Surf spots

With so many surf spots along Portugal's Atlantic coast the rest of Europe (and the World) are waking up to the country's huge surf potential. Add to this Tiago Pires' recent great performance on the ASP tour and Portugal has established its surfing credentials.

The waves tend to be best in spring, autumn and winter, though expect some rain in winter - especially in the north of the country. There are however some good south swell days in the summer which can set the Algarve spots and other places like Supertubes and Carcavelos off.

The north of Portugal is home to the Minho and Douro regions, which can reveal some uncrowded spots. There are good and varied places to surf, such as rivermouths, beaches and point breaks, but all can be subjected to a prevailing northwesterly wind that can spoil otherwise ideal conditions. There are a few good spots around Portugal's second city Porto.

Climate

North Portugal is under the Atlantic influence with mild winters (16ºC) and warm summers (27ºC). The water temperature varies between 15C and 20.

VILA PRAIA DE ANCORA TO ESPINHO SURF SPOTS

OPORTO SURF SPOTS 

ROCKY POINT - Good right high tide rocky

PRAIA ATLÂNTICO - In Porto take one of the several ways to Vila Nova de Gaia.In Vila Nova de Gaia, follow the coast line to Valadares Sul. Right after Valadares Sul going south starts Francelos. There´s a big sidewalk for runners and bikers next to the beach entrance and a new building across de road. The bar at the moment is no longer there but they are building a new one.
Experience: Experienced surfers
Type: Reef-rocky
Direction: Right and left
Good swell direction: North, NorthWest, West, SouthWest, South
Good wind direction: SouthEast, East, NorthEast
Swell size: Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 3m+ / 10ft+
Danger: Rocks

MATOSINHOS

Matosinhos is located north west of Oporto looking out into the Atlantic Ocean. It houses the biggest artificial port in Portugal and has long been associated both with fishing and sea transport industries. Today, Matosinhos is geared towards tourism and its beach is regularly used throughout the year by surfers of all types and abilities. 

The beach is medium sized and sandy with lots of space. The beach can be found easily on foot by leaving the metro station and following the avenue west until you come to the beach. By car you simply follow the IC24 via Rapida to Matosinhos.

Matosinhos is an exposed beach that has reasonably consistent surf and can work at any time of the year. Works best in offshore winds from the east. Waves just as likely from local windswells as from distant groundswells and the best swell direction is from the west. Waves at the beach are both lefts and rights. Best around low tide

This beach is a sand bar with frequent sloppy waves. The swell size starts working at 1 meter and holds up to 2.5 meters. The waves come from right and left with a normal power.

Two different spots, one is a beach sheltered by a large breakwater, which makes it a good option in massive swells. The other is a much more consistent wave and best at lower tides.

There is plenty of free parking at this spot and the beach is only about a ten minute walk from the city center.

The summers are pleasant here with water temperatures ranging from 12 degrees to about 19 degrees in the summer and air temperatures ranging from 10 degrees in the winter to 30 degrees in the summer. 

LEÇA DA PALMEIRA

An extremely consistent wave.
Beach-breakThe harbour helps to shape up good sand bars and if it’s flat here then its flat almost everywhere.

Here's lot's of place where to park your car. Beware of big currents and stormy swells. In good days, with offshore wind it's is possible to get barrel waves but usualy only in the morning. The paddle sometimes is hard.

SACOR/ATERRO
North of Leça da Palmeira...near to the Petrogal, take car.

Long left wave near the rock, on the outside and sometimes break here a good beach break.

Swell size: starts working at 1.0m-1.5m
Direction: right and left
Bottom: sandy with rock
Power: Normal length

JULIO MARINHO


NORTH OF OPORTO

AGUÇADOURA
Quality surfing, great atmosphere and perfect for those looking to escape crowds.
Latitude: 41° 25.822' N
Longitude: 8° 47.261' W
Don't surf full-tide.
Experience: experienced surfers
Type: sand-bar
Direction: right and left
Bottom: sandy
Power: fast, powerful, fun
Good swell direction: West, SouthWest, South, SouthEast, East
Good wind direction: West, SouthWest, SouthEast, East

AZURARA
Take a car from Oporto (Viana do Castelo direction). Its near of Vila do Conde. Ask for the camping of Árvore. The beach is in front of the camping.
You have two tipes of waves: one is a left in the middle of the beach that in good days can be very fast and hollow, the other is a right on the right side of the beach in the rivermouth. This right, in good days, is a triangular pic, but only works whem the bottom is good.

English (Translate this text in English): In this beach you have two waves. One is a left in the middle of the beach that in good days can be very fast and hollow. The other is a right on the right side of the beach in the rivermouth. This right, in good days, is a triangular pic, but only works whem the bottom is good.

English (Translate this text in English): In this beach you have two waves. One is a left in the middle of the beach that in good days can be very fast and hollow. The other is a right on the right side of the beach in the rivermouth. This right, in good days, is a triangular pic, but only works whem the bottom is good.

Go to this beach only when the sea is big.
Closes out/flat on high tide, good on low tide and incoming/going high tide.

English (Translate this text in English): Go to this beach only when the sea is big.

Closes out/flat on high tide, good on low tide and incoming/going high tide.

English (Translate this text in English): Nice waves.

Latitude: 41° 20.336' N
Longitude: 8° 44.682' W
Experience: all surfers
Type: beach-break
Direction: right and left
Bottom: sandy with rock
Swell size: starts working at 1.5m-2m /5ft-6ft and holds up to 3m+ / 10ft+
Best tide position: mid and high tide
Best tide movement: rising and falling tides

MINDELO

A Praia do Mindelo tem uma excelente localização e paisagem, sendo muito concorrida no Verão. Oferece um extenso areal, com areias graníticas, finas e médias.

Mais informações:

Fácil acesso pedonal

Rochas na água


SOUTH OPORTO 

ESPINHO -Take a car from Oporto (Espinho/Ovar/Aveiro direction)

Praia da Baía/Casino -

Praia Pau da Manobra/Silvade - 
Beach Break

CAPELA/PARAMOS - When you get to espinho ask where is the golf club after you pass that going south turn right where you see an air stripe. You have to cross that and there is a small chapel in front of you. The wave is the right that breakes on the far right side of the beach. Park your car near the chappel.

Make the drop in front of the rocks, if its big you can paddle out on the right side of the pile of rocks. if the bottom is right you can get some great waves.

Experience: all surfers

Type: beach-break

Direction: right and left
Bottom: sandy
Good swell direction: SouthEast, NorthEast
Good wind direction: SouthEast, East
Swell size: starts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 2m+ / 6ft+
Best tide position: all tides
Best tide movement: rising and falling tides

English (Translate this text in English): When you get to espinho ask where is the golf club after you pass that going south turn right where you see an air stripe... u have to cros that and there is a small chapel in fron of you the wave is the right wave that breakes on the far right side of the beach.Park your car near the chappel.

English (Translate this text in English): When you get to espinho ask where is the golf club after you pass that going south turn right where you see an air stripe... u have to cros that and there is a small chapel in fron of you the wave is the right wave that breakes on the far right side of the beach.Park your car near the chappel.

English (Translate this text in English): When you get to espinho ask where is the golf club after you pass that going south turn right where you see an air stripe... u have to cros that and there is a small chapel in fron of you the wave is the right wave that breakes on the far right side of the beach.Park your car near the chappel.

CAGALHOTOS "CAGAS" - 1km South Espinho Casino
Big and long rights. This spot needs the right swell from North, to the outside waves connect with the inside and produce the famous long wave. It´s a right point break that works better in winter with big swell.
Experience: experienced surfers
Bottom: sandy
Good swell direction: North, NorthWest
Good wind direction: SouthEast, East, NorthEast
Swell size: starts working at 2.5m-3m / 8ft-10ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
Best tide position: low and mid tide
Best tide movement: rising and falling tides


ESMORIZ
Take a car from Oporto (Espinho/Ovar/Aveiro direction)
Latitude: 40° 58.693' N
Longitude: 8° 39.032' W
Experience: all surfers
Type: beach-break
Direction: right and left


CORTEGAÇA
Take a car from Oporto (Espinho/Ovar/Aveiro direction)
Latitude: 40° 56.382' N
Longitude: 8° 39.49' W
Experience: experienced surfers
Type: beach-break
Direction: right and left
Good swell direction: NorthWest, West, SouthWest
Good wind direction: North, East
Swell size: starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 2m+ / 6ft+
Best tide position: mid and high tide
Best tide movement: rising tide

De Carro
Cortegaça tem óptimos acessos de carro.
Poderá deslocar-se desde o Porto (30 km) pela auto-estrada A29 e sair em Cortegaça onde, com muita facilidade encontrará os acessos ao centro da Vila e à Praia.
Vindo do Porto poderá ainda optar por uma deslocação mais tranquila pela estrada nacional EN109.

Se o seu percurso iniciou a Sul poderá optar pela auto-estrada A1 desde Lisboa (300 km), passando por Coimbra (90 km) e Aveiro (50 km).
Em Aveiro poderá continuar na auto-estrada A1 e sair em Santa Maria da Feira que fica apenas a 10 km de Cortegaça ou, em alternativa, em Aveiro poderá optar pela auto-estrada A29 que fará com que chegue directamente a Cortegaça (cerca de 40 km de percurso).

De Comboio
Cortegaça é servida pela principal linha de caminhos de ferro de Portugal, permitindo um rápido acesso ao/desde Porto e Aveiro.
O apeadeiro de Cortegaça fica localizado sensivelmente ao centro da Vila pelo que qualquer acesso a pé é facilitado.
O percurso até à Praia é bastante agradável e não é excessivamente longo (apenas 2,5 km).

Verifique todos os horários de comboio no site da CP.

MACEDA

Take a car from Oporto (Espinho/Ovar/Aveiro direction). You have to pass Espinho and go to Cortegaça, that is a small village, then ask how to go to praia da maceda. Its not very easy to get there.

It's good on summer when the sea is small. When all beaches are flat check Maceda and you might be lucky.

Experience: all surfers
Type: beach-break
Direction: right and left
Best tide movement: rising and falling tides
Swell size: starts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 2.5m+ / 8ft+
Good swell direction: NorthWest, West, SouthWest
Good wind direction: SouthEast, East, NorthEast
Best tide position: mid tide