wet in Ericeira

Ericeira is a fishing village 50 km (31 miles) northeast of Lisbon, 25 km (16 miles) from Sintra and 10 km (6 miles) from Mafra. It has has the Atlantic Ocean as an eternal companion. Out of this relationship, the sun has given the best of its light and an ocean of traditions has been born.




Ericeira was and is the Mecca of Portuguese surfing. In the earling days it was a small fishing village and trips were rare and really exciting. Rooms and food were dirt cheap and surrounding towns beautiful with white washed houses and a country vibe to everything. Beaches were unspoiled, car parks non-existing and crowds never a problem. Although it has changed since, it’s character remains essentially the same.

The spots cover about 20 Km by road and 11 Km by water: They include some of the best reefs, points and beach breaks in Europe. As well as a keen surfer, I’m a avid diver and have researched the bottom conditions pretty thoroughly. Offshore winds for all spots come from the East.
By Nick Uricchio


San Lourenço

The portuguese version of Sunset can hold giant surf if the swell direction is correct. Keep an eye out for sneeker sets from West, when it is big. Expect elevator drops and fast hollow sections. North and NW swell is the best and it will hold, a little South wind. Crowd - Not Crowded
Swell - North/North-East
Tides - Mid Tide to High Tide
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Sand covered






Crazy Left

A tubey wave on the South side of Coxos Bay. On the S/SW days, hollow, fast and powerful waves breaking over a rocky bottom. The high tide is better.

Crowd - Not Crowded
Swell - West
Tide - High Tide
Type of Wave - Left
Type of Bottom - Flat Rock





Ribeira d’lhas

Versatile bay with various peaks that work on most swells, but are best on West/NW. When good, this boasts one of the longest waves in the area. It is one of the most consistent spots in Summer, holding 1 to 4 meters (2/12 feet).

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - North-West
Tide - All, but is better on Mid-Tide
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Rock





Reef

It's very hollow and very shallow. Doesn't work everyday. Usually not surfable past two meters. Definitely not for begginers. When it’s on, it’s pure magic, but no one surfs it a lot, without paying the fiddler.

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - West
Tide - Mid tide
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Uneven Reef





Pedra Branca

An extremely hollow left reef break, located in front of the camping and caravan park north of Ericeira, which works best on South/SW swells, holding large surf if the swell directions is perfect. The bottom is a rock platform with big holes. The swell comes out of deep water, so peaks with speed and power. It’s got a pipelinish look on good days. Work from 1 to 3 meters (3/10 feet). Suicide at low tide!

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - South/South-West
Tide - Mid Tide to high
Type of Wave - Left
Type of Bottom - Flat rock beds





Foz do Lizandro

When the fickle sand bars settle correctly, this can be a classic river mouth wave from 1 to 3 meters (3/10 feet). It is best on a South/W swell, with a strong backwash at high tide. When it goes off, it can hold size and deal out some power.


Crowd - Crowded
Swell - South/South-West
Tide - Mid tide to high
Type of Wave - Lefts and rights
Type of Bottom - Sand





S. Julião

This works on most swells directions and tides, depending on the sand flow. This is a small 2-6 ft spot that maxes-out easily.

Crowd - Not Crowded
Swell - West
Tide - High
Type of Wave - Lefts and Rights
Type of Bottom - Sand





Pontinha

You can either paddle or walk north from Ribeira d’Ilhas to this break.
On North-NW swells the wave can be perfect, but closes out when swell becomes too westerly or too big.

Crowd - Not Crowded
Swell - North-West
Tide - Mid tide to High
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Uneven Reef with Urchins


Backdoor

Normally a Summer Break, that works best on North/NW swells. It holds some vary hollow sections and is sketchy on low tide.

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - West
Tide - Mid Tide
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Uneven Reef


Praia do Norte

This will work with all swells directions from 1 to 4 m (3/12 feet), but is best known for the long right from the North. The point is very dry on low tide.

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - North
Tide - Mid Tide
Type of Wave - Right
Type of Bottom - Rock sanded


Praia do Peixe

In a solid swell waves break inside the harbor.

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - South-West-
Tide - Low tide
Type of Wave - Lefts and rights
Type of Bottom - Sand


Furnas

This only works with a Big North/NW swell. It is your last chance when everything else in Ericeira is huge and you don’t feel like driving.

Crowd - Crowded
Swell - North/North-West
Tide - All
Type of Wave - Lefts and Rights
Type of Bottom - Rock

[Broosta]

Yup ok I think we get the message! Portugal Goes Off !

[surf patrol]

Fantastic! - great work Whiteshark

[WhiteShark]

Yeah that would be great, Me and my lady are going to be traveling down though Franch, spane and portugal in our van next year. Would be great to highlight some good spots

if you come to Portugal you should travel in the lithoral coast.

Porto -> Lisboa -> Faro

Ericeira is a place that you can't miss

[babyboarder89]

wow you know some stuff!

[PapaW]

Some nice coverage of sports... I got a copy of Storm rider Europe so the ones you've listed are all on there allready. Interestign to see some differet discriptions.. pants a biger picture.