Reef break · Ericeira, Silver Coast · 38°58′N 9°25′W
Pedra 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.
Pedra Branca breaks off the rocks at the northern edge of Ericeira town and is generally rated the best left in the World Surfing Reserve. It starts working on a small swell and holds size, and on its day it throws a fast, hollow wall that barrels.
It is an expert wave and nothing less. The take-off is steep and shallow, straight over a reef that dries out at low tide, and a mistake means hitting rock. The line-up is small and local. Watch it from the cliff, be honest about your level, and if you are not sure, you do not belong out there.
Best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, mid to high tide.
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
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
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 MarchCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Pedra Branca?
- Pedra Branca is a reef break. It wants SW swell swell and works best with offshore from the ne wind.
- Is Pedra Branca good for beginners?
- No — it's rated experts only and is for experienced surfers only.
- When's the best time for Pedra Branca?
- Autumn to spring.
- What should I watch out for at Pedra Branca?
- Very shallow reef, fast dry take-off, rocks and urchins, territorial line-up