While I cannot give you an answer for all of Portugal, I can tell you the situation here in Sintra.

The Sintra council is divided into two areas: the Urban area where most of the population is located and the Sintra reserve nature park where Sintra Surf School is located.

Here the more popular beaches like praia grande will have their fair share of people visiting on the weekends but in general during the week the beaches are beautiful and fairly empty.

Between praia da adraga and Praia do Magoito there are plenty of little empty beaches which even in the peak of summer remain unspoiled.

When it comes to surfing we have been lucky enough to practice a sport that is considered to be an individual sport by the National health department and therefore safe to practise. So Surfing has been the one sport that has come back in full force and can be considered pandemic proof.

We believe there is nothing more refreshing and healthy than re-energizing in the clean Atlantic ocean waters.

All the restaurants and Bars in the area remain open until 22.30 pm, while masks are still mandatory to enter supermarkets and restaurants, this seems to be the only big change compared to previous years.

In general things feel very safe and normal at the moment and it seems like they will stay this way.

If you have any questions regarding your Portugal surf trip just write to u at sintrasurf@gmail.com or give us a call and we will be happy to answer your questions.

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The Peak is a recent project founded by two brothers and best friends Duarte and Diogo. Located in a small village near the mountains, the two bros are excited to share the space they have created to gather friends and everyone that wants to share their passion for the Mountains and the Ocean nature lifestyle.

The Peak will be opening to the public in the middle of June 2021 and will be offering daily yoga sessions, healthy home cooked meals and many other activities such as Surfing, Bodyboarding, Climbing and guided tours of the mountains and coastline.

So if you are looking to have a good time with like minded people get in touch with them directly at
diogo@thepeaksurfhouse.com also check out their Instagram account to get some more insights https://www.instagram.com/thepeak_house/

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One of the main factors is location! Ask yourself: Do you want do you want to be closer to the city and have a more urban surf experience? The pros of being close to Lisbon centre or Cascais,  means you have pretty good public transportation to get around and you can enjoy year round night life.

If being in the city is not quite your thing and you would like to experience a bit of the real rural Portugal, then staying in the Sintra Cascais Nature Reserve Park might be exactly what you are looking for. Just 40 minutes away from Lisbon airport, towards the Atlantic West Coast, lies a protected area where huge constructions are not allowed to be built. It is home to the local “Saloio” Portuguese people, which have lived here for centuries. Humble farmers and fishermen that carry on doing what their ancestors have dome for generations

The beaches are still wild and unspoiled.

There are tons of outdoor activities to do like hiking, downhill mountain biking, climbing, visiting fairy-tale castles, ancient Roman sites, magical gardens and of course Surfing and Bodyboarding at stunning wild beaches.

Portugal is a place where you really feel all four seasons, Sintra is very green all year-round and you can enjoy different seasonal fruits and vegetables every month of the year.

Come at Spring time and enjoy the blooming flowers and the first hot days to sunbathe on empty beaches.

In Summer time it doesn’t get dark until 9.30 pm so you can enjoy super long days of surfing mostly glassy waves, and finish of the day with a classic late dinner by the beach.

In Autumn the summer weather often extends into November, the first big swells arrive and light up different surf spots on the Lisbon – Cascais side of the mountain.

Winter rarely gets under 10 degrees Celsius, the water temperature fluctuates between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius all year round, so this means you won’t need gloves or a hoodie. A good 4/3 wetsuit should keep you warm all year.

The bottom line is that you can get plenty of good waves all year round in the Lisbon area with plenty of activities to do and discover.

If you are a nature lover, like we are, we highly recommend you to come and stay with us at the very special Eco Surf Resort. We have two cottages at your disposal: The Eco Lodge and The Stone Cottage

Check out our services at Sintra Surf:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surfing Camp Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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The below information will help you in seeing which level you are at surfing and how we can help you. When you have lessons with us at Sintra Surf, we want to offer you the best possible service, so you can make the best of your surfing experience.

Beginner – Intermediate or Advanced 

How do I know where I stand? And how can surf lessons help me improve my wave riding skills? In this short article we are going to try and break it down for you.

Let us say that you have never surfed before. This obviously makes you a beginner.

 Now let us say you have tried surfing on your own a couple of times or have had a couple surf classes and you are still struggling to stand up on your board consistently, and on top of that, you also have a hard time figuring out which waves to catch.

This means you are just beginning to scratch the surface of what surfing is.

What can we consider an intermediate surfer?

An intermediate surfer is someone that obviously already has some experience in the water. A person that stands up on the board consistently has experience paddling into the waves and generally already feels quite comfortable with the surf equipment in the ocean.

An advanced surfer already has spent some serious time in the water and knows how to handle a shorter board and surf a wave to the left or right with a certain degree of control.

Now how can a good surf school teach you to reach the next level?

At a beginner level, you will be taught the right technique to handle yourself on the board and you will learn how to read the ocean and the right timing in order to catch waves.

Once you have mastered these fundamental skills you have reached the intermediate level. This is where we start to paddle out into the waves and start to learn how to turn into them, surfing the unbroken green part of the wave.

At a more Advanced level, a good surf school will be taking you to different surf spots getting you comfortable in various types of waves and situations.

A great way to improve your surfing, no matter what skill level you are at, is via video analysis. In other words, being filmed during surfing session and then afterwards, reviewing the footage with your teacher or with someone more experienced. Usually, if you see yourself surfing, you can see more easily see what you are doing right and wrong and therefore make the right adjustments.   

Now the learning curve is very different from person to person, since you are learning in a constantly unpredictable playing field called The Ocean. Having the right wave conditions to progress is crucial for your learning curve.

The bottom line is the more time you spend in the water paddling out into all kinds of different wave conditions, the more experience you gain reading the ocean.

And when it comes to surfing, reading the ocean properly is one of the most important keys to success.

Check out our services at Sintra Surf

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camp Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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For such a small country it is noteworthy to say the least that Portugal is almost fully surrounded by coastline; starting all the way North in Viana do Castelo, right down to The Algarve. Mainland Portugal enjoys around 800km of coastline, which makes it a “go to” place for any surf enthusiast.

Let’s start with the North of Portugal with Viana do Castelo, Porto, Espinho and Figueira da Foz.  These 4 coastal towns enjoy year-round surf with mostly colder temperatures than the rest of the country. They are also quite exposed to the West swells, which make the surf hard to predict, especially in the winter months.

Up next on our list is the Big Wave fishing town of Nazaré.

Nazaré has become a real tourist attraction over the years, with people coming in the Winter from all over the worls to see big wave surfers towing into what can be considered one of  the most powerful beach breaks in the world.

Next is Peniche

The small peninsula of Peniche has been on the map  for quite a few decades now and since the world surfing Competition started being held there in 2009,  it has become one of the most crowded surf towns in Portugal. As Peniche is a peninsula, it works with many different wind and swell directions.

Further down and only 20 minute drive from Sintra, we have Ericeira, also an  old fishing town which has been declared a world surf reserve and has had a massive surf tourism boom over the years, with large tourist buses taking people to their surf lessons. Ericeira probably has the best reef breaks in Portugal, which makes it a destination for more advanced surfers.

Next stop is the amazing Sintra and the Lisbon Coastline which we have wrote about in our  previous article. Please read our article on Surfing on the Lisbon Coast

Drive down south to the Alentejo coast and you will find endless kilometres of beaches from Villa Nova de Mil Fontes to Aljezur and all the way down to Sagres.  There are countless spots to surf.

In this article we have mentioned just a couple of the most famous surf areas in Portugal, but the coastline is so vast that you can truly spend a lifetime exploring and getting to know all of it.

If you need more information or advice, please contact us. We’ll be glad to help you out.

Check out our services:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camp Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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You might have a few questions on what this means or what a Surfari should consist of, since it can be a broad subject to cover.

 To understand a Surfari, we think it is fundamental to understand some of a Surfers Core Values.

Surfers are explorers by nature, curious thrill seekers, self-proclaimed meteorologists, waiting for weeks on end for that perfect swell to fill in.

Basically, a surfer will do what it takes to find perfect uncrowded waves.

 These are the same values that should be passed on by any proper surf tour experience you that engage in.

Your Surfari tour guide should be a local that knows the coastline better than anyone else and can point out the possible dangers of each spot and make you feel comfortable in the line-up.

A surfari or surf tour is usually great if you already have some experience in the ocean.

Is there a difference between a surf lesson and a surf surfari?

We would say the main difference is that a surf lesson is usually with a larger group of people with a bigger student to instructor ratio.

A Surfari ends up being a more personal experience where you get more of a feeling of a true surfer’s daily life.

Check out our Lisbon Surfaris and Lisbon Surf Lessons.

Our services:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camps Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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 This is a question many of you might be asking yourselves before you decide when and where to book your next surf holiday in Portugal.

So, let’s try and break it down for you.

Portugal is one of the most consistent countries on earth when it comes to waves. But consistency does not always mean perfect!

The West coast of Portugal picks up the most swell, which means the Winter months can be too big at times, so from mid-May up until the end of October, is usually your best bet to catch good waves and warm weather.

In the Summer months, the Centre and Northern parts of Portugal get most of the waves, in contrast to the South of Portugal, which often gets smaller waves.

The Winter Months (November to April) get plenty of big swells, which “Lighten Up” more sheltered spots that need big swells in order to get waves, especially around the Lisbon and Algarve Coastline. Big Wave spots like Nazaré, also come alive during these months, so keep your eyes open on the surf forecast and you might be lucky enough to see the world’s best Big Wave surfers towing into the gigantic waves at Praia do Norte.

Do not forget that the West coastline of Portugal can also produce amazing surf during the Winter months. It is just hard to predict exactly when.

Our advice is to check the surf forecast in advance and look out for small swells and light winds and book your flight without too much planning in advance. During off-peak tourist season, you can often find cheaper flights and accommodation options. And lastly but not least, off peak season provides great waves with very little crowds.

Take note: Checking surf forecasts can be a tricky thing if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Just keep in touch with our team at Sintra Surf and we will help you stay up to date. Also, a class on checking the surf and weather forecast properly, is a must for any aspiring surfer.

Please check our article on Best Places to Surf in Portugal, where we highlight the benefits of each major surfing areas

Our services:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camps Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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What kind of waves am I looking for?
If you have little experience it is always nice to start off in small group or be able to book a couple of private lessons and take it step by step in manageable waves . So, make sure you inquire first and see what surf school meets those demands.

How much time do you have?
Let’s say you are spending the weekend in Lisbon and only have one morning to surf, you will be better of choosing a surf school that operates closer to City Center and can provide pick up drop of service so you can make the most of your time.

Is Nature important during your Surf experience?
In our previous article about Surfing the Lisbon Coast we have talked a bit about each of Lisbon’s coastline and surroundings.
As a true surfer it is always nice to be away from the crowds and confusions of daily life. So, if this is what you seek be sure to book a surf experience a bit further away from central Lisbon. Portugal still has plenty of spots that are off the radar.

Do I need a surf guide?
I already have plenty of surf and water experience and would like to go to spots that will help me progress and reach that next level.
Then nothing better than to get an experienced surf guide. What many don’t know on their first trip to Portugal is that most surf spots be it reef or sand breaks are very much tide and swell dependent, So if you don’t have the time and knowledge to figure out where to go on your own, then an experienced Guide can make your trip much more hassle free and enjoyable.

Check out our services:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camp Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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A 30 minute drive away from Lisbon lies the stunning Sintra Coastline area which are all inserted in the natural reserve national park, that means surfing mostly uncrowded beaches with beautiful scenery from Praia da Adraga to Azenhas do mar all the way to Ericeira. Sintra is blessed with many little secret beaches to escape from the crowds and capture the real Portuguese country life. This is where Sintra Surf School is located!

The Cascais Coastline offers surf mainly in the winter months due to its geographical position standing right on the river mouth facing south means being sheltered from large north swells.

Carcavelos is one of the most famous beaches in the area with a newly built university and surf schools all over the place it has a kind of California feel to it. Although it does get crowded time your surf sessions right and you will get rewarded.

Cross the bridge to the south of Lisbon and you will find Costa da Caparica and Sesimbra; a long stretch of urban jetty style beaches which offer year round surf.

Check out our services:

Surfaris in Lisbon

Surf Camp Lisbon

Surfing Lessons Lisbon

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