A week is the ideal amount of time for Aljezur. Long enough to find your rhythm, try different beaches, rest when your body tells you to, and still have time to explore beyond the surf. Here's how we'd spend seven days.
Day 1: Arrive and settle in
Your gear is already at your accommodation — we deliver before you arrive. Walk through the boards, check the wetsuits fit, and ask us anything about the current conditions. We'll tell you what's been working.
Spend the afternoon exploring your area. If you're in Aljezur town, walk up to the castle for sunset views over the valley. If you're in Arrifana, grab a beer at Casa da Praia and watch the surf from the cliff.
Dinner: Pont'a Pé in Aljezur for cataplana or fresh grilled fish. Book ahead in summer.
Day 2: Arrifana — the all-rounder
Start your trip at the area's best all-round beach. Arrifana works on most tides and most swell directions, and has something for every level.
Get there early (before 9am in summer) when the wind is lightest. Beginners should head for the centre of the beach where the waves are gentlest. Intermediates and above, move to the right side for steeper, faster waves.
After your session, the restaurants above the beach serve lunch with unbeatable views.
Evening tip: Drive to the Arrifana fortress ruins for a sunset walk along the clifftop path. The views south along the coast are some of the best in the Algarve.
Day 3: Monte Clérigo — different character
Today, try a different beach. Monte Clérigo is 15 minutes north of Arrifana and has a completely different character — wider, flatter, and gentler. It's especially good at low tide when the beach stretches out enormously.
If you're surfing with kids, this is their day. The whitewash section is safe, sandy, and shallow.
Lunch: One of the seafood restaurants in Monte Clérigo village — simple, honest, and good value.
Afternoon: If the tide's out, explore the rock pools on the northern end of the beach. Incredible marine life if you look carefully.
Day 4: Rest day
Your arms will thank you. A rest day mid-week is essential — it lets your muscles recover and keeps the stoke high for the second half of the trip.
Option A: Hiking. Walk a section of the Fisherman's Trail (Rota Vicentina). The stage from Arrifana south to Carrapateira is stunning — coastal cliffs, wildflowers, and zero crowds. About 3-4 hours one-way; arrange a pickup or drive two cars.
Option B: Aljezur town. If it's Saturday, hit the morning market (9am-1pm) for local cheese, honey, bread, and vegetables. Then wander the cobbled streets, visit the castle, and grab coffee at Mira da Serra.
Option C: Day trip to Sagres. The southwestern tip of mainland Europe is an hour south. Visit the fortress, see the dramatic coastline, and stop at the lighthouse. Lagos is on the way back — a larger town with a historic centre and harbour.
Day 5: Amoreira — the powerful one
If you're intermediate or above, today's the day for Amoreira. This river-mouth beach break produces powerful, varied surf that shifts with the tides and sandbanks. Check conditions before going — it's more dependent on swell direction and tide than Arrifana.
Beginners: stick with Arrifana or Monte Clérigo again today — repetition at these spots will build your skills faster than chopping and changing.
After surf: If the conditions are calm, rent a SUP from the Aljezur estuary. The river is flat, sheltered, and a completely different perspective on the area.
Day 6: Your favourite spot (or Vale Figueiras)
By day 6, you'll have a favourite. Go back to the beach that gave you the best session — this is your holiday, and chasing familiarity is underrated.
If you're experienced and want something new, try Vale Figueiras. It's a 20-minute drive from Aljezur on a partly unpaved road. The reward: a long, empty beach with consistent, powerful waves and almost nobody else. There are no facilities, so bring water and snacks.
Evening: Treat yourself to a special dinner. There are some excellent restaurants in the Aljezur area that deserve a slow, multi-course evening.
Day 7: One more session, then we pick up
Make the most of the morning. Get out early for a final session at your favourite spot. There's something about a last-day surf that always seems to produce the best waves.
We'll collect the gear from your accommodation in the afternoon or the next morning — whatever works for your checkout time.
Tips for the week
- Dawn patrol is real. The best conditions on the Costa Vicentina are almost always before 9am, especially in summer when the afternoon onshore kicks in.
- Check conditions daily. The wind and swell change — a beach that was flat yesterday might be firing today. Ask us, check Windguru, or use the beach webcams.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen. The Portuguese sun is stronger than it feels, especially with the ocean breeze cooling you down. Protect the reef while you protect yourself.
- The right board matters. If you're struggling, it might be the board, not you. We're happy to swap it out if it's not working for your level.
Frequently asked questions
Is one week long enough for a surf trip to Aljezur?
Yes. Seven days gives you time to settle into a rhythm, surf three or four different beaches, take a rest day without feeling you have wasted one, and still see something inland. Shorter trips work, but you spend a larger share of them travelling and finding your feet.
How many days a week should you actually surf?
Most visitors surf five or six days and take one full rest day around the middle of the week. Surfing every single day usually means the last sessions are worse than the first ones, because your paddling muscles never recover. A mid-week break tends to improve the second half of the trip rather than cost you waves.
Which Aljezur beach is best for beginners?
Monte Clérigo and the middle of Arrifana beach. Monte Clérigo is wide, gentle and especially good at low tide, and Arrifana's centre has the softest waves on that beach. Amoreira is a powerful river-mouth break better left to intermediates and above.
What time of day is best to surf in Aljezur?
Early. The best conditions on the Costa Vicentina are almost always before 9am, when the wind is lightest, and in summer the onshore breeze usually arrives in the afternoon and ruins the surface. Dawn sessions also get you the quietest car parks.
Do you need a car for a week in Aljezur?
Yes. There is no train and no direct bus, the beaches are spread across a wide area, and a spot like Vale Figueiras is a 20-minute drive on a partly unpaved road. Aljezur is about 1.5 hours from Faro airport and 3 hours from Lisbon.
How does surfboard rental work for a whole week?
We deliver the boards and wetsuits to your accommodation before you arrive and collect them at the end. A week is €100 for board only or €150 for board and wetsuit. Both the delivery day and the pickup day count as rental days, so a Saturday-to-Saturday trip is seven days.
Ready to book your week? Tell us your dates and we'll have everything waiting at your door.