Rivermouth · Ericeira, Silver Coast · 38°57′N 9°25′W
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.
Foz do Lizandro is where Ericeira learns to surf. While the reefs to the north are for experts, this wide river-mouth beach a couple of kilometres south of town is soft, sandy and open, and on a small summer day it is close to ideal for a first week in the water.
The wave
Peaks shift along the beach with the banks. The inside reforms are gentle and forgiving; the outside gets more push on a bigger swell and can hold a proper wave for intermediates. The sandbanks near the river mouth are often the best.
Who it is for
Beginners and improvers, and every school in Ericeira teaches here. On a bigger autumn swell it steps up and the outside peaks suit stronger surfers who want an uncrowded beach break.
Watch for
The river current, which runs toward the rocks on the south end and is stronger on the incoming tide. After heavy rain the river can affect the water, so give it a day or two.
Schools & rentals near here
Activity Surf Center
An Ericeira surf school running since 2012, with lessons for every level across the town's beaches, plus board and wetsuit rental and a shop in the centre.
SurfEriceira Surfboard Rental
Board and wetsuit rental for the Ericeira area - soft-tops and hard-tops from 12 EUR a day, with delivery, roof racks and free board swaps.
SurfFrom EUR 12 / day
Ericeira Waves
A surf school in Santo Isidoro, Ericeira, since 2014, teaching on several beach breaks around the World Surfing Reserve with Portuguese Surf Federation instructors and groups of up to five.
Surf
Mica Surfboards
Mica Lourenço hand-shapes made-to-measure boards out of Carvoeira, minutes from the Ericeira reefs: grovellers, step-ups, eggs, classics and a full high-performance line.
Surf
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.
Surf
Semente Surfboards
Portugal's most established performance surfboard label, shaping in Ericeira since the 1980s. Founded by American shaper Nick Uricchio in the town at the centre of what is now the World Surfing Reserve.
Surf
Wavegliders
An Ericeira surf shop and shaping room in one - hand-shaped boards by Nico alongside a classic-leaning shop, in the town at the centre of the World Surfing Reserve.
Surf
Blue Ocean Ericeira Surf School
A surf school based right on Ribeira d'Ilhas beach, inside the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, running lessons and multi-day courses for every level with equipment included.
SurfFrom EUR 40 / lessonNearby
São Julião
A big open beach break between Ericeira and the Sintra coast, known as the area swell magnet -- it has waves when the reserve reefs are flat. Beginner-friendly on a small mid tide, dangerous on size.
All levelsYear-round; biggest and cleanest autumn to winterPedra Branca
A fast, shallow left-hand reef on the north side of Ericeira town, rated the best lefthander in the reserve. Expert only -- the take-off is straight onto dry rock.
Experts onlyAutumn to spring
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 AprilCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Foz do Lizandro?
- Foz do Lizandro is a rivermouth. It wants W to NW; the inside stays small and manageable swell and works best with offshore from the ne / e wind.
- Is Foz do Lizandro good for beginners?
- Yes — it's rated beginners and works for people who are learning.
- When's the best time for Foz do Lizandro?
- Year-round; summer is smallest and best for learning.
- What should I watch out for at Foz do Lizandro?
- River-mouth current that pulls toward the rocks on the south side, and a shore dump on a bigger swell. Water quality can drop after heavy rain.