When to surf · Silver Coast
Ericeira in September
The month a lot of people rate as the best of the year. Consistent swell returns, the water is still warm, the wind drops and the crowds thin. Everything the coast does well lines up at once.
Ericeira
Ericeira's reefs need autumn and winter swell to work. September and October are the sweet spot: clean, powerful and not yet cold, with the Challenger Series in town. Deep winter is full power and expert territory. Summer is small, and Foz do Lizandro carries the learners while the reefs sleep.
Autumn
Events here
Past editions — the next date is usually confirmed a few months ahead.
15–20 SepAlto Pro Am
A surf contest that does not take itself seriously: competitors draw a random secondhand board before every heat, so style and adaptability beat power surfing.
Ericeira, around the town beaches
19 SepInternational Coastal Cleanup Day: Ericeira
Part of the nationwide #EUBeachCleanup week around International Coastal Cleanup Day, the third Saturday of September.
Praia da Foz do LizandroSpots here
Ericeira
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 March
Coxos
The best wave in the Ericeira reserve and one of the finest right-hand points in Europe: long, thick, fast walls that barrel on the take-off and race down the reef. Advanced surfers only.
Advanced surfersOctober to April
Foz do Lizandro
The beach break at the mouth of the Lizandro river, just south of Ericeira. A wide, forgiving sandy beach that is the town's main learner wave and home to most of its surf schools.
BeginnersYear-round; summer is smallest and best for learning
Pedra Branca
A fast, shallow left-hand reef on the north side of Ericeira town, rated the best lefthander in the reserve. Expert only -- the take-off is straight onto dry rock.
Experts onlyAutumn to springRibeira 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
São Julião
A big open beach break between Ericeira and the Sintra coast, known as the area swell magnet -- it has waves when the reserve reefs are flat. Beginner-friendly on a small mid tide, dangerous on size.
All levelsYear-round; biggest and cleanest autumn to winterSão Lourenço
The northernmost break of the Ericeira reserve: an exposed reef with multiple peaks that works most of the year for advanced surfers and turns into a genuine big-wave wave when a large north swell hits.
Advanced surfersAutumn to spring; a tow spot on the biggest swells