wavesdays

When to surf · Silver Coast

Nazaré in October

Prime autumn and the heart of contest season: the WSL Championship Tour at Supertubos in Peniche and the Challenger Series at Ribeira d'Ilhas in Ericeira both run this month. Solid swell, manageable crowds, water still wearable in a 3/2 early on.

Surfing at Nazaré
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0

Nazaré

Nazaré has two seasons. November to March is big-wave season, when the canyon fires and people come to watch from the headland, not to surf. The rest of the year the town beach is an ordinary, quiet beach break, fine for learners in the warmer months.

Autumn

Spots here

Nazaré
Praia do Norte
Beach break · Nazaré

Praia do Norte

The wave behind the Nazaré big-wave phenomenon. An underwater canyon funnels and amplifies Atlantic swell onto this beach, producing the largest surf ridden anywhere. A tow-in and big-wave arena, not a normal surf spot at any size.

Experts onlyNovember to March