10 Best Surf Spots in Algarve, Portugal
– According to me, Secret Spots not included.
Word of Introduction
Algarve is located South-West corner of Portugal. The very far end of continental Europe.
What is great about this place? Well it has more then 300 days of sun annually (source). Average temperatures in Winter are around 16°C, and above 20°C in Summer. Water temperature doesn’t go below 16°C, so most of the time You just need one good wetsuit 4/3 and You are good all year round. Sometimes in summer it is nice to have 3/2. Occasionally you can surf without.
In fairly short distance (50km) You can surf around 20 different surf spots, West and South Coast. So whenever the swell hits too big from west, You can still enjoy south part of Algarve. Same goes with the winds. Almost every time You can find a place covered from wind any direction.
Best months to surf? Winter for sure.
Summer is mostly flat, small waves around waist high. Good for beginners but it’s mostly very crowdy. From September – December You can still enjoy warmer water. Swells generated by the storms on West Atlantic are just starting to pump in, so it’s perfect time to visit Algarve. It goes on through the winter. If you are lucky and the wind blows from south, south-east it’s still warm here. Otherwise gloves and socks are recommended.
Shortcuts
List of 10 Best Surf Spots in Algarve
- according to Igor Swieczak
#1 Monte Clerigo
Best tide
Low to mid
Working size
0,5m – 3m
Wave difficulty
Medium
Currents
Strong
No. of peaks
Multiple, at least 2 main
Access difficulty
Easy
Crowdedness
Might be heavy
Localism
Average
Van parking
Might be difficult
Monte Clerigo
Cool place and very nice beach. For sure You will love the sunsets here. On the nice day you can surf around 4 peaks. This spot usually can handle bigger waves pretty good. But watch out for currents – they might be very strong. During lower tide be careful for the rocks. There are few on the middle of the beach.
#2 Arrifana
“CrowdyFanna”
– Igor Świeczak
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 2m
Wave difficulty
Medium
Currents
Mild
No. of peaks
Multiple, at least 2 main
Access difficulty
Easy, road hike
Crowdedness
CrowdyFanna, Heavy
Localism
Average
Van parking
Might be difficult
Arrifana
Quite specific place. Walking down might be annoying sometimes, but this is the price you need to pay. (NO PARKING on the road down!) Most of the times is very crowdy. Loads of surf schools, good for beginners. Somehow it works well when all other spots are blown away or messy. When it gets too big, above head high it’s usually closing out. On a good day You have multiple peaks – around 3-4 main plus “Kangoroo” – which is outside the port. Pretty gnarly if You ask me.
#3 Carrapateira / Bordeira's beach
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 2m
Wave difficulty
Medium
Currents
Mild
No. of peaks
Multiple, at least 2 main
Access difficulty
Easy, little walk necessary
Crowdedness
Mellow
Localism
Average
Van parking
Possible
Carrapateira / Bordeira's beach
I’m not a big fan of this spot. Mainly because I prefer to surf others. But if you are somewhere in between Aljezur and Vila do Bispo it’s worth to try. Here You might prepare Yourself for a longer walk from the parking. Which is not a big deal, but still. Spot works great on the outside, so keep in mind some paddling workout.
#4 Castalejo / Cordoama
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 3m
Wave difficulty
Medium
Currents
Strong
No. of peaks
2-3 and multiple
Access difficulty
Easy
Crowdedness
Mellow
Localism
Average
Van parking
Possible
Castalejo / Cordoama
Spot considered in category from heaven to hell. Depends on the day. Lately something change on sea bed and currents might be very strong – not letting You in. The one good working entrance is next to the big Rock. But I would consider it advanced surfers only. As You might end up smashed on the rocks if Your duck-dive game is not strong enough. This spot also works great on the bigger day. Beautiful big tubes possible. Depending on the day, usually it’s not that crowded and You can have really chilled session here. As a backup You can also go around and surf in Cordoama, where You can find multiple peaks.
#5 Ponta Ruiva
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 3m
Wave difficulty
Difficult
Currents
Medium – Strong
No. of peaks
2-3 and 1-2 on the outside
Access difficulty
Very difficult
Crowdedness
Medium
Localism
Strong
Van parking
Possible but hard
Ponta Ruiva
Considered secret spot. But seriously nothing now is secret when You have google maps. What is more during the season there are 6-7 vans from surf schools parking on the little road next to the spot. Which in my opinion totally ruined the magic of this place. This is one of the hardest to get to spots as You need to drive few kilometres offroad and the road is not always good. At the end it gets steep and bumpy, You might need some extra horsepower. Waves in Ponta Ruiva are pretty powerful. When everywhere else is mostly flat, here You can find some decent wave. In the middle you can find 2-3 beach breaking peaks. On the outside there is a rocky point on the left, but be careful as You launch Yourself straight on the rocks. You might also feel some spikes under your feet. At the end… don’t go right, again… rocks. Outside on the right, well this is very unpopular wave. But on the bigger day You might find there nice hill to surf. Might be big, but way less scary then the middle peak. Don’t park here for a night that’s for sure. Locals don’t like it.
#6 Telheiro
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
1m – 3,5m
Wave difficulty
Medium
Currents
Medium
No. of peaks
2-3
Access difficulty
Very difficult
Crowdedness
Medium – Low
Localism
Strong
Van parking
Possible (no overnight stay)
Telheiro
One of the two remote spots near Sagres area. Telheiro opens up our offroad locations. Going from Beliche is fairly easy to access by car. The trouble starts on “stairs” going down. It’s pretty sketchy rock climb, especially if You`re carrying a longboard. With foamy don’t bother. Beach is beautiful, on a nice day also retreat for nudists. In general, more topless girls on the beach – the better the surf is. (I don’t know how to explain this, but it works). Spot works great with little offshore wind creating amazing tubes. It’s very exposed for west swell so frequently it’s one of the biggest. On a smaller days, waves are mellow and easy. Usually there are not many people – probably because of the access. Let it be this way.
#7 Beliche
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 2m
Wave difficulty
Difficult
Currents
Medium – Strong
No. of peaks
2-3
Access difficulty
Easy – Medium
Crowdedness
Medium – High
Localism
Strong
Van parking
Possible (no overnight stay)
Beliche
One of the gnarliest waves in Algarve. Very popular bodyboarders spot, mainly because of “the wedge” or as I call it “triangle of death”. Beliche is beautiful, small bay with charming little caves, very close to Sagres. It has it’s unique Southern-west exposure, sometimes on a big day it might be completely flat, or create huge wedge out of nothing. The peak on the left is usually reserved for bodyboarders – scary, powerful, fast tubing wave. Many boards were lost here – including my own. – It snapped my board half and a leash at the same time – on a small day. The middle peak is usually good, the waves are bouncing from the cliff creating another A frame, or crazy triangles going both directions. The right side is usually more mellow. But be careful – the waves here are usually very powerful and breaking on the sand.
#8 Tonel
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 2m
Wave difficulty
Difficult
Currents
Medium – Strong
No. of peaks
2-3 on multiple
Access difficulty
Easy
Crowdedness
Medium – High
Localism
Medium
Van parking
Easy, plenty of space on Fortaleza parking
Tonel
Main surfspot for Sagres area. Located just near the fortaleza – also called “the end of world”. The beach is accessible even on foot from Sagres. It’s pretty wide and has many peaks which one of the most popular are near the central rock. The wave itself on a small day is very pleasing but don’t expect 2 minute ride. This wave has a tendency to closeout fast, especially on the bigger day when it’s just overhead – it gets very powerful, fast and heavy. Currents depend on the swell direction and volume of water. Usually they are pretty strong. Watch out surfing on the left side of the beach – You might got sucked out to Brazil. I don’t recommend going there during high tide – it’s just a lot of fight. And be careful for the rocks on the left side there are 2 main, but on the right side there are plenty. Better do Your own scouting before going in.
#9 Ingrina
Best tide
Low to mid, High to mid
Working size
0,5m – 1,5m
Wave difficulty
Difficult
Currents
Strong
No. of peaks
1
Access difficulty
Easy
Crowdedness
Medium to crowded
Localism
Medium
Van parking
Easy
Ingrina
The only rocky point spot in this collection. Ingrina is very small beach with reef-like bay. Currents are very strong going in the circles, but You might get yourself sucked out. – In this situation I think it’s better just to paddle out with the current to Zavial – which is around the corner. Be careful during high to low tide. The wave breaks near the rock on the left, but best quality is in the middle. As mentioned before the current is going in circles against the clock, so whenever You get near the rock – take it, go to the beach and back around from the right side. Thank me later – saves a lot of energy, You don’t need to duck-dive this shit. Usually the spot works when Zavial is too big. Anyway it’s very close by, so it’s worth to visit.
#10 Zavial
Best tide
Around mid tide
Working size
0,5m – 2m
Wave difficulty
Easy to Difficult
Medium
No. of peaks
3-4
Access difficulty
Easy
Crowdedness
Medium to crowded
Localism
Heavy
Van parking
Easy on the outside parking
Zavial
Clearly very popular, easily accessible spot near Raposeira. Very consistent and very local. On the bigger day when You start seeing perfect tubes and 5-6 guys in the water, don’t bother, take a camera and enjoy the show. Most of the times Zavial works even if other spots on south coast are flat. You can choose from 3-4 or 5 peaks. The main one is straight on, near the rock – tubing right. But as mentioned above it’s very local spot, you were warned. Another cool place is near the wall on the right side of the beach. Quite fast right – experienced surfers only. But mostly all middle and left side of the beach are open for tourists, surf schools, longboarders. During the season it’s very crowded, people are parking like jerks, so GNR is visiting frequently, easy to get fined. Otherwise the place is very cool.
Bonus
Below You can find the map with all these surfspots and as a bonus there are recommended parking spots – easy way to set up you navigation. Please remember – it’s still illegal to park for night anywhere in the wild. So keep it low, leave the park place and our spots clean.
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