Castelo is a long, sandy beach that provides plenty of space for surfers to spread out. The surf banks can be a bit unpredictable, often shifting with the tides and wind. The best spots tend to form around the walkways or cut-throughs in the dunes where the offshores help in building up the sand. While it can be pretty fun on small to medium days, it might close out when the swell picks up, so keep an eye on conditions.
The waves here usually handle swell sizes from 3ft to 8ft (about 1 to 2.5 meters) and break over a sandy bottom, forming both lefts and rights. You can expect beach breaks that can be great for various skill levels, from beginners to experts. The preferable winds are from the NorthNorthEast, NorthEast, and East, making for decent conditions on most days. It's best to surf during low to mid tides but can work at all tide stages as well. Just be cautious of rips when the surf gets bigger.
Getting to Castelo is easy, with a car park located just behind a café. The crowd factor here is pretty laid-back, so you shouldn't feel too cramped, and the local vibe is generally chill. Ideal surf seasons span from September to May, and you can ride a variety of boards here like shortboards, funboards, longboards, fish, SUP, and bodyboards.