Look no further than Portugal if you’re a surfer seeking the ideal location to ride some waves and soak up some sun. This lovely nation, situated on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula, has some of the most incredible waves in Europe. There are several places in Portugal to catch a wave, from the Algarve in the south to the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve in the north. There are numerous surf camps to select from, from luxurious retreats to cost-effective solutions to help you make the most of your surfing holiday.
Why then wait? Travel to Portugal with your surfboard in tow for the ideal surfing getaway.
Where to book your Yoga Retreats?
There are two major websites to use. We are working on a big comparison guide, stay tuned. The two best sites are:
Besides actual camps, you can also consider super fun surf hostels. We have collected the best surf hostels in Portugal here. The top surf camps Portugal offers are listed below, so keep reading to find out more!
Your Shortcut:
- 3-Night Stay + 2 Surfing Days at Surf Lisbon
- 4-Day Surf Camp in Costa da Caparica, Almada
- 7-Day Surf Camp for Beginner and Intermediate Surfers in Ericeira, Lisboa
- 8-Day Beginner and Intermediate Yoga and Surf Camp in Bensafrim, Lagos
- 8-Day Shark’s Week Surf Camp and Yoga Holiday in Peniche
- 4-Day All Levels Nature Surf Camp near Porto, Aveiro
- 4-Day Thrilling Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
- 4-Day Exciting Surf Camp in Baleal Beach, Peniche
- 7-Day Intensive Surf Coaching for All Levels in Ericeira, Lisboa
- 7-Day Affordable Surf Safari Package for All Levels in Peniche
- 8-Day Pleasurable Surf Camp in Sintra, Lisbon District
- 8-Day All Levels Surf Camp in Praia da Areia Branca, Lourinha
- 10-Day Uplifting Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
We also wrote up extensive guides to top yoga retreats in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka.
In this guide, you will find:
- Quick Introduction
- Best Surf Camps in Portugal
- 3-Night Stay + 2 Surfing Days at Surf Lisbon
- 4-Day Surf Camp in Costa da Caparica, Almada
- 7-Day Surf Camp for Beginner and Intermediate Surfers in Ericeira, Lisboa
- 8-Day Beginner and Intermediate Yoga and Surf Camp in Bensafrim, Lagos
- 8-Day Shark’s Week Surf Camp and Yoga Holiday in Peniche
- 4-Day All Levels Nature Surf Camp near Porto, Aveiro
- 4-Day Thrilling Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
- 4-Day Exciting Surf Camp in Baleal Beach, Peniche
- 7-Day Intensive Surf Coaching for All Levels in Ericeira, Lisboa
- 7-Day Affordable Surf Safari Package for All Levels in Peniche
- 8-Day Pleasurable Surf Camp in Sintra, Lisbon District
- 8-Day All Levels Surf Camp in Praia da Areia Branca, Lourinha
- 10-Day Uplifting Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
- More Yoga Retreats worth a mention
- Cheap Retreats
- Why choose Mallorca for your Yoga Retreat
- How to Book
- Map with our Insider Tips
- FAQs
- More info
Quick Introduction to Surf Camps in Portugal
Best Surf Regions in Portugal: Well, along the Atlantic coast there are endless opportunities. Yet, you need to know the area and currents and such. So it is best to go with locals and your surf instructor.
The best surf regions in Portugal are Algarve, Peniche, Ericeira, Near Porto, Near Lisbon, Lagos, and Baleal. While what can find the hottest surf spots in Portugal in Santa Cruz, Peniche; The Cave, Ericeira; Praia Grande, Lisbon; Esposende, North Porto; Costa da Caparica, Lisbon; and Lagos, Algarve.
Prices & Duration: Prices start from $176 to almost $1,238. It is an extensive price range. The minimum duration for a surf camp is typically three days.
Hostels offering Surfing Lessons: Actually, it should not be surprising, but in Portugal, many hostels come along with a surf camp. Super handy. We have collected the best surf hostels in Portugal here. Some of the surf hostels are:
- Douro Surf School in Porto
- Freesurf Camp & Hostel in Peniche
- WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel
New to Retreats? Read our full yoga retreats guide for beginners. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book retreats (and websites to use)
- What to pack for a retreat
- How to choose a retreat you will ❤️
13 BEST Surf Camps in Portugal
Portugal boasts the most alternatives and is one of Europe’s best surf locations. Even in the winter, surfing is a year-round activity. Portugal is the ideal location for the ultimate beach vacation because of the extensive stretches of beaches on the western and southern coasts, the 300 days of sunshine each year, and the sandy beaches.
But there’s more!
Portugal is a good option for families looking to try something new regarding vacations because it is affordable, and you can choose your activities.
1. Surfing Camps in Portugal for Beginner and Intermediate
The best time to visit Portugal is during spring and autumn. Advanced surfers find the best waves between November and April when the sea is cold and the water is rough. For beginners, the other months (May – September) are perfect, with a combination of suitable temperatures and sound waves.
In northern and central Portugal, you will need water all year round – 3/2mm in summer and 4/3-5/3mm in winter. In the south of Portugal, you can swim in a tiny swimsuit during the summer. In winter, a 4/3 mm layer of water should be sufficient.
1.1 3-Night Stay + 2 Surfing Days at Surf Lisbon
- Retreat Center: Surf Lisbon – House & School
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 3 days
- Location: Greater Lisbon, Lisboa Region
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Price: $176
Enjoy different waves for all ages and levels, and the weather allows you to enjoy the beach all year round. Surf Lisbon – Home & school certified instructors with high-quality surfboards and diving will create a unique surfing experience. They will provide you with beach transport and a surf house in Lisbon to make you feel welcome during your stay in Portugal.
Enjoy beautiful sandy beaches and surf, and discover unspoiled and breathtaking landscapes. It is the perfect choice for a challenging and complete trip!
1.2 4-Day Surf Camp in Costa da Caparica, Almada
- Retreat Center: Lisbon Surf Villa
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 4 days
- Location: Lisbon Metropolitan Area
- Skill level: Beginner
- Price: $181
Join this surf camp and discover why so many people love surfing in Portugal! During this vacation, you will stay at the Lisbon Surf Villa, which is excellent for surfers, active people, and children. Located in a welcoming area, the villa offers comfortable accommodations and the best swimming pool in Caparica. Around the villa, apart from sailing, you can enjoy many activities such as sailing, horse riding, golf, tennis, and many others. Discover Caparica in charming Lisbon and discover one of the most exciting sports in the world!
1.3 7-Day Surf Camp for Beginner and Intermediate Surfers in Ericeira, Lisboa
- Retreat Center: Hostel & Surfcamp 55
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 7 days
- Location: Lisboa
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Price: $398
Hostel & Surfcamp 55 in the center of Ericeira facing the sea. The 55 hostels have state-of-the-art facilities with hand-painted artwork in every room. Discover 55 Surf Hostel & Surfcamp packages with seven days of all-inclusive, six nights of accommodation, and six days of surfing in Ericeira, the world surfing haven!
You can use all the facilities of the surf house, such as:
- free Wi-Fi
- airport transfer
- skateboarding
- lounge
- kitchen
- terrace
- BBQ facilities
1.4 8-Day Beginner and Intermediate Yoga and Surf Camp in Bensafrim, Lagos
- Retreat Center: Tiny Whale Surf Lodge
- Type: Hatha
- Duration: 8 days
- Location: Bensafrim, Lagos
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Price: $829
Practice yoga in the secluded garden, surf the gentle waves of the south and west coast of the Algarve in Portugal and relax in the Tiny Whale Surf Lodge environment.
You can expect high-quality surf lessons in small groups of up to three people per instructor. With a bespoke training program that includes surf theory, video analysis, pool technique lessons, and skate sessions, you’ll be sure to improve your surfing and gain the skills you need to keep learning when traveling after that.
Your inspiring daily surf yoga routine with long-time yoga guru Miri is meant to stretch, relax and restore your body before the next day of surfing as you power through the day.
1.5 8-Day Shark’s Week Surf Camp and Yoga Holiday in Peniche
- Retreat Center: Shark’s Lodge
- Yoga Type: Surfing
- Duration: 8 days
- Location: Leiria, Centro
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Price: $545
Shark’s Yoga and Surf Retreat aims to ensure that you get the most out of your experience in Portugal, whether you are a surfing professional or have never tried it before. Certified instructors will ensure you learn the basics of surfing and have fun doing it. In addition, you will also have yoga time to complete your surfing practice.
Shark’s Lodge is a completely renovated house built 200 meters from the Atlantic Ocean in Baleal, Peniche. You will find a room for a comfortable stay, a bar, two pools, a tennis court, an outdoor CrossFit box, OCR equipment, and even a climbing wall. You can find a place that suits your needs at Shark’s Lodge. They have a variety of accommodations, including three bedrooms with private bathrooms (for men and women) and private rooms (single, twin, and double).
2. Surf Camps in Portugal for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced
From world-class surfing around Lisbon to great surfing in the Algarve, Portugal has excellent surf spots all around! The length of the Portuguese coastline is 1,794 km (1,115 mi). This city is well known for its dynamic surfing scene. It’s also a great spot for more intense surfing in the winter. Expect to find various surfboards suitable for all levels, from beginners to experts.
2.1 4-Day All Levels Nature Surf Camp near Porto, Aveiro
- Retreat Center: Marias Hostel & Surf
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 4 days
- Location: Ovar
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $145
The Furadouro beach in Ovar, Portugal, is where this camp is situated. Portugal is widely recognized for hosting tourists, particularly from the North. A lot of people are kind, modest, and helpful.
The beach in Furadouro, located in the northern region of Portugal’s Costa da Prata, has a long fishing history and a broad shoreline. It’s one of the most well-known beaches in the area and is famous for its excellent restaurants that serve seafood, grilled fish, and traditional Portuguese cuisine. There are some taverns with excellent entertainment at night throughout the summer, including nice beer, fantastic music, and “caipirinhas.”
2.2 4-Day Thrilling Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
- Retreat Center: The Surf Experience
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 4 days
- Location: Algarve
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $595
Building on all the past years’ experiences, Surf Experience is located in a special place in the middle of the combination of rock and roll surfing, where you can meet people who love and appreciate relaxation with yoga and other activities. Surf Experience can offer the best surf vacations for solos, couples, families, or groups.
The Surf Experience has explored Portugal’s southwestern surfing Mecca extensively to find the best waves for you to offer on any given day for whatever level you are. From beginner to advanced, with or without equipment, The Surf Experience will go all the way to get the most out of the ocean. Come and join the family!
2.3 4-Day Exciting Surf Camp in Baleal Beach, Peniche
- Retreat Center: Alex Surf Hostel
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 4 days
- Location: Oeste, Centro Region
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $260
For those who don’t have enough time or want to spend a long weekend, this surf school is for you! From beginners to advanced surfers, take a few days off and join the Alex de Baleal Surf School for the best surfing in Europe. Small teams allow you to focus more, pay more attention to development, and expect results in a shorter process.
2.4 7-Day Intensive Surf Coaching for All Levels in Ericeira, Lisboa
- Retreat Center: Hostel & Surfcamp 55
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 7 days
- Location: Ericeira, Lisboa
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $468
This package is perfect for all levels, beginners, intermediate and advanced, who want to learn or improve their sailing skills. You will focus on basic surfing techniques and benefit from intensive training with two days and theory lessons. Join Hostel & Surfcamp 55 with an intense 7-day surf lesson package!
2.5 7-Day Affordable Surf Safari Package for All Levels in Peniche
- Retreat Center: Peniche Surf Lodge
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 7 days
- Location: Peniche
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $321
Peniche Surf Lodge allows people from all over the world to combine three things: the love of surfing, meeting new people and having fun, sunny days on the beach and in the park, beautiful water with umbrellas, windbreaks, beach sports, and bicycles. You will join together in search of the best waves in and around Peniche every day, set up a beautiful water park, and stay and play together for the day. The Peniche Surf Lodge team is always guiding, helping, and caring for you so you can enjoy your surf trip 100%!
2.6 8-Day Pleasurable Surf Camp in Sintra, Lisbon District
- Retreat Center: Aldeia da Praia
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 8 days
- Location: Colares, Sintra
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $226
Aldeia da Praia sits in the middle of a brown forest and Sintra’s two beaches, Praia das Maçãs and Praia Grande. It is a 7-minute walk from the camp to the two spots with soft and white sand where the waves are lapping. When the sun sets, you will have the best view of the sun disappearing into the sea; there are local kitchens, supermarkets, and a few cafes and restaurants, around Aldeia da Praia where the hostel is located.
2.7 8-Day All Levels Surf Camp in Praia da Areia Branca, Lourinha
- Retreat Center: Ripar Surf Camp
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 8 days
- Location: Lourinhã
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $327
Ripar Surf Camp is located in Praia da Areia Branca, Lourinhã, Portugal. Praia da Areia Branca is a town 65 kilometers from Lisbon.
Praia da Areia Branca is the perfect destination for surfers, nature lovers, families, friends, and couples close to the best Portuguese surf spots. There is something magical about him that is hard to describe in words. You can fall in love with this bit of paradise.
2.8 10-Day Uplifting Surf Camp in Lagos, Faro
- Retreat Center: The Surf Experience
- Type: Surfing
- Duration: 10 days
- Location: Faro District, Algarve
- Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Price: $1,238
The Surf Experience every week of the summer season with Land Rover using one goal to score the best waves possible. Although the Surf Experience does its best to separate surfers, intermediates, and beginners as much as possible during the year, sometimes it isn’t easy. Therefore, these weeks are designed for you as a surfer to make it a perfect guarantee that you will have a dedicated driver and guide to go surfing every day for one week. There is no additional fee for these weeks, which is charged separately from the pre-surf lunch group.
Why Should You Go Surfing in Portugal?
Portugal is a great destination to explore the world of surfing. The long-stretched beaches on the western and southern coast, the 300 days of sun, affordability, and the incredible surf spots make Portugal a fantastic place for surfers. Here are our picks for some of the best surf camps in Portugal.
Portugal has an incredibly long stretch of sandy beaches along its western and southern coasts. It’s no wonder why Portugal is considered the surfing hotspot of Europe! Most of these sandy beaches are protected from the Atlantic waves by islands, cliffs, and jagged rocks, which allow for long, protected surf sessions.
Where to book your Yoga Retreats?
There are two major websites to use. We are working on a big comparison guide, stay tuned. The two best sites are:
All Surf Camps are put on a Map
I find maps always very useful for planning my travels and holidays. I created this unique map for you.
Remember, we have our detailed guide to the best hostels in Portugal has to offer. Here we cover much more information about the country. You will find great hostels, including beach hostels, 5 Star Hostels, and Boutique Hostels.
In the map below, we share ALL the best surf hostels and Surf Camps in Portugal.
More Useful Info
More Yoga Guides
Make sure you read as well our handwritten guide to
- Yoga Retreats in California
- Yoga Retreats in Mexico
- Yoga Retreats in Thailand
- Yoga Retreats in Costa Rica
- Yoga Retreats in Portugal
- Yoga Retreats in Sri Lanka
More guides for Portugal:
- best hostels in Porto
- best hostels in Lisbon
- best hostels in Faro
- best hostels in Lagos
- best surf hostels in Portugal
Find all our guides here, and if you are new to yoga and want to know more about it, you can check our guide about the BEST Yoga Retreats for Beginners.
Over to you: Any questions?
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