Point break · Vila do Bispo, Algarve · 37°03′N 8°52′W
Zavial
A small bay south of Raposeira with one of the heaviest waves in the Algarve: a fast, hollow right that peels off the rocks at the west end. On winter swells it is for experienced surfers; in summer the beach is often knee-high.
Zavial is a small sandy bay flanked by rocks on the south coast of Vila do Bispo, below the village of Raposeira. In summer it is a quiet swimming beach. In winter it is where the south coast's best surfers wait for the right swell.
The wave
The right starts on the rocks at the western end of the bay and runs fast and hollow, with steep, wedgy take-offs and barrel sections. The rest of the bay breaks more like a beach break over sand, and can be gentle on small days.
Who it is for
The point is for experienced surfers only. It breaks over shallow rock, and when it is good it is almost always occupied by a local crew, so patience and respect matter. On small summer days the inside of the bay can work for learners.
When
The south coast needs a SW swell, or a large W to NW winter swell big enough to wrap around Cape St Vincent. A N or NE wind blows offshore. December to February is the prime window. Sources disagree on the best tide, so watch how the wave changes through the tide before you paddle out.
Nearby
Martinhal
A sheltered bay just east of Sagres where the summer north wind blows offshore across flat water: one of the few windsurfing spots in the western Algarve. Hardly ever any surf, and that is the point.
All levelsSummer afternoons, when the nortada blows
Beliche
A cliff-ringed beach between Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vicente, reached by a long stairway. More exposed and more powerful than Tonel, with a fast, hollow wave for confident surfers.
Advanced surfersAutumn to spring
Tonel
The west-facing beach at Sagres, a short walk from town. Far more exposed than the south-coast beaches, so it holds swell when everywhere sheltered is flat, but it is powerful and shifty.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring; the west coast is biggest and cleanest thenCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Zavial?
- Zavial is a point break. It wants SW, or a big W to NW winter swell that wraps in swell and works best with offshore from the n / ne wind.
- Is Zavial good for beginners?
- No — it's rated advanced surfers and is for experienced surfers only.
- When's the best time for Zavial?
- December to February for the right; tiny in summer.
- What should I watch out for at Zavial?
- Shallow rock at the take-off, rips and undertow on bigger days, and a tight local crew on the point.