Surfing Bordeira

Bordeira is a huge, open beach at Carrapateira, backed by dunes and a river. It picks up a lot of swell, and its sandbanks can produce powerful, hollow peaks.

With so much beach, the banks move all the time and a short walk can find you a different wave. On small days it's gentle, on bigger days it gets heavy, and the rips are strong once there's any size. It suits intermediate surfers and up.

Autumn and spring usually bring the best banks and swell. The walk over the dunes from the car park keeps the crowd small, and the river behind the beach is good for a swim on flat days. Carrapateira village, above the beach, has a few cafés and guesthouses.