Cascais & Estoril · Portugal

Surfing Carcavelos

A beach break in Cascais & Estoril, Portugal, for beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced · 1-6 ft

Carcavelos is Lisbon's main surf beach, about 25 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré. It's a wide sandy bay that faces south-west into the mouth of the Tagus, so it needs a decent west or south-west swell to break, and in summer it's often flat. From autumn to spring it works much more often, from knee-high to overhead, with a north or north-east wind offshore.

There are softer banks for beginners and faster peaks for experienced surfers along the beach. Surf schools work here every day and it's always busy, but the bay is wide enough to spread people out. After heavy rain the water near the river mouth gets polluted, so give it a day or two.

TypeBeach Break

LevelBeginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Size1-6 ft

Best monthsSep-Apr

Crowd5/5

ConditionsW-SW swell, N-NE offshore wind, all tides; often flat in summer

When to surf
Carcavelos

Carcavelos is at its best from September to April. Conditions it likes: W-SW swell, N-NE offshore wind, all tides; often flat in summer.

October to March: Prime

Consistent NW-W swell, mild city winter

April to May: Good

Reliable swell, warming water, fewer crowds

June to August: Quiet

Smaller waves, packed beaches, strong summer thermal wind at Guincho

The year across Lisbon Coast

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PrimeGoodQuiet

Where to stay near Carcavelos

Moby Dick students carrying boards on a beach near Sintra

Moby Dick surfers waiting for waves under the cliffs

The Moby Dick surf lodge in Malveira da Serra, Cascais

The Moby Dick surf house in Colares, Sintra

Room with a balcony and hill views at the Cascais lodge

Moby Dick Surf Camp

Malveira da Serra (Cascais) and Colares (Sintra) · two surf lodges in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park

from €325per person, 5 nights with 4 surf lessons, low season, in a room for 3–4

Two surf lodges, in Cascais and in Sintra
Guincho and Praia Grande about 5 minutes away
Transport, board, wetsuit and insurance included
Surf and yoga packs
Private and shared rooms

Moby Dick has two surf houses in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: a lodge in Malveira da Serra, five minutes above Guincho, and a renovated house in Colares, near Praia Grande and Praia das Maçãs. Lessons last two hours and suit all levels, and the instructors pick whichever beach has the best conditions that day. Packs include transport to the beach, board, wetsuit and insurance.

Surf packs (low season)	For	Per person
Surf Break 5 nights, 4 lessons of 2 hours, a tour	All levels	€325
Surf and Yoga Break 5 nights, 4 surf lessons, 4 yoga classes, a tour	All levels	€400
Best Surf Week of Your Life 7 nights, 5 lessons of 2 hours, a tour	All levels	€415
Intensive Surf Week 7 nights, 10 lessons, a tour	Improvers who want more time in the water	€540

Prices per person in euros, as listed on the camp's website, for low season (December to April) in a room shared by 3–4. Private rooms cost more, and prices go up in mid and high season (July to September is high). Both houses have a guest kitchen; breakfast is served from May to October and there are group barbecues.

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