Beach break · Costa da Caparica, Lisbon and Cascais · 38°38′N 9°13′W
Praia da Mata
A sandy, dune-backed beach break on the central Caparica coast. Works on west to north-west swells with an east to north-east wind, on any tide, and suits all levels.
Praia da Mata is a sandy, dune-backed beach on the central stretch of the Costa da Caparica coast. It is a beach break, and surf schools work here.
It does best on a west to north-west swell, which arrives fairly steadily through the year, with an east to north-east wind. It works on any tide, though a rising tide is often the better one along this coast. The waves suit all levels, and small days are friendly for beginners. Watch for rip currents, and check the forecast before you go, because an onshore wind spoils it quickly.
Schools & rentals near here
Blue Room Surf Hub
A board-building hub at Charneca da Caparica: custom shaping, lamination, CNC and 3D design, plus shaping rooms independent shapers can rent.
Surf
Caparica Surf Academy
A surf school at Praia da Rainha on the Costa da Caparica, with Portuguese Surf Federation instructors, teaching groups, kids and private lessons a short ride from central Lisbon.
Surf
Matta Surfboards
Nuno Matta has shaped high-performance boards behind Costa da Caparica for around thirty years, with a big walk-in showroom stock and outlines built for beach-break surfing.
SurfNearby
São João da Caparica
The northern end of Costa da Caparica, where a line of groynes shapes the sandbanks and most of the area's surf schools operate. Sheltered from the north wind, so it is a key summer option near Lisbon.
All levelsAutumn to spring for size; summer for the sheltered lessons
Fonte da Telha
The quiet southern end of the Caparica coast, a former fishing village below the pine woods with soft beach-break peaks on small swells. A good learner's beach when the rest of Caparica is busy.
BeginnersYear-round for learning; winter for cleaner days
Carcavelos
Lisbon's home beach and the busiest wave in Portugal on a good day. A wide, forgiving beach break one stop from the city on the Cascais train line, with a fort at one end and peaks spread along the sand.
All levelsAutumn to springCommon questions
- What kind of wave is Praia da Mata?
- Praia da Mata is a beach break. It wants W to NW swell and works best with offshore from the e to ne wind.
- Is Praia da Mata good for beginners?
- Yes — it's rated all levels and works for people who are learning.
- When's the best time for Praia da Mata?
- Year-round.
- What should I watch out for at Praia da Mata?
- Rip currents