Surfing Sagres & Lagos

Right Point/Beach · Best Oct-Mar · 2-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

Solid W-SW swell, N-NW offshore wind, mid tide

Zavial is a bay east of Sagres on the south coast, and one of the Algarve's best-known winter waves. When a solid west or south-west swell wraps in, the right at the western end of the bay, off the point, turns into fast, hollow sections that barrel at low tide.

It's powerful and it has a strong local crew, so the point is for intermediate and advanced surfers. The eastern end of the beach is softer and that's where people learn on small days. It's not consistent: it needs a proper swell, mostly from autumn to spring, and a north or north-east wind is offshore. The rips get strong as the swell grows.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

W swell, NE offshore wind; exposed, picks up most swell

Tonel is the beach right below the town of Sagres, under the fortress. It faces west into the open Atlantic, so it's the most exposed beach in Sagres and picks up swell when the south-facing beaches are flat. That's why people call it the swell magnet of Sagres.

It breaks over sand with lefts and rights, and it works best on a west swell with a north-east offshore wind. On small days surf schools use it for lessons; in winter it's often big and powerful, and then it's for experienced surfers. When Tonel is too big or too windy, Mareta, on the other side of town, is the sheltered option.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-3 ft · Crowd 2/5

S-SE swell, NW offshore wind

Meia Praia is a long, wide beach running east from Lagos marina. It faces south-east, so it only gets small, soft waves, even when the west coast is huge.

That makes it a good place for a first lesson, and the beach Lagos surf schools fall back on when everywhere else is too big. It only breaks on a swell from the south or south-east, with a north-west wind offshore, and there's always space, even in summer. Faro airport is about an hour away.

Lagos is a short walk or bike ride away, with plenty of places to stay and eat.

Right Reef · Best Sep-Apr · 2-7 ft · Crowd 1/5

Solid S-SW swell, N-NW wind, high tide

Rocha Negra, or Black Rock, is a right over rock reef at Praia da Luz, just west of Lagos in the Algarve. The bay is sheltered, so it only works on a solid swell and isn't consistent.

When it does break, it holds a good size and gives longer rides than the beaches around Lagos. It suits intermediate and advanced surfers, and it's much quieter than Meia Praia.

It only breaks on a solid south-west swell, usually in winter, and works best at high tide. Praia da Luz is a small resort village with cafés and places to stay, and Lagos is about ten minutes away. On other days, the west coast around Sagres is the better bet.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-3 ft · Crowd 1/5

Big W-NW swell wrapping in; sheltered from N wind, mid tide

Mareta is the small bay right in Sagres town, sheltered from the north wind. It faces south, so it only breaks when a big west or north-west swell wraps around the point, and then it has soft, easy peaks over sand.

That makes it the fallback when Tonel, on the other side of town, is too big or blown out by the north wind. Mid tide is usually best, and smaller days are the easiest. The cafés and surf shops of Sagres are a short walk away.

Beach Break · Best Oct-Mar · 2-8 ft · Crowd 4/5

Big NW-W swell wrapping in, N offshore wind, mid tide

Beliche is a cove below high cliffs on the road from Sagres to Cabo de São Vicente. It faces south-west, so it's sheltered from the north wind that blows most days, and it comes to life when a big north-west swell wraps round the cape.

The waves are powerful and often hollow, with a left at the western end of the beach that can be very good. With the right swell it's one of the best waves around Sagres, and it gets crowded quickly.

Access is down a long staircase from the car park. There are strong currents, so it's not a place for beginners on a big day.

Reef Break · Best Oct-Mar · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW-W swell, N offshore wind, mid tide

Ingrina is a small bay on the south coast between Sagres and Salema, right next to Zavial. It has a reef on the western side and a sandy middle, with a beach café above.

It needs a south-west or west swell and a north wind, so it mostly works in winter and is often flat the rest of the year. When Zavial is running, Ingrina usually is too, with fewer people.

The reef is rocky, so watch your feet at lower tides.

The café above the beach is a nice place to wait for the tide, and Sagres is about fifteen minutes west.