Cascais & Estoril · Portugal

Surfing Guincho

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

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · Advanced / Pro · 3-8 ft

Guincho · Photo: Yann Cœuru from RUOMS, FRANCE, CC BY 2.0

Guincho is a wide, open beach west of Cascais, where the Sintra hills meet the Atlantic. It takes the full force of the swell and is one of the most powerful beach breaks near Lisbon.

It's also one of the windiest beaches in Portugal, which is why it's popular with kitesurfers. Surf early in the morning before the wind gets up. The currents and shorebreak are strong, so it's not a beach for beginners.

It's at its best in autumn and winter, early in the day, when a north-west swell meets light morning winds. In summer the northerly wind, the Nortada, blows hard on most afternoons, and the beach belongs to the kitesurfers.

Guincho is inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, with a big car park and a few restaurants above the beach, and Cascais is about fifteen minutes away by car or bus. If it's too big or too windy, Carcavelos, on the sheltered side of Cascais, is the usual backup.

TypeBeach Break

LevelAdvanced / Pro

Size3-8 ft

Best monthsSep-Apr

Crowd4/5

ConditionsNW-W swell, strong thermal wind, all tides

When to surf
Guincho

Guincho is at its best from September to April. Conditions it likes: NW-W swell, strong thermal wind, all tides.

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 Guincho

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.

Visit Moby Dick's website WhatsApp