Thinking about surfing for the first time in Portugal? Good choice. The Atlantic coast has consistent waves, sandy beaches, warm water (relatively), and a relaxed culture that makes learning easy. Here's what to expect — honestly.
You will stand up. Eventually.
Most people stand up on their first session. Not on the first wave, not on the fifth, but usually within the first hour. You'll be in the whitewater (the broken foam waves close to shore), on a big, stable foam board, with a sandy bottom below you. It's the gentlest possible introduction to surfing.
That first ride — even if it's three seconds of wobbling on a foam wave — is genuinely magical. There's a reason people travel across the world to do this.
Be prepared for it to be harder than it looks. Paddling is tiring, timing is tricky, and your body will do things you didn't ask it to. That's normal. Everyone goes through it.
Fitness: what you actually need
You don't need to be fit to try surfing. You need to be able to swim, and you need enough upper body strength to push yourself up from a lying position. That's the minimum.
That said, paddling is the most physically demanding part, and it uses muscles you probably don't use much — shoulders, lats, triceps. After your first session, your arms will be tired. After your second, your whole upper body will be sore.
Our advice: Don't surf for more than 90 minutes on your first day, even if you're having fun. Save energy for tomorrow. A week of surfing is a marathon, not a sprint.
Water temperature
This is the question everyone asks. The Atlantic isn't the Mediterranean — it's cooler, but it's not cold enough to stop you.
- Summer (June-September): 19-21°C. Comfortable in a 3/2mm wetsuit. Some people even wear spring suits.
- Shoulder season (April-May, October-November): 16-18°C. A 3/2mm or 4/3mm depending on your cold tolerance.
- Winter (December-March): 14-16°C. A 4/3mm with boots. Manageable but bracing.
The wetsuit makes all the difference. A well-fitting wetsuit will keep you warm for hours. A poorly fitting one will make you cold in 20 minutes. When you rent with us, we size wetsuits carefully — fit matters more than thickness.
What to wear (and what not to)
What you need: A wetsuit, a surfboard, a leash (connects the board to your ankle), and wax (on the board for grip). That's it. We provide all of this.
What to bring yourself: Swimwear to wear under the wetsuit. Reef-safe sunscreen (the Portuguese sun is strong, even with clouds). A towel and a change of clothes. Water and a snack for after.
What not to bring: Jewellery (it comes off in the water). Expensive sunglasses to the beach (sand and salt destroy them). Any expectation of looking cool on your first day (nobody does — and nobody cares).
Safety basics
Surfing is safe when you respect the ocean. Here's what beginners need to know:
Stay in the whitewater. For your first sessions, you don't need to paddle out "the back" where the green waves break. The foam waves close to shore are perfect for learning and much safer.
Never turn your back on the ocean. Waves can surprise you, especially at the shore break. Always face the water.
Fall flat, not feet-first. When you fall off (and you will, constantly), fall flat onto the water to stay in the shallow surface layer. Never jump off feet-first — you don't know what's below.
Know the rip currents. Rip currents are channels of water flowing back out to sea. They're not dangerous if you know what to do: don't fight them, swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current, then swim back in. If in doubt, raise your hand and wait for help.
Respect the flags. Portuguese beaches use a flag system: green (safe), yellow (caution), red (no swimming). Lifeguards are on duty during summer months at most popular beaches.
Surf etiquette
Even as a beginner, these rules matter:
- Don't drop in. If someone is already riding a wave, don't paddle for it. The surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave has priority.
- Don't paddle through the lineup. When paddling out, go around the breaking zone, not through it. You don't want to be in the path of other surfers.
- Hold onto your board. Your board is a projectile in the water. Never let go of it when there are people around you.
- Apologise if you mess up. Everyone makes mistakes. A quick "sorry" goes a long way.
At the beginner-friendly spots around Aljezur — Monte Clérigo and the centre of Arrifana — the atmosphere is relaxed and forgiving. Nobody expects beginners to know everything.
Should you take a lesson?
Yes, absolutely. At least for your first time. A good instructor will teach you in 90 minutes what would take you days to figure out alone: how to paddle, how to pop up, where to position yourself, how to read the waves.
There are excellent surf schools in the Aljezur area — we work with several and can recommend the right one for you. See our partners page.
After your first lesson, you'll have the fundamentals. That's when renting your own board for the rest of the week makes sense — you can practice at your own pace, go when the conditions suit you, and build on what you've learned.
What we do for beginners
When we deliver gear to first-time surfers, we do a few extra things:
- We set you up with a big, forgiving foam board — maximum stability, maximum wave count
- We walk you through the gear — how to put on the wetsuit, how to wax the board, how to attach the leash
- We share the best spot for your level today — which beach, which section, what the tide is doing
- We give honest advice about what to expect so you don't set yourself up for frustration
It's the kind of help that a rental shop counter can't give you — because they haven't surfed these beaches this morning.
Planning your first surf trip? Get in touch and we'll set you up with everything you need. Boards, wetsuits, and local knowledge — delivered to your door.