Beach break · Areia Branca, Silver Coast · 39°16′N 9°20′W
Areia Branca
A compact, partly sheltered bay at Lourinhã, between Peniche and Santa Cruz, with a cluster of long-established surf schools. A dependable learner wave that takes the edge off a bigger swell.
Areia Branca is the beach at Lourinhã, a small resort town set in a bay between headlands. The shape of the bay takes some of the size and power out of an incoming swell, which is why the town has such a long history of surf schools.
The wave
Gentle beach-break peaks, cleanest around mid tide. The inside is soft and forgiving; the bay only really shows its teeth on a big swell, when the current strengthens and the outside gets heavier.
Who it is for
Beginners and improvers. Several of the schools here have been running for decades and know exactly where to put a first-timer on any given day.
When
W to NW swell, sheltered from a northerly, E wind offshore. Summer is the calmest and the most school-friendly.
Schools & rentals near here
The Surf Academy
A small school on Praia da Areia Branca run by a coach born and raised there, with group, private and advanced-coaching tracks and everything included.
SurfFrom EUR 35 / group class
Surf It Easy
A coaching-focused surf school in Baleal that pairs water sessions with surfskate training and video analysis, for beginners through to advanced surfers working on technique.
Surf
Ripar Surf School & Camp
One of the oldest schools on Praia da Areia Branca, running surf lessons and a surf camp on the Silver Coast since 2001.
Surf
Global Surf School & Camp
A surf school and camp established on Praia da Areia Branca in 2007, with lessons for all levels and stay-and-surf packages.
SurfNearby
Supertubos
The beach break that made Peniche famous: fast, hollow barrels over a sandbar, both ways with better lefts. Europe's answer to Pipeline and a long-time WSL Championship Tour venue.
Advanced surfersOctober to March, February often the pick
Molhe Leste
The beach break next to the eastern breakwater at Peniche, just along from Supertubos. A more forgiving wave than its famous neighbour, and the spot the crowd moves to when Supertubos is out of control or blown out by the north wind.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring
Prainha
A small, sheltered cove on the Peniche peninsula that stays surfable when the exposed breaks are out of hand. A calm, forgiving wave used by schools on bigger days.
BeginnersYear-round; a reliable option when the exposed breaks are too bigCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Areia Branca?
- Areia Branca is a beach break. It wants W to NW; the bay filters down bigger swell swell and works best with sheltered from n; offshore from the e wind.
- Is Areia Branca good for beginners?
- Yes — it's rated beginners and works for people who are learning.
- When's the best time for Areia Branca?
- Year-round; summer smallest and best for lessons.
- What should I watch out for at Areia Branca?
- Rocks at each end of the bay, and a stronger current when the swell is up.