Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SURFING PORTUGAL
Portugal is a great surfing destination because, as continental Europe's westernmost spot, the coast is a swell
magnet. Add to that mild weather, different breaks and conditions within a short distance, wild coastal stretches,
great food, great night scene, and affordable prices. And did I mention the waves are great too?
Best
is the Peniche area, for variety of conditions and for Supertubos (
Click here
) alone, and Ericeira (
Click here
)
for the concentration of world-class breaks, including the best points and reefs in Europe. Sagres (
Click here
) is
another great option that offers good surf, the country's best weather, a wild coast and great nightlife in bars with
live gigs of many sorts.
For beginners
, Peniche offers a variety of options that let you gradually move up along the difficulty scale.
Surfing conditions?
Windguru (
www.windguru.cz
)
can be pretty accurate if you know how to read it. In Por-
tugal (all in Portuguese),
www.beachcam.pt
has good cameras when they're working. The Instituto Hidrográfico
has a forecast application on its website (
www.hidrografico.pt/qual-e-a-tua-onda.php
)
. There's also the fine work
of a professional meteorologist and surfer on meteoceansurf.blogspot.pt.
Postsurf beers?
I live in Ericeira, so I would have to go for local choices. Bandejas, Tubo, La Luna, Na Onda
and Bamboo (
Click here
)
are all pretty cool. Done with talking and ready to hit the floor? Ouriço (
Click here
) is
an inevitable part of the Portuguese surfing experience.
Hungry surfers should try
bacalhau à braz
(an amazing mix of codfish with fried chips and eggs),
arroz de
marisco
(seafood rice),
açorda de marisco
(mashed bread seasoned and mixed with prawns and shellfish) and
classic
bitoque
(steak with fries, rice and a fried egg on top).
João Valente, Director, Surf Portugal website
(
www.surfportugal.pt
)
Diving
There are good opportunities for diving, especially at Berlenga. Expect to pay about €65
to €75 (less around Peniche) for two dives with
Acuasuboeste
( 918 393 444;
www.acuasuboeste.com
; Porto de Pesca)
or
Haliotis
( 262 781 160;
www.haliotis.pt
; Av Monsenhor Bastos, Hotel
Praia Norte)
. Both companies also offer a range of PADI certification courses.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is big. On the far side of high dunes about 500m east of the walled town,
Peniche Kite & Surf Center
( 919 424 951;
www.penichekitecenter.com
;
Av Monsenhor Bastos, Praia de Peniche
de Cima)
offers lessons with equipment for €40 if there are two of you.
Tours
From the harbourfront kiosks in Largo da Ribeira, an ever-increasing number of compan-
ies offer day tours to Berlenga, plus other activities such as fishing.
Associação de Operadores
