Baleal surf guide

Baleal is a small island village located a couple of miles north of Peniche, well-known among surfing travelers for over two decades. It offers a variety of spots and is particularly favorable when other nearby areas like Ericeira are experiencing unfavorable winds from the north or south. Being an island, Baleal has protected beaches almost all the time, making it a popular choice for learn-to-surf camps in Portugal. With the mellow left reef break at Lagide just north of town and extensive open beach breaks, you can easily find space to surf without feeling too crowded. There's also a sheltered bay to the south with average beach breaks that help escape the north winds and larger swells.

The surf in Baleal can be pretty good with swells predominantly coming from the northwest to north-northwest. You can expect it to handle swell sizes from about 0.6 meters to over 2.1 meters (2ft to 7ft). The break consists mainly of sand, except for the reef at Lagide. Most waves here are beach breaks, although the left reef at Lagide adds some variety. The best conditions usually happen during mid to low tides, and the preferred wind directions include east-southeast, southeast, and even south-southwest. The surfing here caters well to different skill levels, so both beginner surfers and those on shortboards can enjoy it.

Accessing the surf spots is pretty easy, with a large parking lot right by Lagide. For the beach breaks located further north, there's a dirt track available along the coast. When it comes to crowds, you might run into more surfers near the surf schools and at Lagide, but if you stick to the lesser-known spots, you should be fine. Just be respectful if you do end up at Lagide since it can get a bit hectic. The best seasons to surf here are in autumn and spring, as winter can bring tricky wind and weather conditions.