8 Days Surf Camp and Yoga Retreat in Aljezur, Portugal

Facilities

The resort is a huge modern Portuguese country house, situated in the middle of a natural park with a stunning view of the ocean and forest. The bungalow area consists of cozy wooden bungalows with private shady terraces. Bungalows are located in the yard with swimming pool and beautiful garden. There's a large bar area with free WiFi internet, satellite TV, mini-football table. Chillout inside the house or outside, awesome place for barbeque.

From the 21st of June to the 31st of July the resort accommodates their guests in bungalows.

• Large rooms with high ceilings and king-size double beds
• Capacity of surf camp - 42 persons
• Wi-Fi
• Computer for use of guests
• Massage therapist
• Swimming pool
• BBQ area and plenty of areas to chill
• Bar with snooker table, ping pong, mini football
• Satellite TV, cinema projector
• Thousands of movies and surf videos
• Balance boards
• Hammocks
• Bed linen and bath towels are provided
• Special care for babies and kids
• Animal friendly!

Russo-Vale Figueiras Surf Camp made up a special surf course program to help students to learn the right technique and progress at a faster rate. It includes three hours of lessons per day, dividing into two sessions of one and a half hours. This will all depend on the conditions the ocean provides on the day. Lessons are structured with a warm-up, theoretical exercises on the beach, and a practical part in the water.

Russo-Vale Figueiras Surf Camp suggests to start the surf course on Monday, so you can enjoy the full course, adapting from the beginning. Surf courses are from Monday until Friday and free surf on Saturday. Soft boards for beginners and hard boards for more intermediates / advanced surfers are available. Vale Figueiras Surf Camp offers surf courses for all levels.

Beginners

• Monday: Adaptation to the water environment, explanation of safety rules, learning how to slide onto the waves, and explanation of surf equipment. Then introduction to surfboard inside the water.
• Tuesday: Learning how to position correctly the feet on the board in a low balance position. Practicing on the beach and inside the water.
• Wednesday: Exercises of take off with extension of legs and recovering the balance. Correcting the position on the sand and practicing inside the water.
• Thursday: Continuing practice of previous exercises. Improvement of technique and introduction to walking exercises on the board.
• Friday: Techniques of turning the surfboard front and backside.
• Saturday: Free surf day while supervised by the surf coaches. Put to practice all you have learned during the week.

Intermediates

• Monday: Paddling, sitting on the board, turning direction while sitting, positioning, and explosive paddling.
• Tuesday: Paddle to the outside, techniques to pass the waves while paddling out.
• Wednesday: Catching green waves with the help of the coach pushing, timing and reading of waves to know in which direction to paddle and when to get up.
• Thursday: Surf green waves going left, surf green waves going right. Video analysis.

Advanced

• Monday: Duck dives, bottom turns, turn on the top of the wave.
• Tuesday: Trimming, cutbacks, and re-entries.
• Wednesday: Tides, currents, introduction to reefs.
• Thursday: Getting in and out of the water.
• Friday: Reading swell charts.
• Saturday: Surfaris to secret spots.

Yoga

Yoga classes are a thoughtfully handcrafted collection of asanas (postures), connecting body with the breath in a creative flow. A morning flow will awaken and stretch the body creating power for surf; and an evening flow will soothe and nourish your salty souls. Meditation and pranayama (breathe work) will also be part of your practice.

Transport on Friday party nights to Lagos or Sagres.

Surf Camp is situated on the west coast of the south region of Algarve, Portugal: the warmest place in whole Europe. Surf Camp is located in the middle of National Park Costa Vicentina. When you book, Russo-Vale Figueiras Surf Camp will send you the exact directions of how to get to the Surf Camp plus the GPS coordinates.

This is a unique paradise with an attractive landscape, hidden beaches, and wild habitant life. The Algarve is a year-round surf destination, famous for its constant swells, uncrowded beaches, crystal-clear water, and sunny weather.

Nearby places

• Faro Airport (FAO), 110 kilometers
• Lagos, 30 kilometers
• Lisbon, 275 kilometers
• Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS), 300 kilometers
• Sagres, 30 kilometers
• Seville, 300 kilometers
• Seville Airport (SVQ), 300 kilometers

Russo Surf Camp - Vale Figueiras prepares healthy and good quality food for their guests. Vegetarians and pescetarians are very welcomed!

• Professional chef
• Homemade bread
• Fresh orange juice every morning
• Tea and coffee during the day
• Spicy chicken “Piri Piri”, freshly caught fish and seafood, etc.
• Traditional homemade desserts
• Local fruits and vegetables
• Homemade “Medronho” - strong alcohol made from the local Medronho fruit
• Monday BBQ
• Gluten-free menu available
• Vegetarian menu

Breakfast

Bread straight from the oven, croissants, bacon and scrambled eggs, fresh orange juice, healthy cereals and mueslis, different kinds of hams, salamis, sausages, salads, cheeses, jams, yogurts, coffee, and tea.

Lunch

Before leaving for the beach, each guest is given an individual lunch bag with two sandwiches or one sandwich and other kind of food (salads / pasta / etc.), fruit, water, juice, and snacks.

Dinner

Russo Surf Camp - Vale Figueiras has its own kitchen although dinners are usually provided at a nearby restaurant owned by good old Chef “Pedrinho”. The staff often go fishing and collecting seafood. Three-course dinners, entrees, soup, main course, wine, and sangria. On the day of arrival, dinner is served before 7 p.m.

• Yoga lessons
• Horseback riding lessons
• Paragliding
• Nightlife in Sagres, Lagos, and Aljezur
• Friday pizza party night on Monchique
• Bicycle riding
• Hiking in natural park
• Massage therapist

• 5 days yoga course (yoga sessions in the afternoons)
• 6 surf days (surf course from Monday to Friday, practice under surf coach supervision on Saturday)
• Surf course program for beginners, intermediates, and advanced
• 6 days surf material all day (surfboards, rashguards, and wetsuits)
• Ripcurl wetsuits
• Transport to the beach
• Lagos pick-up and drop-off (bus or train station)
• Huge selection of surfboards
• 7 nights accommodation
• Full board (breakfast, lunch, and 6 dinners)
• Trip to the dinner on Friday at best local restaurant (cost of dinner is not included)
• Saturday BBQ party
• Transport on Fridays party nights to Lagos or Sagres
• Welcome drink

• Airport transport
• Cost of dinner on Friday night

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Faro Airport (FAO) or Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS). Transfers from these airports are available upon request. Transfers from Faro Airport (FAO) have a cost of 125 EUR one-way for a maximum of four persons. A one-way transfer from Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) costs 350 EUR for a maximum of four persons.

Arrival by bus

Russo Surfcamp-Vale Figueiras surf camp provides transfers from the closest towns Aljezur and Lagos. Pick-ups and drop-offs time for free transfers from Lagos and Aljezur:

• Pick-up time in Lagos 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
• Pick up time in Aljezur: 2:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m.
• Drop off time (leaving from the surf camp): 11:30 a.m.

Pick-ups and drop-offs from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. have an extra cost.

There are free transfers to / from the local bus stop “Monte Novo, Vale Figueiras, Cha Bouco”. The bus stop is on the way Lagos to Aljezur.

From Faro, you can travel by bus or door-to-door transfer for a cost of 20 EUR. From Lisbon, you have the option of taking a bus (directions Aljezur or Lagos). From Seville, you can take a bus to Lagos (19 EUR or 23 EUR, depending on the day).

Arrival by train

From Faro, you also have the option of travel by train. The cost is 7 EUR. You can also take a train to Lagos from Lisbon for a cost of 16 to 20 EUR.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.