Sagres & Lagos · Portugal
Surfing Zavial
A right point/beach in Sagres & Lagos, Portugal, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Zavial is a bay east of Sagres on the south coast, and one of the Algarve's best-known winter waves. When a solid west or south-west swell wraps in, the right at the western end of the bay, off the point, turns into fast, hollow sections that barrel at low tide.
It's powerful and it has a strong local crew, so the point is for intermediate and advanced surfers. The eastern end of the beach is softer and that's where people learn on small days. It's not consistent: it needs a proper swell, mostly from autumn to spring, and a north or north-east wind is offshore. The rips get strong as the swell grows.
When to surf
Zavial
Zavial is at its best from October to March. Conditions it likes: Solid W-SW swell, N-NW offshore wind, mid tide.
October to April: Prime
Consistent NW-W swell, mild Algarve winter, fewer crowds
May, Sep: Good
Warmer water, still decent swell, shoulder-season crowds
June to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches and high season prices
The year across The Algarve
Waves near Zavial
Ingrina
under 1 kmSagres & Lagos · Reef Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Mareta
8 kmSagres & Lagos · Beach Break · Beginner
Tonel
8 kmSagres & Lagos · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Sagres is small, quiet and built entirely around surfing and windsurfing; Lagos is livelier with more nightlife and the gentlest beginner beaches.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Sagres & Lagos guide.
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