Also surfed
02 · Monte Clérigo
A wide, sandy bay with often gentle, crumbly waves on small days. At low tide the sand runs far out.
Lagos ✦ Algarve, Portugal
Surf the coast, Amoreira to Alvor.
A map of the coast from Amoreira, south round Cabo de São Vicente and east through Lagos to the Ria de Alvor: the beaches, the landmarks between them, and where to rent a board or get a lesson.
The coast at a glance
Twenty beaches, one coastline.
From Amoreira in the north, down past Cabo de São Vicente, then east to the Ria de Alvor. The dotted line is the real shoreline; below, it unrolls down the page, beach by beach.
Safety first. Surf conditions change with every tide and swell, and sandbanks move. Check the lifeguard flags, ask the lifeguard or a local school before you go in, and surf at your level. Beach information here is a guide, not a guarantee, and was checked in October 2026.
The images on this page are illustrations, not photographs of these beaches. Coastline © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); beach positions from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.
- 01 Amoreira
- 02 Monte Clérigo
- 03 Arrifana
- 04 Vale Figueira
- 05 Bordeira
- 06 Amado
- 07 Barriga
- 08 Cordoama
- 09 Castelejo
- 10 Beliche
- 11 Tonel
- 12 Mareta
- 13 Martinhal
- 14 Zavial
- 15 Salema
- 16 Burgau
- 17 Luz / Rocha Negra
- 18 Porto de Mós
- 19 Meia Praia (Lagos)
- 20 Alvor Poente
Spot 01 of 20 · Aljezur
Amoreira.
Where the Ribeira de Aljezur meets the Atlantic, a wide beach backed by dunes. The river keeps moving the sandbanks, so the best peak can shift from one week to the next.
- Break. Beach break beside a river mouth.
- Swell and wind. Typically best with a west to northwest swell and an easterly (offshore) wind.
- Level. Mixed. Often gentler on small days and much more demanding when the swell is up.
- Heads-up. A river current can run strong near the mouth. Watch the lineup before you paddle out.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Landmark
Ribat da Arrifana
Remains of a Muslim coastal fortification built around 1130, the only such ribat identified in Portugal; excavated since 2001.
Surf school or shop
Surf Rental Aljezur
Aljezur / Arrifana · local pick, not a partner
Spot 03 of 20 · Aljezur
Arrifana.
A cliff-sheltered bay with about 500 meters of sand, one of the main surf beaches around Aljezur. The beach break is the friendlier part. The point at one end of the beach is for experienced surfers.
- Break. Beach break, plus a point break over boulders at one end of the beach.
- Swell and wind. Southwest, west or northwest swell. The cliffs shelter the bay from north and northwest wind.
- Level. The beach break often suits beginners and intermediates. The point is for experienced surfers and needs size to work.
- Heads-up. Rocks on the inside of the point, and the lineup there can be crowded. Access is by a steep, winding road from the clifftop parking.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
- Official “limited-use” beach in 2026
Also surfed
04 · Vale Figueiras
Remote, at the end of a dirt track, with no facilities. The official 2026 list does not include a lifeguarded beach here.
Surf school or shop
Arrifana Surf Lodge
Arrifana · local pick, not a partner
Spot 05 of 20 · Carrapateira
Bordeira.
A very long, dune-backed beach with a river and wooden walkways leading down from the cliffs. There are many peaks, so a quieter one is usually a short walk away.
- Break. Exposed beach break with many peaks; a cliff-side point at one end.
- Swell and wind. Typically picks up north and northwest swell, even on smaller days.
- Level. Beginners can go in with a local school on small days; it is much more powerful on big days.
- Heads-up. Rips and shifting sandbanks are common. The point sits over rocks and is for experienced surfers only.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Landmark
Forte da Carrapateira
A military monument in the village of Carrapateira; the parish church stands inside it.
Surf school or shop
Carrapateira Surf School
Carrapateira (Bordeira beach) · local pick, not a partner
Spot 06 of 20 · Carrapateira
Amado.
A west-facing beach that catches swell reliably, even in summer when the south coast can look like a lake. Parking, a cafe and local surf schools are usually found around the beach.
- Break. Beach break with several peaks that shift with the sandbanks.
- Swell and wind. Typically best with a northwest swell and an easterly (offshore) wind.
- Level. Often busy with learners in summer; it can get heavy in winter.
- Heads-up. The banks change with the seasons, so ask a local school what is working before you go in.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Also surfed
07 · Barriga
A remote beach on a dirt road, with no services. We found no reliable surf details, so we list it as a place to look, not to paddle out.
Surf school or shop
Amado Surf Camp
Carrapateira and Sagres · local pick, not a partner
Spot 08 of 20 · Vila do Bispo
Cordoama.
A long, quiet beach inside the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, with no resorts and no shops. Several peaks mean there is room to spread out.
- Break. Long, exposed beach break over sand, with a few patches of rock.
- Swell and wind. Typically a northwest or west swell, with an east or northeast (offshore) wind.
- Level. Intermediate-leaning. Often mellow whitewater for beginners in summer; more powerful, with strong rips, in winter.
- Heads-up. Hidden rocks and rips. The tide changes the waves a lot, so ask a local school or the lifeguard what is working.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Also surfed
09 · Castelejo
A beach with a large rock formation on its right side, sandbars and hidden rocks, just south of Cordoama.
Landmark
Cabo de São Vicente
The southwesternmost point of mainland Portugal and Europe; the lighthouse was established in 1846.
Spots 10 and 11 of 20 · Sagres
Sagres: Tonel and Beliche.
Two beaches near the southwest corner of Portugal. Tonel faces west, with peaks along the sand. Beliche is a compact cove under high cliffs, reached by a long staircase, and it is the punchier of the two.
- Break. Tonel: beach break around a central rock formation. Beliche: a cove with a wedging peak.
- Swell and wind. Tonel: northeast wind is offshore. Beliche: the cliffs give some shelter, but guides differ on the best swell, so check on the day.
- Level. Tonel can suit beginners on small days and is serious on big ones. Beliche is for more experienced surfers.
- Heads-up. Hidden rocks at Tonel; shallow, powerful waves at Beliche and a long climb back up. Both are on the official 2026 list of limited-use beaches.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
- Official “limited-use” beaches in 2026
Also surfed
12 · Mareta
The south-facing town beach of Sagres. It reportedly works only occasionally, with a big winter swell and a north wind.
Also surfed
13 · Martinhal
A sheltered bay that reportedly rarely gets waves. Better as a swimming beach.
Landmark
Fortaleza de Sagres
A 15th-century fortress on the Sagres headland, built by order of Infante Henry the Navigator, rebuilt after 1755.
Surf school or shop
FreeRide Surfing
Sagres · local pick, not a partner
Place to eat
aSagres
Sagres · local pick, not a partner
Place to eat
Telheiro do Infante
Praia da Mareta, Sagres · local pick, not a partner
Spot 14 of 20 · Vila do Bispo
Zavial.
A small sand cove below the cliffs, a short drive from Vila do Bispo. A right-hand wave peels off the western end and is best known in big winter swells. Summer is softer.
- Break. Right-hand point at the west end of the bay, plus a beach break in the cove.
- Swell and wind. West, southwest or south swell; a north wind is offshore. Best in a big winter swell.
- Level. The point is for experienced surfers. The beach break and softer summer days can suit less experienced surfers.
- Heads-up. The main peak can be busy with local surfers, so give the lineup space and respect the order. Rocks and undertow are also a concern.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Also surfed
15 · Salema
A sandbar that works only now and then, mostly in winter.
Landmark
Forte do Zavial
Small military battery above Zavial cove, next to the older Forte de Santo Inácio do Zavial.
Spot 16 of 20 · Vila do Bispo
Burgau.
A fishing village of small, colorful houses right on the sand, with boats pulled up above the tide line. Mostly a swimming beach, with waves only now and then.
- Break. Sheltered beach break over sand.
- Swell and wind. Waves are occasional and depend on the swell direction.
- Level. Waves are usually small and gentle when it works, but conditions change.
- Heads-up. A rocky reef on the right side of the beach. Less experienced surfers should stay clear of it.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Also surfed
17 · Luz and Rocha Negra
The beach in front of Luz, with a reef near the black rock Rocha Negra that reportedly works on the right swell and tide. Crowded with swimmers in summer.
Landmark
Fortaleza da Luz
Military monument in the village of Luz, in the municipality of Lagos.
Spot 18 of 20 · Lagos
Porto de Mós.
A long, cliff-backed beach a short drive from Lagos. It faces south but often works best on a north swell, mostly in winter, when the west coast is too big for most surfers.
- Break. Long beach with scattered rocks and a flat rock reef at the right end.
- Swell and wind. Typically best with a north swell and an offshore north wind, mostly in winter.
- Level. The waves are often mellow, but this is not a beginner beach.
- Heads-up. Rocks, sea urchins on the reef, and plenty of swimmers in the shorebreak in summer.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Landmark
Ponta da Piedade
Headland of golden rock formations up to 20 m high; grottoes visited by boat; the lighthouse dates from 1913.
Landmark
Lagos old town and walls
City at the mouth of the Bensafrim River, with a walled old town (Castelo de Lagos, wall circuit).
Surf school or shop
Jah Shaka Surf Shop
Lagos · local pick, not a partner
Surf school or shop
FilSurf
Lagos · local pick, not a partner
Spot 19 of 20 · Lagos
Meia Praia.
A very long sandy beach just east of Lagos. Surf here is not common, but when the right swell arrives the waves are generally gentle, over sand rather than rock.
- Break. Long sandy beach break with many peaks.
- Swell and wind. It tends to work with an easterly windswell, and is rarely clean.
- Level. Beginner to intermediate when it works.
- Heads-up. Rips can get strong as the swell grows, and the beach is busy in summer. A local school is the best guide on the day.
Leave your phone in the sand here →
- Lifeguarded Jun 1 to Sep 30 (2026 list)
Also surfed
20 · Alvor
A sand beach by the mouth of the Ria de Alvor. Local advice is to treat the rips with care, even when the waves are small.
Landmark
Ria de Alvor
Wide tidal lagoon between Odiáxere, Mexilhoeira Grande and Alvor; part of a protected area that includes a Ramsar site.
Place to eat
Restaurante Gaivota Branca
Meia Praia, Lagos · local pick, not a partner
Questions
Questions about surfing this coast.
Short answers, before you plan.
Surfing the southwest Algarve
When is the best time to surf the southwest Algarve?
The open west coast tends to be most consistent from autumn to spring, when the Atlantic swell is bigger and more regular. Summer is usually smaller and cleaner. The south-facing beaches around Lagos mostly need a bigger winter swell to switch on, so a flat day is always possible.
Which beaches have lifeguards, and when?
Most beaches on this map appear on Portugal's 2026 list of beaches with a lifeguarded bathing season, which runs from June 1 to September 30. Vale Figueiras and Barriga are not lifeguarded. Dates can change, so check the signs and flags on the day.
What do the beach flags mean?
Follow the flags and the lifeguards. In general, green means swimming is allowed, yellow means caution, red means danger and you should stay out of the water, and a chequered flag means no lifeguard is on duty.
Can I surf anywhere on the beach?
Not always. Portuguese beach rules prohibit surfing and similar sports that could endanger bathers in the areas reserved for bathing. Look for the areas marked for surfing, follow the flags and the lifeguards' instructions, and ask if you are unsure.
How far are these beaches from Lagos?
Meia Praia is just east of town and Porto de Mós is a short drive to the west. The beaches around Sagres and farther up the west coast are a longer drive, so plan the day around it and check a map and the forecast before you set out.
What if the ocean is flat?
Then wake surf is the other way to ride: a boat shapes the wave in Lagos bay, a wave on every run, with a coach on board. We never promise perfect weather. See the wake-surf section at the end of this page, or On the Water.
The other way to ride
Wake surf: a wave on every run.
On the bay off Meia Praia, early in the morning, a boat shapes its own wave and you ride it, with no paddling and no waiting for a set. It is a different pleasure from the ocean: a wave on every run, whatever the swell is doing, in a place where you can learn, and later sharpen your skills and try new tricks.
Many first-timers are up within a session or two, with no guarantee. Everyone learns at their own pace, with a coach on board.
- Learn. A little help to get up, then ride free.
- Sharpen. Turns and trim on a wave that repeats.
- Play. Spins and airs, when you are ready.
Our offer
Wake surf, inside a week built around it.
Velocity is a curated week in Lagos. Wake surfing is the signature moment, and around it are a villa with ten private bedrooms and a pool above the coast, a private chef, a modern wake boat with a coach on board, and the coast itself: the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade, the old town, an afternoon at a vineyard, a day at Sagres.
- Seven nights, Saturday to Saturday, Faro to Faro, for a small group of never more than 12.
- Coached sessions with video review, all gear included, wetsuits too.
- The chef’s table, with every breakfast, brunch and dinner included.
- The 2027 season. Registrations of interest are open. Registering is free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
We never promise perfect weather. When the sea says no, the day pivots to the coast, the pool or the town.
Wherever you paddle out
Leave your phone in the sand here.
Any break on this coast, any morning the swell shows up. SAND keeps your work answered until you’re back on the beach.
How SAND works →
Where to next
Plan your week on the water.
Tell us who you would bring and when you would like to come.
SAND
Out on the water, not on the phone.
An iPhone app we’re building to look after your calls and enquiries while you surf. Family can still reach you.
Preview, coming to iPhone