Ericeira
Ericeira - Portugal
Spot Type
Wave
Water
Crystal Clear
Beach
Sand
Rider Lever
intermediate
Spot characteristics
Spot Type
Wave
Rider Skill
intermediate
Crowd
Seasonal Crowd
Beach Type
Sand
Water Quality
Crystal Clear
Tide Influence
All tide levels with different conditions (chop - flat - wave)
Description of Ericeira (Portugal)
Ericeira is pretty well-known in the surf world, and for good reason—it’s officially a World Surfing Reserve, which already tells you what kind of wave setup you’re in for. But if you’re into kitesurfing and especially love to chase wind with a bit of a surf-style slant, Ericeira can definitely deliver. That said, this isn’t your classic sandy lagoon with butter-flat water and consistent trade winds. It’s got a raw edge to it—exposed rock shelves, punchy surf, and some serious personality dictated by swell and seasonal shifts.
During the summer, from about May through October, you’ll get the most rideable days thanks to the Nortada—those solid northerly and northeasterly breezes that line up best with the western coastline. You're looking at wind probabilities from 70% up to 85% in peak months like July and August, so it’s worth planning around that if you want more sessions. Best bets for kiting are when the swell chills out and the wind picks up in the afternoon.
Foz do Lizandro beach is your most kite-friendly launch in the area. There’s a solid open beach break with enough room to set up even when there are a few other riders around. But keep an eye on tides and swell. When surf hits head-high and tides go high, you’re dealing with strong inside currents that’ll keep you on your toes, especially near the rocky points. The spot flattens a bit during mid to low tide, and you can sneak out to catch fun little kickers outside.
The waves here are rarely user-friendly. They’re punchy and not your mellow crumbler, which is great if you’re crossing over from surfing and want that hybrid ride, but not ideal for learning transitions or trying new freestyle tricks. Expect choppy water on windier days, with some cleaner faces if you catch morning glass before wind picks up fully.
Locals are mostly surfers, and that vibe dominates the lineup. Kitesurfers are still a minority, especially compared to the south coast or lagoons up north. Everyone’s generally chill, but as usual, don’t snake surf peaks or try to kite the same break when packs of surfers are out. There’s plenty of open water for launching your own thing and staying out of crowded areas.
Bring a full wetsuit—even in summer. The Atlantic here doesn’t mess around, and water temps hover between 18–20°C (64–68°F). Ideal kites are in the 8–12m range for most summer days, depending on your weight. Light guys might get away with a 9 most days, but it pays to bring range. The wind isn’t always a guaranteed megalooper machine—it hovers between 10–25 knots, and there are chill days with nothing over 14. Probably not worth bringing the big air quiver, but if you're setting up for some small wave cross-overs or long freeride tacks along the coast, you’ll have fun.
Non-kite days are easy to fill here. You’ve got yoga studios in town, loads of epic surf if wind’s nonexistent, seafood that’s actually good post-session fuel (grilled sardines and vinho verde, anyone?), and all the charm of narrow old-town Portuguese streets without the chaos of mass tourism. It’s not flashy, but it is legit.
Spot best suited for
Spot profile
Travel spot
The typical kite travel destination, it is known for its great conditions, and kiters from around the world come here for their vacations.
Local spot
Maybe not be worth a real journey to reach this spot, but great if you live close by and it is a windy day. In the end, being out on the water feels great anywhere
Equipment
You’ll want a 4/3 full wetsuit year-round. It’s Atlantic Portugal, and even in the hottest months, the water temps don’t get truly warm. Booties are optional but good for rocky entries or long beach walks (especially if you’re launching at Ribeira or Coxos during low tide). Kite sizes between 8m–12m will suit most conditions from May through October.
Wind Conditions
Main wind directions
% of Windy days per month
Wind Speed Range
From 10 to 25 Knots
Suggested sizes
8 - 9 mt
10 - 11 mt
12 - 13 mt
Forecast on Windy.com
Dangers
The biggest challenge in Ericeira is managing the combination of solid Atlantic swell and shifting tides. During winter, the waves here aren’t kiteable unless you’ve got serious surf-foil or wave-kiting chops—and even then, local knowledge is crucial. Currents can be strong, especially around high tide when backwash near the shore increases significantly. Beginners or intermediate kiters can find themselves pulled downwind fast, especially at more exposed beaches like Matadouro or São Lourenço.
Rocky bottoms mean you really have to know where you're stepping when launching or landing. Low tide exposes reefy sections that can ruin a kite session—or your feet. Don’t plan on learning to kite here. It’s not forgiving, and there aren't tons of beginner-friendly shallow water areas. Foz do Lizandro is your least technical spot, with a wider sandy beach area and straighter shoreline. Still, launching when it’s busy with beach-goers in summer requires patience.
Respect the surf zones. Surfers dominate the scene here, and dropping into their peaks with a kite is a fast way to get on bad terms locally. Best practice is to stay clear of key surf breaks like Coxos, Ribeira d’Ilhas, and São Lourenço. There is enough open space between popular lineups to get a good downwind run going without cutting through surf crowds.
Also, note the wind can turn gusty near cliffs or between valleys, so it’s good to ride with caution until you’ve mapped out wind behavior. And yes, there are jellyfish sometimes—nothing too dramatic, but be alert mid-summer when water warms.
Location
Closest City
Ericeira
How to get There
Fly into Lisbon Portela Airport, grab a rental car or taxi, and it's about a 45-minute drive northwest along the A8 then A21 highway straight into Ericeira. Buses run daily from Lisbon’s Campo Grande terminal if you're feeling public transport vibes, but a car gives way more flexibility to explore nearby beaches.
Access
Public access available at most beaches, including main kite-friendly spots like Foz do Lizandro and São Julião. Some coastline sectors are under environmental preservation, especially near surf reserves—observe signs and don't cut through dunes or marked zones.
What to do besides kitesurfing
When you’re not on the water, Ericeira has a solid balance of small-town chill and cultural depth. The town center mixes modern surf-hostel vibes with low-key Portuguese cafes where locals still sit sipping espresso longer than it takes to finish it. The fish is fresh, the pastries (go find a warm one at a side-street pastelaria) are dangerously good, and everyone from backpackers to digital nomads has some kind of presence here.
Accommodation options run across the whole spectrum—hostels, surf camps, Airbnb spots, and boutique hotels. If you're hanging with non-kiters, they’ll have no problem filling their time: beach walks with cliffs and panoramic Atlantic views, craft markets, live music sessions at central square tavernas, or guided day-trips to the epic palaces and forests of nearby Sintra. And Lisbon’s barely an hour away if you want an occasional city dose.
Families can easily dig it here too. The beach at Foz do Lizandro has play areas, easy parking, and solid lifeguard coverage during high season. Restaurants even right by the beach cater to kids and post-session beer cravings. Yoga studios are dotted around town too—many kite schools offer packages that pair yoga with rides.
There’s a cool sense of community here. The surf culture trickles into kite culture with a bit more edge than southern Portugal spots. People look out for one another, but respect goes further than leaps at the lagoon. Help another rider launch, don’t kite surf-only peaks, and you’ll find yourself with new session buddies pretty quickly.
WiFi is solid almost everywhere, in case you're trying to work remotely. SIMs and data packages are cheap. You can walk most places in town, but having a car lets you check wave/wind conditions in different areas and gives you more range on lighter wind days. Parking can be cramped around central beaches in summer, so get there early or ride a bike.
Finally, don’t just kite and leave. The central coast up here has layers—epic cliff hikes, sleepy fishing villages, and forested hills that drop into rugged coastline. The town's vibe has matured in recent years without becoming pretentious, which means you still get that balance of performance riding and post-session mellow.
All in, Ericeira’s a tricky but rewarding spot for intermediate+ riders who aren’t expecting the easiest terrain but appreciate a session with character, followed by grilled octopus, cold Sagres, and music with salt still stuck in their ears.