Rivermouth · Arrifana, Costa Vicentina · 37°21′N 8°51′W
Praia da Amoreira
A river-mouth beach break below the cliffs near Aljezur, where the Ribeira de Aljezur meets the sea. Fickle, with strong currents at the mouth. Best on a west to south-west swell with an east wind.
Praia da Amoreira sits at the southern end of a wide sandbar where the Aljezur river reaches the Atlantic, with a broad lagoon behind the beach. The waves break both left and right, with the rights favoured at lower stages of the tide.
It works on a west to south-west swell, roughly 2 to 6 ft, with an east wind. It is wind-exposed and can be very fickle. Sources disagree on level, from beginner-friendly to intermediate and advanced, so judge it on the day. The main hazard is the current near the river mouth, which can be very strong, especially at high tide. Monte Clérigo is a short way along the coast.
Schools & rentals near here
Aljezur Surf School
A surf school and camp based in Vales, Aljezur, teaching at Praia da Arrifana and Praia do Monte Clérigo with Portuguese Surf Federation instructors and groups of up to eight.
SurfArrifana Surf Lodge
A small surf lodge run by Aldo and Sarah in Vale da Telha, five minutes from Arrifana beach, with private and shared rooms, a plunge pool and yoga terrace, and all-inclusive surf and yoga or jiu-jitsu packages.
Surf
Barbudas Surfboards
One shaper, João, building custom boards from start to finish in Aljezur, designed for the heavy, exposed waves of the southwest coast.
SurfNearby
Monte Clérigo
A north-west-facing beach below a small hamlet near Aljezur, with sand to the north, rocks to the south and a stream that shapes the banks. Few surfers even on good days, and wind is the main thing to watch.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring
Arrifana
A cliff-ringed bay near Aljezur, partly protected by a headland and an offshore rock stack. That shelter makes it one of the more forgiving spots on an otherwise heavy stretch of the west coast.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring; workable much of the year
Odeceixe
Where the Seixe river meets the sea on the Alentejo-Algarve border. A sheltered river-mouth bank suits beginners at low tide; the open sea side is a heavier, exposed beach break.
BeginnersSpring to autumn for the calmest river-mouth conditionsCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Praia da Amoreira?
- Praia da Amoreira is a rivermouth. It wants W to SW swell and works best with offshore from the e wind.
- Is Praia da Amoreira good for beginners?
- Not for a first session. It's rated intermediate — better once you can paddle out and read a line-up on your own.
- What should I watch out for at Praia da Amoreira?
- Strong currents at the river mouth, especially at high tide