Caminha
Beach breakAll levels
Sandbanks facing Mount Santa Tecla, next to the mouth of the Minho.
The coast faces west and gets lots of north-west swell; it works with an easterly wind, common in the mornings in autumn and winter. In summer the nortada blows, a northerly wind that ruins many beaches in the afternoon: get up early. The water is cold for its latitude because of Atlantic upwelling, 13–14 °C in winter and barely 17–18 °C in summer: a 4/3 works almost all year.
Map
Caminha
Beach breakAll levels
The beach of a Minho fishing town, with peaks by the harbour.
Viana do Castelo
Beach breakAll levels
Viana do Castelo's surf beach, at the mouth of the Lima river, also famous for kiting.
Póvoa de Varzim
Point breakIntermediate
A rock-bottom left in town, very popular with bodyboarders.
Matosinhos
Beach breakIntermediate
The beaches north of Leixões harbour, more exposed and powerful than Matosinhos.
Matosinhos (Oporto)
Beach breakBeginner
Porto's beach: sheltered by Leixões harbour and full of surf schools.
Espinho
Beach breakIntermediate
Peaks by the Espinho groynes, one of the hubs of Portuguese bodyboarding.
Ovar
Beach breakAll levels
Peaks for every level and almost never crowded, south of Espinho.
Ovar
Beach breakIntermediate
A quiet beach by rock groynes, with quality waves.
Ovar
Beach breakAll levels
A quiet beach near Ovar, best in small to medium swell.
Ílhavo (Aveiro)
Beach breakAll levels
Aveiro's surf beach, by Portugal's tallest lighthouse and the lagoon jetty.
Mira
Beach breakAll levels
A fishing village with boats on the sand and quiet peaks.
Conditions at a glance
| Spot | Wave type | Level | Best swell | Best wind (offshore) | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moledo | Beach break | All levels | NW, N, W | E, SE, NE | Low |
| Vila Praia de Âncora | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | E, SE | Mid |
| Cabedelo | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | E, NE | Low to mid |
| Póvoa de Varzim | Point break | Intermediate | NW, W | E, SE | Mid |
| Leça da Palmeira | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, W, N | E, SE | All tides |
| Matosinhos | Beach break | Beginner | NW, W, SW | E, NE | All tides |
| Espinho | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, W | E, SE | All tides |
| Esmoriz | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | E, SE | Mid |
| Cortegaça | Beach break | Intermediate | NW, W, SW | E, NE | Mid to high |
| Furadouro | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | E, NE, SE | Mid |
| Praia da Barra | Beach break | All levels | W, NW, SW | E, SE, NE | Mid |
| Praia de Mira | Beach break | All levels | NW, W | E, SE | Mid |
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.
Which wetsuit to bring
The water is around 13 °C in winter and 17 °C in late summer.
4/3 wetsuit
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
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5 mm booties
Warm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
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Shapers in Northern Portugal
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.