Surf na Lourinhã: Praias, acampamentos de surf e escolas

A town with such an extensive number of beaches is bound to be a great venue to go surfing. Lourinhã sits on Portugal’s Silver Coast, facing the open Atlantic, and its cliff-flanked beaches pick up swell all through the year. Surfing here also means quieter line-ups than in the busier resorts further south, with a choice of beach after beach along a dramatic coastline.

Where to Surf around Lourinhã

Praia da Areia Branca is the liveliest spot, offering surfing and body-boarding classes as well as restaurants, bars and outdoor terraces along the sand for after your session. Just along the coast, Caniçal and Vale de Frades are quieter beaches where surfing and bodyboarding share the water with recreational fishing and diving, and Vale de Frades is also a fine place to end the day with a seaside sunset.

Surf Camps and Schools

The town hosts numerous surfing camps and schools so that surfers of all levels are able to conquer the Atlantic waves. These surf camps can last anywhere from 4 days to 15 days. One of the most notable camp names in Lourinhã is DESENVOLVIMENTO.

About 24 minutes away, the beaches of Baleal stretch between the mainland and Baleal Island. The island boasts a variety of coastlines, which means there are waves suitable for beginners as well as experienced surfers, and this has made Baleal a true surfing centre, home to camps such as the long-running Baleal Surf Camp, active since 1993.

World-Class Waves Next Door

Lourinhã sits in the middle of one of Europe’s most famous surf regions. To the south, the charming town of Peniche hosts the Rip Curl Pro Portugal every year, a competition during which surfers from all over the world compete against each other on waves often reaching 3 metres in height. Further north, the former fishing town of Nazaré has become legendary among the most daredevil surfers, who come in winter time to face its sometimes violent waves.

When to Go

There is surf on this coast all year round. Summer generally brings smaller, friendlier waves, ideal for beginners taking their first lessons, while autumn and winter deliver the bigger Atlantic swells that experienced surfers travel here for. Whatever the season, a wetsuit is standard in these Atlantic waters.

Whether you are picking up a board for the first time or chasing serious waves, Lourinhã makes an easy, uncrowded base for a surf trip on the Silver Coast.