The Surf Window

Praia do Norte

Centro, Portugal

Beach breakExpert

The specific north-facing beach within Nazare where world-record waves break, directly above the Nazare Canyon, where the ocean floor drops from 20m to 3,000m in a single kilometre.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size4-10ft

Wind

NE

Offshore

Tide

Any

LowMidHigh

Season

October–March

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Both

Bottom

Sand (canyon-amplified energy)

Shape

Enormous, thick walls, the biggest surfable waves on earth

Length

200–500m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Elite big-wave specialists at size; Advanced on moderate days
  • •Why: Same as Nazare, the canyon creates waves of extraordinary and potentially fatal scale.

Hazards

  • •Extreme wave size
  • •Canyon-driven currents that differ entirely from normal beach rips
  • •Cliffside spectator areas can be hit by spray and surges in extreme conditions
  • •Tow-in equipment required above 20ft

Local Tips

  • •The red-roofed lighthouse on the headland above the beach is the iconic viewpoint for big-wave watching.
  • •Garret McNamara's record-breaking rides here from 2011 onwards are freely available online, watch them before your first visit.

Location

Map showing the location of Praia do Norte in Centro, Portugal

39.6027, -9.0746