PRAIA DO NORTE

Praia do Norte is considered the queen wave of Nazaré and it is one of the most respected waves in all the European cost. Known for the strength of its waves, this beach handles easily perfect peaks until 4 meters height. The swell from West/East and the wind from the east quadrant allow epic conditions during the entire beach. Praia do Norte is one of the beaches from the Portuguese coast that receives more undulation during the all year and is the perfect place, not only for the Winter Big Surf days but also for the Summer Chill Out.
Praia do Norte, located in an area contiguous to Sítio da Nazaré, at North of Nazaré Village, contains an extended sandy area where you can find excellent conditions to practice Bodyboard and Surf. Totally exposed to the Atlantic’s force, it also takes advantage from the existence of a singular geologic formation in the Portuguese coast. A submarine narrow pass, known as Nazaré Canyon, extends itself until Sítio’s promontory and Praia do Norte in the direction West-Southwest (WSW).

The peaks have world class, especially the ones that are nearer the promontory. This fact has already been verified by some of the best world bodyboarders. This place is turned to West-Southwest (WSW), the same direction of Canyon, and concentrates all the undulation energy because of the rocky massif located at the South of Praia do Norte. The beach stretches to North, in a pronounced curve that turns to West and then to Northwest (NW), following that direction until the city of Figueira da Foz.

Praia do Norte has triangulates beach-break peaks that can go have between 20 meters and 150 meters, depending on the bottom and the swell direction. The waves have a lot of strength and can reach the 5 meters with perfect formation. During Special Edition third edition, the waves got the 7 meters and the organization had to use jet-skis to guarantee the bodyboarders’ safety. New limits to wave’s modalities were defined that day and Praia do Norte won the deserved status of ideal place to the tow-in practice.

Conditions:
Tide – It Works with any tide but it can occur some backwash with high tide.
Swell – From Northwest (NW) a Southwest (SW), with preference to West-Northwest (WNW) a West-Southwest (WSW).
Winds – It must blow between Northwest and Southeast quadrants, between 5 and 20 km/h.

Seasons:
October-April

Advantages: Few or any crowd, regular swell with long periods, conditions can go to extreme (only to experts).

Disadvantages: Possible Winter storms, rain and cold, especially in December and January.

May-September:

Advantages: Stable whether, long summer, weak undulations that benefit from Canyon phenomenon.

Disadvantages: The better days have some crowd, irregular swell, usual winds from Northwest quadrant.

Advices:
Go surf in the morning, the winds are more favorable. Don’t go alone and go with at least other two persons in the bigger days.
Respect the place and the waves. Don’t forget that the waves are powerful and can surprise you.

These waves have world class and are a truly challenge to your abilities. In Praia do Norte, you can be sure that you will live unforgettable moments, that you will certainly remember forever.

PRAIA DA VILA

When Praia do Norte takes big volume dimensions, Praia da Vila becomes the excellent alternative. The main characteristic of this wave is it right peak, near the promontory that handles until three meters height, and the north and east wind is the most favorable. Because of the changes of the sand bottom of the sea, this wave can become a peak of left and right at the beach’s most central part, known as Pico da Moiteira.

PRAIA DO SUL

With Southeast undulation and wind from the Northeast quadrant, there is a spot in Nazaré that starts to shine.
Praia do Sul is characterized by a tubular wave near the breakwater of the river that handles swell perfectly until 3 meters height.