Beach break · Santa Cruz, Silver Coast · 39°07′N 9°23′W
Praia Azul
A fairly quiet beach break just south of Santa Cruz. Best on a west to north-west swell with an east wind, with a reef section that works at mid tide. Sources say waist high to double overhead.
Praia Azul lies on the Torres Vedras coast just south of Santa Cruz, reached by the EN 2472 from Boavista. It is an exposed beach break, and sources describe a reef section that works only at mid tide, while the beach break works on every tide.
It takes swell from the south-west to the north, best from the west to the north-west, with an east wind offshore. Summer and autumn are the main season. It gets good from about waist high to double overhead, so it is not only for beginners. The crowd is fairly quiet, there is free parking nearby, and surf lessons meet here. Sources disagree on the break type, so check the forecast and look before you paddle out.
Schools & rentals near here
The Surf Academy
A small school on Praia da Areia Branca run by a coach born and raised there, with group, private and advanced-coaching tracks and everything included.
SurfFrom EUR 35 / group class
Atlantic Coast Surf School
A certified surf school based between Santa Cruz and Praia Azul, on a long open stretch of the Silver Coast that is quieter than Ericeira and Peniche.
SurfSPO Surfboards
Hugo Cartaxana's Santa Cruz factory, two decades in. SPO shapes performance and competition boards and most of the tow boards used up the coast at Nazaré.
SurfSurf Lodge Santa Cruz
A surf lodge in Santa Cruz-Silveira with FPS/ISA-certified instruction, free board and bike rental for guests, a pool and garden, and dorm-to-suite accommodation, an hour north of Lisbon.
SurfTsunami Surf School
A surf school on Praia de Santa Cruz started by two local surfers, with certified instructors and a team that spans coaching, physiotherapy and health. Weekly programmes or single lessons.
Surf
Blue Ocean Ericeira Surf School
A surf school based right on Ribeira d'Ilhas beach, inside the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, running lessons and multi-day courses for every level with equipment included.
SurfFrom EUR 40 / lesson
Ripar Surf School & Camp
One of the oldest schools on Praia da Areia Branca, running surf lessons and a surf camp on the Silver Coast since 2001.
Surf
Global Surf School & Camp
A surf school and camp established on Praia da Areia Branca in 2007, with lessons for all levels and stay-and-surf packages.
SurfNearby
Santa Cruz
A long, open beach between Peniche and Ericeira, with tall rock stacks offshore and a spread of peaks. Exposed and consistent, quieter than its famous neighbours, and it works for every level depending on size.
All levelsYear-round; autumn and spring the pick for size without the winter crowds elsewhere
Ribeira d'Ilhas
The long, forgiving right-hand reef at the centre of the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve. Peels down a cobblestone point and takes almost any level on the right day. Host of regular WSL junior and qualifying events.
All levelsYear-round, best autumn to spring
Cave
A short, violent right-hand barrel over a shallow rock shelf near Ribeira d'Ilhas. All the intensity of a slab in a small package. Experts only, and only at the right tide.
Experts onlyOctober to MarchCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Praia Azul?
- Praia Azul is a beach break. It wants SW to N, best from W to NW swell and works best with offshore from the e wind.
- Is Praia Azul 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 Praia Azul?
- Summer and autumn.