Beach break · Arrifana, Costa Vicentina · 37°20′N 8°51′W
Monte Clérigo
A north-west-facing beach below a small hamlet near Aljezur, with sand to the north, rocks to the south and a stream that shapes the banks. Few surfers even on good days, and wind is the main thing to watch.
Monte Clérigo is a beach about 9 km from Aljezur, reached off the N120. A small cluster of houses sits at its southern end, busy in summer and very quiet the rest of the year. The north is a long stretch of sand; the south is rocky, and at low tide its rock pools fill with starfish, crabs and small fish.
The wave
A beach break with lefts and rights over sand and scattered rocks, shaped by the stream that runs out across the beach. It has reliable surf through the year, and even on good days there are relatively few people in the water.
Who it is for
Intermediates, and improvers on the smaller, cleaner days with a school. Watch for weever fish in the shallow lagoon by the stream; shuffle your feet when you walk out.
When
NW swell with an E or SE wind, best around mid tide; at low tide the waves get longer but softer. The beach faces north-west and is exposed to north and west winds, so it is often blown out in the afternoon. Early mornings are the time.
Schools & rentals near here
Aljezur Surf School
A surf school and camp based in Vales, Aljezur, teaching at Praia da Arrifana and Praia do Monte Clérigo with Portuguese Surf Federation instructors and groups of up to eight.
SurfArrifana Surf Lodge
A small surf lodge run by Aldo and Sarah in Vale da Telha, five minutes from Arrifana beach, with private and shared rooms, a plunge pool and yoga terrace, and all-inclusive surf and yoga or jiu-jitsu packages.
Surf
Barbudas Surfboards
One shaper, João, building custom boards from start to finish in Aljezur, designed for the heavy, exposed waves of the southwest coast.
SurfNearby
Praia da Amoreira
A river-mouth beach break below the cliffs near Aljezur, where the Ribeira de Aljezur meets the sea. Fickle, with strong currents at the mouth. Best on a west to south-west swell with an east wind.
Intermediates
Arrifana
A cliff-ringed bay near Aljezur, partly protected by a headland and an offshore rock stack. That shelter makes it one of the more forgiving spots on an otherwise heavy stretch of the west coast.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring; workable much of the year
Odeceixe
Where the Seixe river meets the sea on the Alentejo-Algarve border. A sheltered river-mouth bank suits beginners at low tide; the open sea side is a heavier, exposed beach break.
BeginnersSpring to autumn for the calmest river-mouth conditionsCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Monte Clérigo?
- Monte Clérigo is a beach break. It wants NW best; picks up SW to N swell and works best with offshore from the e / se wind.
- Is Monte Clérigo good for beginners?
- Not for a first session. It's rated intermediate — better once you can paddle out and read a line-up on your own.
- When's the best time for Monte Clérigo?
- Autumn to spring.
- What should I watch out for at Monte Clérigo?
- Often wind-affected, scattered rocks, and weever fish in the shallow lagoon.