Surfing in Portugal - Secrets of Costa Vicentina Natural Park
In the southwest of Portugal is the unspoilt Costa Vicentina Natural Park and its three outstanding surf beaches - Praia da Arrifana, Praia de Monte Clérigo and Praia da Amoreira.
South West Portugal
Situated in the southwest of Portugal is the unspoilt Costa Vicentina Natural Park, with its three outstanding surf beaches. This region has a good choice of excellent restaurants to choose from after a day out in the waves, and the Portuguese are some of the friendliest I have encountered in Europe. With great surf, exceptional food and a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the area is a great choice for a beach holiday. My personal favourite is Praia da Arrifana, a crescent shaped cliff-lined bay dotted with white and blue fishermen cottages. SurferToday describes it as one of the "most beautiful beaches in the world".
ITINERARY
- Praia da Arrifana- Here, the waves are consistent, and it is one of the few beaches on this stretch of exposed coastline that is protected from harsh weather by the headland. Popular with locals and visitors alike, Praia da Arrifana has a well-earned reputation as a fantastic beach on which to learn to surf. Experienced surfers can tackle the larger swells at a break peeling off the north end of the bay called Kangaroos. The swells here can easily reach 1.5 metres or more, and should only be tackled by those with a lot of experience, since the wave peels close to the rocky fringe. We watched in awe as some locals surfed it on our recent October visit.
- Praia da Monte Clérigo- When there is not much swell at Praia da Arrifana, take a 10-minute drive to Monte Clérigo, a charming beachside village with small, brightly coloured houses tucked into the cliffs above a long stretch of pristine sand backed by dunes. This Blue Flag beach, with its clear waters and beautiful rock pools which are wonderful for children to explore, is never crowded, and when the conditions are right, offers surfers great waves. When a northwest and offshore wind meet, the swell here can be exceptional.
- Praia da Amoreira- A few kilometres further along the coast is Praia da Amoreira, voted "the perfect beach" by The Times. At the southern end of the beach, the Aljezur river flows into the sea. On an incoming tide, this is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing float or have fun jumping into the water from the rocky banks. When the wind drops, the crystal clear waters and pristine sand make this a surfer's paradise.
The largest swells along this stretch of coastline occur from October to May, making this an ideal time to visit. June to September has consistent waves although the beaches are busier. Accommodation in this area can be arranged according to the surfers budget. We have options which have ocean views, or homes with swimming pools in Vale da Telha, a five to ten-minute drive to either Arrifana or Monté Clerigo beaches. Surfers can either bring their own boards or we can source great rental boards at a reasonable price. Surf lessons can be arranged in small groups of six or one-to-one sessions. At the end of the day, our recommendations on dining range from Asian to Modern Portuguese cuisine.
“"The south of Portugal is just a few hours flight from our home in Switzerland. Rugged, beautiful and unspoilt, it reminds me of Australia with great surf, excellent food and friendly locals." ”
Max, Verbier, Switzerland
ITINERARY
- Location: The Kachar Range, Northeast Turkey bordering the Black sea.
- Altitude: The top peak is at 3900 metres.
- Ski Zone: Skiing from 1’200m up to 3’600m.
- Vertical: 7000 per day depending on fitness.
- Average run: 700 to 1200 vertical m.
- Helicopters: Swiss Air Zermatt helicopters, H.T. partners.
- Accommodation: Hotel Hasimoglu in the village of Ayder. balls
The largest swells along this stretch of coastline occur from October to May, making this an ideal time to visit. June to September has consistent waves although the beaches are busier. Accommodation in this area can be arranged according to the surfers budget. We have options which have ocean views, or homes with swimming pools in Vale da Telha, a five to ten-minute drive to either Arrifana or Monté Clerigo beaches. Surfers can either bring their own boards or we can source great rental boards at a reasonable price. Surf lessons can be arranged in small groups of six or one-to-one sessions. At the end of the day, our recommendations on dining range from Asian to Modern Portuguese cuisine.
About Chalamar's Surf Adventures
Chalamar is constantly seeking new adventures, whether on land or venturing into our blue planet. Over the past four years, we have been lucky enough to spend several weeks each year surfing in Portugal, and have discovered "surf heaven" in Europe. We are surrounded by avid surfers and have excellent local knowledge/intel in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, having stayed there surfing since 2018. We can't wait to share it with you.
About Chalamar's Surf Adventures
Chalamar is constantly seeking new adventures, whether on land or venturing into our blue planet. Over the past four years, we have been lucky enough to spend several weeks each year surfing in Portugal, and have discovered "surf heaven" in Europe. We are surrounded by avid surfers and have excellent local knowledge/intel in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, having stayed there surfing since 2018. We can't wait to share it with you.
PRICES
Prices depend on your budget, your group size and your interests. We have lots of ideas for any children or non-surfers in your group.
Our Chalamar surf adventures include:
- Bespoke accommodation to match your group size and budget
- Organisation of group or private lessons
- Information on car hire (we recommend hiring a car to give you the freedom to follow the swell during the day and dine out in the evenings)
- Personalised service to discuss all aspects of your holiday so that you feel completely at home in this fantastic region
