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Surfing in Portugal is very developed. No wonder Portugal is often called the European capital of waves. Surfing is available here all year round. Almost the entire Portuguese coast of the Atlantic Ocean creates high-quality waves for surfers of all skill levels. Surfing in Portugal for beginners is possible all year round, and professionals come here in October for the ASP Surfing Championship. Portugal is a great choice for a first surf experience as it is the closest flight from Russia and local prices for accommodation, surf lessons and food are more than adequate.
Surf season in Portugal
The surf season in Portugal lasts all year round. But it is conditionally possible to distinguish between warm and cold seasons. The warm season for surfing lasts from mid-May to mid-September, at which time the largest number sunny days, least chance of rain, most warm temperature water and air. During the warm surf season, the waves the best way suitable for beginners and intermediate surfers. Professional surfers in Portugal can get bored at this time.
The cold season for surfing lasts from the end of September until May. At this time, the temperature of water and air is quite low ( average temperature January - 14 degrees), there may be rain and cloudy weather. But the waves at this time are suitable for surfers of any level - there are small waves with foam for beginners and big green waves wrapped in pipes for advanced ones.
However, it is worth noting that in October, November and April surfing in Portugal is the most comfortable of all the months of the cold season, since these months have warmer air and water temperatures than in December, January, February and March.
So, from May to September - best time for learning to surf in Portugal, as you will find the most warm and sunny weather, as well as pleasant small waves, convenient for learning.
September to May is the colder time of the year, so it may not be as comfortable to go into the water. But there are conditions for surfing for surfers of all skill levels: from beginners to professionals.
Surf schools in Portugal
Portugal has a very large selection of surf schools and it is sometimes difficult to make a choice. The pricing policy of almost all surf schools is quite moderate. The standard price includes the essentials: surf lessons, surfboard and wetsuit rentals, medical insurance, and transfers to and from the beach. Surf camps in Portugal offer accommodation in addition to surf lessons. If you take a package with accommodation, then the price also includes accommodation and sometimes breakfast.
Surf spots in Portugal
In Portugal, you can find surfers on almost every beach. Surfing spots in Portugal are scattered along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Probably one of the most famous places for surfing it is Peniche.
Surfing in Peniche in Portugal is very developed. Peniche is on west coast Portugal. Due to its protruding position in the ocean, it receives waves from both the north and south, therefore good conditions for skiing here you can always find. Most of the beaches here are sandy, which is convenient for learning. But despite the sandy bottom, green waves come here quite large and even wrap themselves in pipes (remember the famous Supertubos spot), so it will be interesting for continuing surfers to ride in Peniche.
Often, those who want to combine a cultural program with learning to surf choose a surf school near Lisbon. A little away from Lisbon, you find yourself on beautiful sandy beaches with beautiful waves that are suitable for both training and professionals. For example, Guincho Beach is a place where you can meet famous surfers. But on the Carcavelos beach, on the contrary, there is a place for beginners. So if you flew to Lisbon, managed to visit all the museums and you have a few free days left - welcome to
Description of the surf school
The Russian surf school in Peniche focuses on professional surf education: you will not just be put on the board, but will be taught all the necessary basics of surfing, so that in the future you can surf on your own anywhere. In addition, at the end of the training you will be given a certificate confirming your skills. Professional instructors trained by the Australian Surf Instructor Academy will always be by your side, telling you when and what waves to take, and sorting out your mistakes after the surf session. And the fact that the training will be held in Russian will give you a much greater level of comfort and, as a result, rapid progress. Also, during all the lessons, photography will be carried out, which will allow you not only to look at yourself from the side and sort out your mistakes, but also capture your first steps in memory and your social feed. And so that you look great in the photo and do not burn out, you are even provided with a sunscreen that does not wash off in water 😉 In addition theoretical classes and sessions in the water, as well as a variety of exercise equipment, such as simulation mats and balance boards.
Surf spot
The Russian Surf School is located in Peniche, 90 km from the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. Peniche is a Portuguese surfer's paradise as it is the most western city Portugal and therefore the first to meet all the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. That is why in the vicinity of Peniche there are spots for any level of skiing, in any weather and season. However, the most comfortable time for learning to surf in Portugal is from May to October. It is at this time that the waves are as comfortable as possible for a beginner and the temperature of the water and air is more pleasant for being in the ocean. In the Peniche area there are both reef breaks (reef spots) and beach breaks (sand spots), both left and right waves, both small waves and serious ones with a worldwide reputation. So no matter how you ride and whatever your preferences, in Peniche you will definitely find a place to your liking!
Surf gear
Surf equipment rental is included in the price of all lessons. In addition, you can rent a board and wetsuit yourself if you are confident in your abilities and do not need an instructor.
How to get to the surf camp
You can order a transfer from the airport to the surf school, the transfer costs €80 for a car and €120 for a minibus that can accommodate up to 8 people. To order a transfer, you will simply need to provide information about your flight to the school in advance.
In addition, you can get to the school on your own. To do this, you will first need to get to the Sete Rios bus station, located at the Jardim Zoologico metro station. The entrance to the metro is located in the underpass next to the exit from the airport's international terminal, and the fare is €1.7. Next, at the bus station, you need to find a bus to Peniche. The bus fare is €9 and the travel time is 1.5 hours, the bus schedule can be found here.
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Three of us gathered to surf in Portugal, no one had experience. At the word surf, I imagined how quickly I was sliding my torso on a waxed board, splashing, everyone around was slender, muscular and tanned.
The first collision with reality - in Portugal all the time the cold ocean. In autumn - winter, when solid waves rise for solid surfers, the water is about 15 degrees. In the summer, when amateurs and beginners come, it's around 20, and it's very chilly. So, if you want to catch waves in the same swimming trunks, you should go to Indonesia or Costa Rica. On the European coast of the Atlantic, you can only get into the water in a tight wetsuit, and then your palms and feet will freeze mercilessly.
Portugal is considered the best option to surf in Europe. There are waves in the north of France and Spain, but it is more expensive there. The alternative is Great Britain and Ireland, but again it is expensive, and even tasteless.
Another important advantage is safe sandy beaches, the absence of reefs and stones that can hurt you. This is a plus, albeit a small one - surfers get 90% of injuries from the board. It is attached to the ankle on a small collar, which means that a tight leash always returns the board to your head or ribs - learn to group and grab an ointment from bruises and bruises from home (they will be required).
In addition to the masochist's first aid kit, it is worth resuming periodic trips to the gym: focus on the back (to row), arms (to do push-ups), the press (to keep balance). If you are a bespectacled person, then grab the lenses or practice looking into the distance as you are: the glasses will be blown away by the first wave.
Where to go?
We decided to live and ride in the town of Carcavelos. This is a fishing village with a simple tourist infrastructure on the outskirts of Cascais, from Lisbon just over an hour by bus. Here you can rent an apartment a stone's throw from the sea for $50 per night. A good alternative is Ericeira, it is a little higher along the coast, a little colder and more expensive on average.
- Metro from the airport to Lisbon, Santos - 1.45 euros.
- Train from Lisbon, Santos, to Carcavelos - 1.95 euros, every half hour.
About food
As elsewhere in Portugal, there is excellent seafood and fish, as well as cheap wine. In Carcavelos itself, there is nothing to do at all. The plan of the day looks like this: breakfast, morning in the ocean on the board, shower, train to Cascais (15 minutes) or Lisbon (1 hour 10 minutes) for adventure. There is also Belem, Sintra, Alfama - you won’t be lost, or maybe you won’t even make it all in time.
- Dish with fish in a restaurant - 9 euros.
- A glass of wine in a restaurant - 1 euro.
- A bottle of wine in a supermarket - 2–6 euros.
In fact, surfing
Surf itself is organized around camps - training and party centers where venerable surfers, who decided to leave this melancholy and settle near the wave, teach seals like us the basics.
In the camps, you can take a package of all services at once: settle in, get daily group lessons, rent a board, wetsuit and a seat on the bus to the airport, about 500 euros per week. From the pros - get acquainted with a bunch of the same dreamers-beginners, hang out and move. Of the minuses - this is a sports camp. If you ran into these as a child, it makes sense to collect all the pieces of the puzzle separately.
We took an instructor in such a school - there is an option for group lessons or private ones. The session lasts 2 hours in the morning. If you are not a child prodigy, you definitely won’t get off with one lesson - surfing requires a certain skill. We chose individual lessons for three during the week, something came out in terms of money, but the coach was focused on us. Of the benefits - any format of the lesson involves renting a wetsuit and board for these two hours.
- Board rental for a week - 105 euros.
- Wetsuit rental for a week - 49 euros.
- Group lessons - 150 euros for 10 lessons.
- Individual lessons - 350 euros per week for one or 800 euros for three.
The western part of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the small country of Portugal, with fewer people living in it than in Moscow. AT recent decades Portugal is developing not only as a country of football and vineyards - thanks to the Atlantic Ocean washing it, it attracts surfers from all over the world, especially from Europe.
In accordance with the requests of athletes involved in water sports, the country began to improve the tourism and sports infrastructure: roads and bridges, hotels and surf camps are being built, equipment and equipment rental points have been opened. Combined with chic nature and mediterranean climate the presence of suitable waves becomes a tempting reason to come to this country.
5 reasons to visit
Riding level
The spots are suitable for beginners and experienced surfers
Surf schools
Dozens of schools, there are Russian-speaking instructors and Russian schools
Infrastructure
There is everything you need for recreation and sports
Low - a week of accommodation with training from 350 euros
Season
Generally speaking, the surfing season in Portugal lasts all year round. There is no rainy season characteristic of tropical countries, there is no winter familiar to us with deep snowdrifts and ice on the rivers. Conventionally, the surfing season is divided into cold and warm.
The high tourist season, of course, falls on warm time year, that is, May-September. In summer, the shores are filled with masses of people, both visitors and locals. There are a lot of children of different ages at all resorts who came during the school holidays to rest with their parents. Since the ocean is never completely calm, most of the Portuguese coastline has waves in the summer. They are not big and not strong, just right for beginners and intermediate surfers, as well as for teaching children. Experienced athletes on such waves will be bored. Ocean water on the hottest days does not warm up above +23 °C. It is advisable to wear short wetsuits.
In August, vacations and vacations end, the coast is empty. From September it gets cooler, the ocean cools down, the waves rise. This is exactly what many European surfers are waiting for, because it is in winter Portugal best waves in Europe. The surf season has begun and will last until April. The water temperature fluctuates between 10-15 °C, so surfers should definitely bring wetsuits and wet boots.
Perhaps lucky
Spots
The ocean coast of Portugal is relatively small, about 750 km, stretching from north to south. Surf spots are distinguished by their waves, the infrastructure of the beaches, the presence of a nearby city or resort village. Even the difference in water temperatures between the northern and southern spots at the same time can reach 3-5 °C. The northern spots are distinguished by a more turbulent ocean than the southern ones.
Consider the most popular spots in the direction from north to south:
- Espino (Espinho) is a city that is famous for its beaches and excellent waves. The northernmost of the popular spots. In the midst of tourist season filled with visitors local residents, but the beach is always clean and well maintained, for which it gets international awards. Suitable for experienced surfers and brave beginners.
- Norte Nazare is a beach in the north of the city of Nazare, which is located 90 km from the capital. Suitable only for experienced athletes: there is a deep canyon under the water not far from the shore, this contributes to the formation of large waves above it, which fall on the shore with great power. Officially fixed maximum height the wave conquered by a surfer on this beach is 30 m. Hawaiian surfer Garret McNamara accidentally set a record in January 2013, breaking his own record of 24 m, registered in the Guinness Book of Records.
- Peniche. A very popular town among surfers, 70 km north of Lisbon. Spots with left-handed and right-handed waves of various levels are concentrated on a small segment of the coast: from beginner to advanced. The Supertubos spot annually in October becomes the venue for one of the stages of the World Surfing Championship. 5 km from Peniche is the Baleal Peninsula, which used to be an island, its inhabitants were engaged in whaling. Rocky ledges, sandy beaches, huge ocean waves attract surfers from all over the world.
- Ericeira - a small fishing village has long become a recognized center of surfing with excellent waves, a golden beach. Eight kilometers of sand coastline The Ericeiras are broken by rocky shores into separate beaches and bays. Some of the bays are of interest only to beginners. But there are beaches where only confident professionals should go, for example, these are the beaches of Pedra Branca, Cave, Koshush, Reef, San Lawrence, etc.
- Carsavelos (Carcavelos) is an extremely popular place among surfers. The town is located west of Lisbon, towards the city of Cascais. The spot is quite safe due to the completely sandy bottom, therefore it is suitable not only for athletes with an average level of skiing, but also for beginners, including children. One big disadvantage is that the spot is crowded with surfers at any time, so you always have to share a wave with several people. It is necessary to be constantly on the alert to avoid collisions with other vacationers and athletes.
- Arrifana is a beach that is located far from the capital and major cities, near the village of Aljezur, so its workload is small both on weekdays and on weekends. Conventionally, Arrifana is divided into two spots: beach break (sandy bottom) and point break (rocky bottom). The first spot is suitable for beginner surfers. At the second spot, the waves are powerful and constant, up to 300 m long, which attracts experienced athletes. You should always remember about safety and know where the rocky ledges are.
- Sagres (Sagrish) is a town in the west of southern Portugal, in the Algarve region. In this area, the water is usually warmer than in the northern regions of the country. In Sagres, there are secluded beaches where professionals love to train, and spots with a lot of people. On popular beaches, groups of beginners are constantly visible, learning to surf under the guidance of experienced trainers.
- Lagos (Lagos) is a city in the south of Portugal, 20 km from Sagres. The warmest part of the mainland Portuguese coast.
Special mention deserves the spot Pol do Mar - a beach near a village on the island of Madeira. Despite the distance of 900 km to the southwest, this island is part of Portugal. The climate is milder, subtropical Mediterranean. The tourist infrastructure is well developed. Nature and people have created excellent conditions for surfing, there are surfing clubs. Madeira has several popular spots, some of which host major competitions.
Schools and camps
Since surfing in Portugal has become one of the most popular sports (after football, of course), a lot of attention is paid to its development in the country. Near each spot where there is no urban infrastructure, surf camps or surf hotels are opened, support is provided to athletes who want to open surf schools. Education in schools is conducted in different languages, including Russian. There are Russian surf schools, such as Silver Coast, based in Peniche, or Dream Surf in Baleal. Although the spots in Portugal are available all year round, some surf schools and camps only open during the high tourist season.
Lessons can be taken one-time, you can arrange a surfing tour for a week or two at a travel agency. Prices depend on the chosen conditions of living and studying. For example, a one-time lesson (2-4 hours) costs 30-70 euros, including the rent of a suit and board, the training itself, delivery to the spot and sports insurance for the duration of the lesson. A week of learning to surf with accommodation in a camp costs 350-900 euros.
Peniche Kite & Surf Camp hot
Price
from €25 per lesson, camp week with 10 lessons from €320
housing is provided
Equipment rental:
there is a rental of boards and equipment
Beginning surfers, perhaps, are concerned about the same question: “When to go?”. It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to it, rather, the time for the trip will be determined by the personal preferences of the surfer. The coast of Portugal meets the largest number of tourists in the warm months, from April to October, and the highest waves can be found from October to May.
But for those who still cannot call themselves a sufficiently experienced surfer, too rough seas will be a significant hindrance to learning. Therefore, it is better to plan a trip to Portugal in mid-April-May or November. At this time, there is optimum temperature air and the absence of a large number of tourists.
Collecting luggage
Where to go?
The coast of Portugal has a lot of surf spots with different natural landscapes and conditions. The best places for Sargesh, Ericeira, Peniche, Espinho and many others are considered. Any of these cities and towns can be easily reached from Lisbon.
Most surfers, both experienced and beginners, prefer the village of Sargesh for active recreation. It is located on the south coast of Portugal, in the Algarve region. Not only the surf movement is developing here at a fast pace: local recreational complexes are ready to offer guests of the country water for every taste. In Sargesh, you can do things, swim with dolphins and take part in a boat trip along the paradise beaches.
Fans of a relaxing holiday can be invited to visit the fishing village of Ericeira, which is located just north of Lisbon. Even during the season in Ericeira you can find deserted, because this place is not included in the main list of tourist destinations in Portugal. Since the fishing industry is developed in this village, you can find many restaurants serving amazing traditional fish dishes here.
The town of Peniche, famous for its clean beaches and rough seas, is visited by thousands of water sports enthusiasts every year. Many professional surfers seek to get to Supertubos beach, famous for its especially strong waves. Among athletes, they even got their own name - "European pipe". Surfing in these places has become a cult, and every October mass competitions of the ASP World Tour are held in Peniche.
It is impossible not to mention another picturesque place that is perfect for surfing at any time of the year - the resort of Paul de Mar. This small village is located on the island of Madeira. Unusually powerful waves attract mainly professional surfers to Paul De Mar, and in 2001 an international surfing championship was even held here.
The town of Espinho has all the conditions for beginner surfers. In between extreme activities, you can recuperate on the shore by relaxing in the pool with salt water. sea water. It also attracts lovers of golf, casinos and luxury recreation.
Definitely Portugal is the best choice for those who wish to conquer the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean. to this country with a rich cultural heritage, gastronomic traditions and wonderful architectural forms, you will definitely leave an indelible impression. It is also worth noting that in addition to classic surfing in Portugal, it is widely developed and, therefore, lovers of a wide variety of water activities will not be bored here.
