Surf camp · Ericeira
Rapture Surfcamps Ericeira
A surf camp in a Portuguese villa a few metres from Foz do Lizandro, a mellow beach break that suits lessons, with easy reach of the reserve's other spots.
Rapture's Ericeira camp is a traditional two-storey Portuguese villa at Rua do Lizandro in Carvoeira, right by Foz do Lizandro beach at the southern edge of the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, about 45 minutes from Lisbon. Rapture also runs a separate Coxos Surf Villa above Coxos beach in Ribamar.
Surf coaching
Lessons for levels 1 to 3 are booked as an add-on, with certified instructors and a maximum of five students per coach. Beginners learn ocean safety, wave reading and etiquette, with theory before going in; intermediates work on positioning, turns and surf guiding. Weekly video analysis and surf theory are included, and beach transfers go to the spot that suits each level: Foz do Lizandro and Praia do Sul for beginners, Ribeira d'Ilhas and Praia do Norte for intermediates, and the heavy reefs at Coxos, Pedra Branca and Cave for advanced surfers.
Staying here
Shared dorms, private double and twin rooms with ocean views and family rooms, air-conditioned, with terraces, an infinity pool and a communal kitchen. Breakfast every day and dinner Monday to Friday. Daily yoga and massage are available as extras, and evenings bring beach bonfires and trips into town.
When
Peak season runs from April to October; winter brings bigger swell and colder water.
Spots nearby
Cave
A short, violent right-hand barrel over a shallow rock shelf near Ribeira d'Ilhas. All the intensity of a slab in a small package. Experts only, and only at the right tide.
Experts onlyOctober to March
Coxos
The best wave in the Ericeira reserve and one of the finest right-hand points in Europe: long, thick, fast walls that barrel on the take-off and race down the reef. Advanced surfers only.
Advanced surfersOctober to April
Foz do Lizandro
The beach break at the mouth of the Lizandro river, just south of Ericeira. A wide, forgiving sandy beach that is the town's main learner wave and home to most of its surf schools.
BeginnersYear-round; summer is smallest and best for learning