15 Day Catch the Best Possible Waves through Intense Surf Camp in Aljezur, Portugal
Portugal Surf Camp for All Levels
This surf intense package is suitable for all water addicts and the perfect choice if you want to improve your surfing skills and step into a more advanced level. Surf & Yoga Retreats Portugal offers tailor-made programs for surf learners and guiding sessions for the advanced.
Highlights
- 2 daily surf lessons (a total of 27 lessons during your entire stay)
- Limited group numbers, a maximum of 5:1 student-instructor ratio at all times
- Certified surf coaches, ready to help you improve your techniques
- Personalized teaching, no mix of ability levels
- Top-of-the-range equipment included (surfboard, wetsuit, lycra, leash, and booties)
- 14 nights accommodation, available for all budget options
- Breakfast, brunch and dinner
- 3 complimentary massage sessions included
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Garden
- Lounge
- Terrace
Make yourself at home in one of the six cozy bedrooms and find time to relax in the open living lounge, Chillout Area. Catch the sun around the pool area in a peaceful surrounding by the National Park and the plants of the garden. Find space for focus in the ‘Co-Work in Paradise’ Area with its own sun terrace where you can catch the sunset perfectly.
The villa, surrounded by Costa Vincentina National Park, is described in three words: Sustainable, Spacious and Sunny.
Sustainable
The villa utilizes solar panels, a redesign and reuse concept, and a garden growing fresh new plants for the future farm-to-table.
Spacious
There are 6 bedrooms, from deluxe double or shared twin rooms, or maybe find a bit more privacy in one of the two double rooms or you make yourself at home in the budget rooms or girl's room. There is space and room for every taste and price section. It boasts the best underneath one roof – an open space, modern bathrooms, and much space for a good time. You find enough space to enjoy, relax, and focus.
Sunny
Seek the sun and find your favorite spot in the backyard. Underneath the shadow of trees, at the pool or under the sundeck. Inside as sunny as outside – windows provide daylight inside and the sun terrace gives you space for Vitamin D during your co-working session.
Program
This surf program is comprehensive in that it not only includes plenty of time in the surf. Each surfing session is progressive and goal-oriented for each of the participants. During the surf session, your coach will be discussing with you how you progressed in learning that new skill.
Surf Lessons
Included in every lesson are:
- Surf coaching (1.5 hours)
- Insurance (3rd party)
- Transfers to/from the camp
- All equipment (Surfboard, wetsuit, lycra, leash, and booties)
Schedules
- The lesson time is usually fixed the night before, making it easier for the planning. The timing depends on the best surf conditions for your level.
Boards
If you are at Level 1, you will use the soft tops for the first days before they can call you an advanced beginner and the instructor decides for you the hard tops. For level 2 and above, there is a range of hard tops which you can select from.
First Surf Lessons
If you’re having your first go at surfing or have had a lesson or two in the past, you will start from the basics. The basics include an introduction to the surfboard, the surfing spot, a warm-up, a dry session on the beach explaining the basics of the pop-up and safety techniques, and then going to catch the first waves in our sub-tropical waters.
Typical Surf Lessons
Your instructor brings you to the surf spot which brings the best conditions. After an effective warm-up up, your surf coach will show you teach you and help you to improve your techniques. Have the time of your life! After approx. 2-2.5 hours (driving included) the surf session is over. You collect your board and the equipment and leave the beach together with your group to go back to the camp.
Levels
If you aren’t sure what level you are, have no fear! The instructors will assess your level once you arrive and allocate you to the correct group. The instructors are careful not to mix ability levels. Therefore there will be a maximum of 5:1 student-instructor ratio at all times. This will also mean that you will never have to wait for others to keep up or feel left behind.
Level 1.1: Total beginners
You have never tried surfing, but able to swim. At this stage, the focus is on teaching you the fundamentals of surfing which include a dry session on the beach focusing on:
- Introduction to the surfboard and equipment
- Correct position on the board
- Paddling technique
- How to protect yourself, board and others in the water
- Surf etiquette
- Passing the white water
- Correct pop up
- Correct stance
Level 1.2: Beginner who has tried surfing a couple of times before
This is a challenging stage for both – you and your coaches – because in some surf schools you had before, the techniques used differ from the ones that you are going to use here. Therefore, the lessons will stick with the ISA method of teaching. At this stage, you focus on:
- Reviewing the basics with you and comparing it with the methods you learned before (level 1.1)
- Working on your stance for more balance and improving on your pop-up and paddling technique
- Teaching you the basic stages of a wave and the shape of a wave at a particular beach
- Talk about positioning in the lineup to catch unbroken waves
- How to do the angle take off and get into an unbroken wave to the left or right
- Learning how to slow down or accelerate according to the section of the wave
- Correct stance
Level 1.3: Advanced beginner
You have surfed more than a couple of days by now and understand the wave and board mechanics and you feel comfortable in the water most of the time. You have more control over catching the waves and your stance, but only able to go straight. At this stage, you focus on:
- Reviewing the basics of levels 1.1 and 1.2
- Working on wave reading and positioning in the lineup
- Improving on the angle take-off and stance
- Learning the basics of trimming on a wave
Level 2.1: Beginner intermediate surfer
At this stage, you have pretty good control over your paddling and can go out the back and catch unbroken waves and go left or right. You also understand about the waves, surfing and ocean conditions. The focus on you at this stage is:
- Generating speed on the wave
- Improving on the wave reading ability
- Duck-diving
- Improving the stance for more mobility
- Bottom turn and top turn fundamentals
Level 2.2: Advanced intermediate surfer
At this stage, you have very good control over your board and can make turns to change the direction. You are also riding a short board or a minimal surf board. The lessons will focus on:
- Surfing and speeding down the line on different types of waves
- Correct positioning to catch different types of waves
- Learning to cutback
- Technical analysis of your top turn and bottom turn
- Small floaters to pass the sections
- Duck dive improvement
Location
Surfing in Portugal
Portugal is a special destination for surfing all year round in the most scenic landscapes. Surfing in Portugal is recognized as one of the best surfing in the World from the giant waves of Nazare to intermediate and beginner waves. You will find all types of waves from the north to the south coast of Portugal, from the most scenic and breathtaking natural beaches to beaches 20 meters from the cities of Lisbon and Porto. In Portugal, there will be waves for all levels at all seasons.
It’s one of the most consistent places to surf in the world. Its west coast picks up most swells, which means that during the winter months, it gets big sometimes. That’s the perfect season for advanced surfers. From mid-May to October, temperatures are warmer and the waves smaller, but there will always be a spot on for every level.
Surfing Spots
The home spots are Arrifana, Monte Clerigo and Amoreira. Surf is always depending on your level, wave and wind conditions. According to that, the surf instructor will check conditions and accordingly bring you to the best spot for you. There is the possibility of choosing to go to spots further away, covering the transport to there.
The Villa
The Costa Vicentina National Park surrounds your getaway. Enjoy the tranquillity and a nice vibe during your stay in a cozy Surf a Yoga Retreats Villa near Arrifana, Portugal.
Surf conditions
Surf spot:
Aljezur
Monthly wave size
Monthly water temperature
Food
Breakfast, brunch, and dinner with coffee and tea will be served during the retreat. Brunch and dinner will not be available on Saturdays.
- Vegan and veggie: Experience many different vegan and veggie breakfast and dinner menus, and taste all the colours of mother nature.
- Regional: Veggies and fruits come from regional farmers' markets and little by little from the surf camp's garden with their farm-to-garden project.
- Homemade: Freshly cooked, prepared with lots of care and baked with a lot of love.
- Balanced: Following a holistic diet and enjoying a delicious and healthy food selection throughout your stay.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Other dietary requirements on request
Spa treatments
The package includes three massages.
What's included
- Small breakfast, coffee, and tea (daily)
- Brunch and dinner (except Saturdays)
- 14 nights accommodation
- 27 surf sessions (2x surfing per day + 1x arriving or departure day) with insurance (3rd party), transfers to/from the camp and all equipment (surfboard, wetsuit, lycra, leash, and booties)
- 3 massages
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Faro Airport
84 km
Transfer not provided
Lisbon Portela Airport
164 km
Transfer not provided
Arrive by car
If you want to be independent, there are numerous car hire companies at Faro Airport. With prices starting from around 30 EUR a day, this is a good option if you’re staying longer and want to do some exploring. To make it more sustainable, share your rides on BlaBlaCar App.
Arrival by bus
There is a shuttle bus that will take you from the airport to Lagos for 15 EUR when booked at least 72 hours in advance. The shuttle bus can drop you at Lagos bus station, where there is also a taxi rank or you can find shared rides with BlaBlaCar from there. Prices of the local buses are:
- Lagos to Aljezur: 4.65 EUR
- Aljezur to Vale da Telha: 2.60 EUR
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookSurfCamps.com. All major credit cards supported.