A portuguese professional surfer talks about his favorites' beaches and why he thinks surf has a lot of potential

Tiago Pires is a surf icon in Portugal and worldwide. And he has a lot to say in what concerns beaches and best surf spots in Portugal, along with the potential this sport has from a travel destination point of view.

This is an excerpt of what he told national newspaper Expresso, for a special Beaches' Guide Edition.

We have some of the best beaches of the World, much diversified and beautiful. Our cropped coast has a lot of character. Personally, I love the Vicentine Coast. In terms of natural beauty, it is and area with beautiful beaches, pretty untouched by Man. For surfing, there are good waves from North to South, although the northern ones are colder but beautiful, like Moledo beach. In terms of waves, I would say south of Nazaré and Figueira da Foz there is a lot of diversity, coming with all sizes and formats. The best known are on my special list, such as Ericeira and Peniche. Let's not forget surfing is a development factor, but these days we need to ask ourselves what can we do to keep this going. We have to take advantage of the conditions we have, in terms of waves and climate, as we have the best climate in Europe. So it is yet the time to do a profound study of surf potential in Portugal. Sport's initiation is providing jobs to many people, and it is necessary to organize this practice. Beaches are not just for surf and sun... they exist all year long. Meaning we need to understand the interaction with the beach, both with surfers and bathers. And we need to keep preserving them. One cannot love the ocean and not respect the beach. We can no longer take garbage and not put it into the bin. We have to respect and leave the beaches clean, also because of the image this offers to our country. We want the traveler to come and find a well preserved beach. We totally agree with Tiago and welcome all these initiatives to keep our beaches as they are. Beautiful and lasting.

Photo by Rita Gomes Oliveira on Unsplash

SURF IN PORTUGAL

With a mild climate and 800 kms of coastline, Portugal is blessed with one of the world's greatest spots to Surf. Portugal offers a huge variety of waves and swell size, being also a good place to learn how to surf.

1) Ericeira
Just a few kms from Lisbon, the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve is a world-class surf zone with approximately 8 kms of coastline. It contains a high density of outstanding surf breaks, including iconic breaks such as Ribeira d’Ilhas and Coxos, among others.

2) Peniche
Due to the silting up of the shallow channel that divided Peniche from the rest of the country, here we can find an absurd amount of good waves, with plenty of variety and almost in any conditions. The most famous spot is Supertubos beach, with fast and tubular waves.

3) Nazaré
It was here that the Hawaiian surfer Macnamara surfed the highest wave ever ridden with an impressive 30 meters high. Another great spot is Praia do Norte with waves reaching up to 10 meters high.

SURF TRIP IN PORTUGAL

This TravelTailors program promotes a sport with strong international recognition in Portugal, benefiting from its privileged coast: surf. It promotes the practice of this sport, with initiation of perfecting classes (according to previous experience). It empathizes the quality accommodations and restaurants in the surrounding areas.

DAY 1: LISBON - AREIA BRANCA

Areia Branca

Arrival in Lisbon. 

Lisbon is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe! With blue skies almost all year round and a mild winter, Lisbon offers breathtaking panoramas of the city and the river, a picturesque setting where old trams take us from the narrow cobbled streets up to the excellent new hotels in broad boulevards, fabulous shopping opportunities of brand name and a fantastic nightlife. The old blends with the sophistication of the 21st century.

Alfama and the Castle give you a historic trip to the Arab and medieval times. In the areas of Chiado, Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real, you can find some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in Lisbon. During the day, the streets are filled with animated crowds strolling around the museums, the shops, the art galleries, the cafes or grocery stores that sell gourmet products. From the Baixa to the Marquês de Pombal Square, there are theaters, train stations, esplanades and alleys to take a walk in. In Belém, lies the majestic Jerónimos Monastery, the famous Tower of Belém, the Cultural Centre and the many museums and gardens that surround them. It is imperative to sample the delicious Pastéis de Belém!

Journey to Areia Branca. 

Around 20h30: Suggestion for dinner in Areia Branca. 
A magical place less than na hour from Lisbon: here you can fully breathe in nature. The pinetrees, dunes and the sea tell you their secrets. Feel the originality, the comfort and sophistication. Each one of the rooms confides in you a different story. In the restaurant, a trip filled with smells, flavors and colors awaits you, taking advantage of what the earth naturally gives us. 

Accommodation at hotel of the selected category.

DAY 2: AREIA BRANCA - PENICHE - ERICEIRA - GUINCHO

Peniche

Journey to Peniche. 
Before entering the town of Peniche, take a walk by the coast and let yourself be immersed in the wonderful spectacle of the sea. Coloring itself in tones of intense blue or deep green, either calm or with ferocious waves breaking in the rocks, this sea has molded sculptures in the rocks that have formed strange and dramatic forms, reminiscent of huge collapsed monuments. Take a walk in the Baleal beach, stretched out between two seas as if it were an island (and it has been one), highly sought after, along with the Consolação beach (south), for its excellent surf and bodyboard conditions. In Peniche, the fortress built by D. João IV in the 17th century formed, along with the Consolação and São João Baptista's beaches' forts, in Berlengas, an important military complex for protection again seaborne invasions.

Surf class in Peniche. 
Due to its geographic location, Peniche offers good waves all year round, being known worldwide as one of the best and most consistent spots for the practices of surf and bodyboard. There are several places with varied types of waves: from tubular waves, to ones less vertical and easier to surf, provided by the ideal sand bottoms for a safe initiation to these sports.

Journey to Ribeira d´Ilhas. 
This is a beautiful and cosy beach in Ericeira, in which the rock bottom (point-break) develops straight waves, either in the North part (that has the name Pontinha), or in the central part. It's a full beach: it's good for either an initiate or someone with much experience being also the chosen spot for carrying out one of the stages of the World Surf Championship.

Around 13h00: Suggestion for lunch in fresh fish restaurant, in Ericeira. 
Famous restaurant located next to the rocky cavities, it has a spectacular esplanade with a sea view, presenting a charcoal grilled fresh fish based menu. 

Journey to Guincho. 
In the Cascais área, the long sandy beach of Guincho is very sought after by everyone during Summer and all year round by surf and windsurf practitioners, sports for which this beach offers excellent conditions, with one of the World Surf Championship's stages being held here, in August.

Suggestion: bike ride in Guincho's bicycle path. 
By the sea, there is an 8km bicycle path, ideal to relax and enjoy the scenery. The bike rental is free. 

Around 20h30: suggestion for dinner in Guincho. 
Between the forest and Guincho's beach, we find a restaurante that shows a good mood and a lot of charm. A space with rustic and elegant décor, offering a pleasant sea view, its meny suggests fish dishes, such as the mixed sea grill or, if you prefer meat, a lamb chop with rosemary.

Accommodation at hotel of the selected category.

DAY 3: GUINCHO - SAGRES

Sagres

Journey to Milfontes. 

With a well preserved coast, the Alentejo littoral gathers busy beaches with wild ones, between River Sado's mouth and Algarve. If from Tróia to Sines you can enjoy a continuous stretch of sand, with such pleasant beaches such as Galé, Melides or Santo André, from the Sines' Port this natural paradise of sand and sea moves forward through Porto Covo, Milfontes, Almograve and Zambujeira do Mar, either in smoother openings or more rugged.

Around 12h30: suggestion for lunch in traditional portuguese cuisine restaurante, in Milfontes. 
Situated at the top of a cliff, this restaurant has a magnificent view to the ocean. The environment is very pleasant and relaxed, with tables and long wooden benches. It has a small esplanade, extremely inviting, for the warmer days. The cuisine offered is of great quality, with emphasis on the fish and seafood dishes. 

Journey to Sagres. 
With an origin previous to the roman conquest, it was in the 15th century that Sagres gained great importance. The frequent presence of the prince D. Henrique, during the beginning of the Atlantic navigation, associated forever this simple fishing port to the Portuguese Discoveries. Nearby, in the southeastern end of the European continent, lays the Cape of S. Vicente (Romans' Promotorium Sacrum), where a vast horizon of sea and sky opens itself before us.

Surf class in Sagres. 
According to your level of learning, we'll book a class in one of the most famous spots of the country. Sagres is an ideal place for surfing. The natural conditions of a great part of the atlantic beaches are excellent for the practice of this sport, with plenty of waves that gather the specific conditions for a lot of the lovers of this sport. In Martinhal, there's a school of this specialty.

Around 20h30: suggestion for dinner in restaurant, in Sagres. 
This restaurante opened its doors in 1995. Delight yourself with the Thermidor sauce scallops, pork medallions with mango sauce and end it with a cinnamon parfait with stewed apple; all of this accompanied by a good wine! 

Accommodation at hotel of the selected category.

DAY 4: SAGRES - CITY OF DESTINATION

Journey to city of destination.

NORTH OF LISBON - ÓBIDOS, ALCOBAÇA, NAZARÉ, FÁTIMA AND BATALHA

Make it a full day tour and discover the region north of Lisbon. The first stop is the medieval town of Óbidos. Then Alcobaça and its Dominican monastery. The next stop will be Nazaré, a traditional fishing village. Then we will visit Batalha, with its imposing Gothic church, before heading to Fatima, where the world famous Catholic shrine is located.

Find out more in our complete programs: North of Lisbon.

The route starts traversing a landscape dotted with windmills and orchards towards Óbidos, where we will have our first stop. You will be delighted with the harmonious architecture of this medieval city - just make sure you do not forget to try their delicious cherry brandy. After Óbidos, Alcobaça will be our next stop. The main attraction is the Dominican Monastery, where you can admire the elegant tombs of the Lusitanian version of Romeo and Juliet: Dom Pedro and Inês de Castro.

It’s time for a pause! There you can enjoy lunch in a typical Portuguese restaurant, and taste some of the delights of local cuisine. After that, our next stop will be Nazaré, a traditional fishing village know famous on account of the biggest wave for surfing, where you will have plenty of time to discover the legends and traditions of this jewel of the Atlantic coast of Portugal. Next stop will be in Batalha, where you will be dazzled by the grandeur and delicacy of its Gothic monastery, an architectural masterpiece of Gothic declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

To finish the tour, let's go to Fátima, where you can visit the world famous Catholic shrine and even attend a Christmas mass. This is a place considered sacred because it has been permanently associated with the Marian apparitions that occurred in Cova da Iria in 1917 and which were later recognized by the Catholic Church. The tour ends with a return to Lisbon.

ALGARVE, SOUTHWEST ATLANTIC WAVES

Discover the best of the Portuguese South. A traditional village renewed to receive tourists just next to the last treasure of the Portuguese ocean coast, the southwestern desert and wild beaches. Apart from the beach, surf and scubadiving, the village location is ideal for walking, cycling and nature watching in the Natural Park and Algarve mountains.

Carrapateira

The trail starts in the dunes of Carrapateira beach, and then goes along the coastal plateau all the way to Amado beach, where you can see a large number of Seabirds on their nest, or passing through here during migration, and a large number of white stork nests in the rocky cliffs - something unique in the world. From Praia do Amado, the trail continues towards the interior, and the landscape begins to change. Gradually species such as mastic trees, the white-leaved rockrose, the sage-leaf rockrose and cork-oaks begin to appear.

Bordeira

At the village of Bordeira, the walk is through a wooded area, with eucalyptus, stone pines and some corkoaks. The fauna is varied: here can be found the typical species of Mediterranean, like scrubland-wild boar, Iberian hare, European rabbit or the mongoose, among others. Arriving to Ribeira do Tacual, you’ll enter in a valley, where the landscape changes and you come across areas of olive trees and wild junipers.

Saint Vincent cape

The trail that will lead you to the coast starts in an area of scrubby vegetations, mainly consisting of mastic trees, citus and strawberry trees. Then you will go uphill until you reach Torre D’Aspa (109m) where you'll have a great view of the beach cliffs. Then you will roam south to Saint Vicente cape, the most southwestern point of the European continent, a sacred place for Romans that named it Promontorium Sacrum. This is a privileged spot for bird watching during the autumn.



The entire journey can be made by bike, on trails that are especially made for that purpose.
Suggestion: With a GPS you can do it at your own pace and enjoy the beautiful scenery's that these trails have to offer us.

Come to Algarve!