I am writing this article straight after coming back from my first ever surf week in Portugal with Lapoint surf camps. Now I am a pro-surfer with one week of intense surf under my belt and know absolutely everything there is to know about cut-backs, the ocean, green waves, tubes, surfing and what type of soft board you need to begin, or be a pro. If you’re new to surfing you’ll probably think I know my shit, but if you’re a surfer you can tell that what I said in the above paragraph makes no sense whatsoever. Well now, banter aside, surf’s up, dudes!

Weather

      It’s Portugal, I can surf butt-naked, you might think. Wrong! Ericeira is roughly 60km/40 miles NW of Lisbon on the coast of the mean and beautiful North-Atlantic. If you know your geography you probably understand how the ocean currents travel from the Equator along the American continent carrying warm water, go close to the Polar circle and travel back with cold waters that sink slowly to the bottom as they come back on the coast of Europe and then further down towards Africa. Ericeira has cold waters that can easily go way under 20ºC, depending on the time you plan to surf. The earlier, the colder the water. Outside temperatures are still going towards 30ºC-35ºC, but the cold ocean air will try to cool you down a bit more than you expect. If you think Lisbon temperatures, you’re wrong again. As a fact, when they had +40ºC in Lisbon, we had 30ºC in Ericeira, maybe less towards the evening. That’s quite a big difference and it’s the ocean that dictates it. During the night it can get very chilly, so think of bringing a jumper or hoodie with you.

For surfing you’re going to need a 4:3 wetsuit.

WARNING!

      Use SPF 50 for your face, head and lips. I got burnt during the first day and my body had gone wild. My lips exploded and kinda killed my socialising vibe for the entire week. I was not the only one in the camp with burns, but mine just took it to another level. Use suncream from the first day to avoid disaster.

Transport

       I stayed in Lapoint surf camp, next to  Foz do Lizandro beach, which is about 1.5 miles or 2.3 km from Ericeira town centre. You have regular buses that stop in front of the camp to take you to Ericeira, you can walk (I recommend it), you can grab an Uber (regular price was 2-3 Euros and surge 4-6 Euros), or call a local Taxi. I booked Ubers a lot due to the low price. Living in London made me feel that they were almost free! I was surprised they had Uber there altogether. If you decide to share a taxi you might pay less that a Euro each. Crazy! From the centre of Ericeira you have buses to Lisbon and other destinations.

Specific to Lapoint surf camp

      It is worth to pay the 50 Euros for their shuttle service to pick you up from the airport and take you back at the end of your stay. If you don’t, Uber will charge you little under 50 Euros from the surf camp to Lisbon airport and taxis about 50-60 Euros. Both one way only. You just have to tell Lapoint your arrival time and meet them in the airport at the specified location, usually next to the red Vodafone shop.

Culture

      Portugal and Portuguese people are magic. Ericeira is full of amazing people from all over the world going there to surf, or just enjoy a slice of Paradise. Yes, trust me, it is that good. In the city square they have events almost every week, or maybe I was that lucky, where you can listen to jazzy Portuguese sounds, or just enjoy some shopping through the narrow streets. You’ll also find people of all ages that go surfing, locals or not. Being a top destination for this sport it is highly likely that you will hear everyone talking about it. You’ll see a lot of colourful houses, all with a hidden meaning and paintings with Virgin Mary at the front. Portugal is a Christian country and they like to celebrate their saints in a very festive and colourful way.

     It is also a very safe country, you can leave your things on the beach without worrying that someone might steal them. I still would not recommend leaving valuables unattended and the locals tell you the same. The changing tide will take care of your things.

Attractions

     The main surf beach is Foz do Lizandro. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or a pro, there you’ll have waves for all levels, depending on the weather conditions and time. Your instructors will tell you when is the best time to go, or you can follow the swells with Magic Seaweed app. Very useful! Down on the beach you have a surfboard shop where you can buy lessons with 30 Euros for 2 hours of training, and a couple of restaurants where you can eat. A downside of this beach is that it can get very crowded with people watching the surfers, surfers trying to catch the perfect waves and the schools of surfers. If you are still a beginner be really careful when surfing and choose your hours properly. You can get hurt really bad if you don’t!!!

      Go hiking on the hills and also scout the river that flows into the Atlantic ocean at Foz do Lizandro.

     The beach for the regular people, or if you just want to have a swim, with no waves at all, is Praia dos Pescadores, in Ericeira town. Go there as a family and let your kids go wild in the lake-looking water. It’s a bit warmer too.

     I haven’t been to the other beaches, so I will stop here. These two should be enough for a week of surf and relaxation.

     For a bit of culture visit the museum in Ericeira, or if you want to go deeper, hire a local guide to take you around. It’s cheap, but gold, trust me. Most Uber or Taxi drivers are guides as well, ask them about anything if they don’t offer. Just be aware that an Uber driver called Fernando doesn’t like short trips :).

     Last but not least, you have to visit the royal vineyard at Quinta de Sant’Ana, 12 miles/19 km from Ericeira. Enjoy local wine that goes well with a mix of Portuguese cheeses. The place is amazing! Though, I was hoping I’ll find sulphites free wines there, but I couldn’t. My family used to own a vineyard and I know almost all there is to know about how to maintain the vine, make wine and how to preserve it. When you know all these it’s hard not to be critic. Their wine is just, well, not what I expected from an actual vineyard. When you go to a vineyard in my country most owners will serve you wine with no added chemicals or tasting like the commercial ones. Maybe I’m too critic, but can’t help it. You still need to visit it.

Nightlife

     You definitely have to start your night out in Tubo Bar and Tubo Tiki Bar, or Calavera Tequila bar. They are close to each other and with different themes. They get cramped really fast with party people, mostly Scandinavians, until everyone fills up the streets around. Drink, party and socialise in the heat of the night and if you think of “scoring”, that is the place to start. You won’t get a better chance anywhere else.

     If you still haven’t hooked up, or maybe you need a bit of tempering with your sexy other, still, then head over to Discoteca Ouriço. It is packed almost every day and pretty intimate. If you’re specific with your music taste, read again Dicoteca. If you’re alone and want to pull something, maybe a local lady, go to her with style and make her laugh. Like any latin woman, the Portuguese one does not like a wuss. Go in for the “kill“, or go home.

Shopping

     For local goodies go to Ericeira’s high street, where Billabong shop is. There you’ll be able to find a lot of artisan stuff, like the cork MacBook pouch. Explore the limited options, but enjoy their unique personality.

    Maybe you want to buy yourself some gear from Billabong? It’s still a bit cheaper than their other high street locations and maybe you’ll get a discount. It’s still Billabong though.

Food

     In Foz do Lizandro the most popular out of the few restaurants is Limipicos, where you have to try the Sambuca/Absynth shots and the Chèvre Quesadillas. The other restaurants looked nice too but haven’t tried them.

     When it comes to Ericeira I don’t know where to start… Honestly, I think it is impossible to find a restaurant with bad food. Everywhere I ate I felt like not wanting to stop. I’m a fish and seafood fan and had the grilled octopus in two different locations. So, I had two octopussies in August… Haha! Ha! It can not get fresher than this. I’m going to name the restaurants I went to.

      For amazing grilled octopus, but with different sides, go to Prim restaurant and Asquinha (next to the local fish market). They’re both delicious and if I’d have to choose, I would go for Prim because of the grilled vegetables and delicious spinach puree.

     I had the best sushi so far at UniSushi; went there twice during my stay.

     Have an amazing detox shake at Green is Good.

   Lunch at the Cuban inspired Sunset Bamboo bar is bliss. Order the grilled tuna sandwiches with an icy Cuba Libre and feel life running through your veins.

    For the best and biggest ice-cream in the world, locally produced, go to Nutwood, next to Green is Good. Get the big cone for 4 Euros and have too much ice and taste. That is a divine ice-cream. Try this perfect combo: lemon, melon and coconut. It will refresh your spirit.

    Brisa, Mar d’Areia and Ribas are three restaurants I could not visit, either because of lack of time, or needing to book in advance, especially Brisa – the lobster craze. I think I’ll go back there only for that. For crab madness, Ribas looked the perfect place. Mar d’Areia is all sea fruit. If you are there do not miss eating out. Eating at the hotel is a mistake!

Accommodation

     In the Lapoint camp I booked a sea view dorm and I really liked it.

  Along the coast towards Ericeira they have plenty of hotels facing the Atlantic and I recommend you to book at the ocean. You’ll enjoy amazing sunsets.

Lapoint Surf Camps

     In Ericeira they have two locations, 5 minutes apart, Villa Lizandro and Quinta Lizandro (this one is a new build). I stayed in the latter and it was a good choice due to its positioning, with superb views of Foz do Lizandro beach and the nearby hills with the river. They have their own kitchen, a pool area where you can have breakfast, chill in the sun, order something from the bar and swim. There’s even a bungalow with a pool table. If you like skateboarding they also have a skating area with pull-up bars at the back of Quinta Lizandro. According to the locals that place used to be a Discoteca. During my week they were still working to put the final touches together, but that did not mess with our plans one bit. There’s WiFi on location. The staff are really nice and helpful and everyday you’ll have the daily schedule written on the board in the breakfast area. The rooms are really clean and chic, but if you live in a dorm with people that finish four rolls of toilet paper in less than a day, you might be in trouble if you don’t check before going… 🙂 Bring your own towel. At times you might find it a bit challenging when taking a shower and not having a support to put the soap or shampoo. Watch your head if living in an attic dorm, I didn’t. Ouch!!! One day we had no water for about half a day, but that was a regional issue and not the camp’s fault. They will give you all the equipment you need, like soft board, wetsuit and leash. Those will be yours for the entire duration of your holiday. Wash them properly and take care of them. Their surf coaches are very good, with a lot of experience and I can guarantee you that by the end of the first week you will be able to  tackle Level 2 waves (green waves).

Advise!

     As a word of advise, train your arms before going there. Boxing is good, training with extensors and anything else that will develop stamina in you arms, forearms and shoulders. Pull-ups, push-ups and swimming are really good as well. If I could do it with a previously 6 times dislocated shoulder, you’ll be able to do it too. I must say that at the end of the week I had severe muscle pains. The pains are normal, but start training at least one month before the surf.

    Another thing, depending on the level of surf, be prepared to surf really early in the morning, like 06:15 on the beach early. Usually Level 1 starts later in the day. It all depends on weather conditions, swells and crowds. During a sunny day you might not be able to catch any waves because of all the schools and independent surfers that are chasing the same thing. It’s also highly dangerous to surf when it’s too crowded. Your trainers will try to make it easy for you to learn, even if you think different. Don’t blame them for waking you up really early. Just remember that you’re paying them to teach you and that it’s hard for them also. You’ll understand what I’m talking about when surfing during crowded times.

Villa Lizandro

     Lapoint’s older location is five minutes walk  from Quinta Lizandro, towards Ericeira. They have a restricted view of the ocean, a volleyball court with sand, a training corner, a bar and a chill out area where you can play table tennis. No matter the villa you choose, you’re still close to the surf beach.

     In both locations you can have breakfast, order lunch, or sign up for dinner if you want to, but my advice would be to eat in the city or at the beach, not because their food is not tasty, it is, but because Ericeira’s restaurants are amazing. Go out, explore, its a paradise out there.

     Keep in mind that you’ll make friends from all over the world. That’s one of the best parts of the surf camp holiday. Go with the flow and don’t be one that spoils the vibe. Don’t be too serious and have fun as much as possible. You’ll befriend some and with others you’ll barely exchange any words. Just be natural, relaxed and weird. Remember, everyone is there to have fun. 😉

     One more thing: at the end of the week everyone was feeling sad that we only booked one week.

I can only bow and say one thing:

Thank you, Lapoint!

Travel yourself to life!

Report a Typo or Mistake within this article here.