Portugal's south-west tip: beaches facing west and south, so there is almost always a sheltered spot. 14 spots within 13 km of Sagres: 11 beach breaks, 2 reef breaks, 1 point break. 4 suit beginners.
Intermediate: Amado (Good, 1.4 m, cross-shore around 09:00), Tonel (Fair, 1.6 m, cross-shore around 10:00), Cordoama (Fair, 1.7 m, cross-onshore around 09:00)
Beginners: Mareta (Fair, 0.7 m, offshore around 13:00)
Advanced: Tonel (Fair, 1.6 m, cross-shore around 10:00), Cordoama (Fair, 1.7 m, cross-onshore around 09:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Ingrina · reef break, advanced, best on W/SW/S swell with N/NW/NE wind, all tides. Hollow left reef at a small beach near Vila do Bispo, rated a regional classic. The wave rebounds from a large rock, making it look bigger than it is.
Zavial · point break, advanced, best on W/WNW/NW/SW swell with N/NNW/NW wind, low to mid tide. Fast, hollow right off the western cliffs that needs a big long-period W/NW winter swell to wrap in, plus northerly wind. The beach peaks to the east are mellower and…
Martinhal · beach break, intermediate, best on SW/S swell with N/NW wind, mid to high tide. Hollow, quick beach break at Martinhal in the sheltered bay east of Sagres. Often flat when nearby west-coast spots are working, but fast on a good south swell.
Ponta Ruiva · reef break, advanced, best on WNW/NW/NNW swell with ESE/SE/SSE wind, all tides. A reef near Sagres on the Algarve west coast that takes northwest swell with a southeast wind. Rocks and locals demand respect.
Beliche · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/WNW/W swell with N/NE/E wind, mid tide. Cliff-sheltered cove with wedging, hollow peaks; needs a solid NW swell (about 1.5 m+) to wrap in. Offshore on N–NE winds, so it's the go-to when the west coast is…
Mareta · beach break, beginner, best on S/SW/WNW swell with N/NE/NW wind, low to mid tide. Sheltered south-facing town beach; usually small, but a big long-period NW/W swell wraps in or S swell hits directly. Offshore on N winds, a good learner option.
Castelejo · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/WNW/W swell with E/SE/NE wind, mid tide. Slightly more sheltered southern end of the Cordoama stretch with fun, punchy peaks. Small days suit improvers; NW swell plus east wind is the call, northerlies blow it…
Tonel · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW/SW swell with NE/E/N wind, all tides. Sagres' most consistent all-rounder, picking up more swell than nearby beaches. Fun under 1 m, hollow and heavy above ~1.5 m; cleanest on NE–E winds.
Cordoama · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/WNW/W swell with E/SE/NE wind, mid to high tide. Open, west-facing swell magnet with punchy A-frame peaks. Best on a moderate NW swell with light east winds; heavy and rippy when big, blown out by northerly wind.
Salema · beach break, beginner, best on S/SW/W swell with N/NNW/NE wind, low tide. Fickle south-facing village beach that only wakes up on a rare S swell or a very large W/NW swell wrapping in. Soft waves for longboards and learners; often flat.
Boca do Rio · beach break, advanced, best on SW/W swell with N wind, mid to high tide. Boulder-bottomed beach break by the river mouth near Budens, rated a regional classic. Needs a decent swell and a mid to high tide.
Cabanas Velhas · beach break, intermediate, best on SW/S/SE swell with N/NW/NE wind, all tides. Beach break between Salema and Burgau that sometimes works when nearby Zavial is too big. Needs a larger swell, tends to stay quiet.
Burgau · beach break, beginner, best on SW/S swell with N/NE wind, mid tide. Small bay beach where the best peak is a right on the cliff side, working on southwest and south swells. Usually uncrowded outside summer.
Amado · beach break, beginner, best on NW/W swell with E/NE wind, all tides. Wide sandbank beach and surf-school hub with several peaks, so there's usually room despite summer crowds. Picks up NW swell and handles light N wind; rips appear when…
When to surf in Sagres
Best months for intermediate surfers: February to April, September to December. For beginners: April, September to December. The water goes from about 15 °C in February (4/3 mm fullsuit) to 19 °C in October (3/2 mm fullsuit). Best-known spots: Amado. 4 of the 14 spots suit beginners, such as Mareta, Salema, Burgau.