The cheapest Ericeira surfboard rental. If you are looking for surfboard rental in Ericeira this post is for you.
Ericeira Surf Schools
Our Guide to Choosing a Surf School in Ericeira
There are a lot of different surf schools in Ericeira. Which of the surf schools to choose is one of the most common questions we get at our guesthouse. The answer to this question depends on a lot of different things. In this guide we will go through all of these.
After having read our Ericeira surf school guide, you should have all the information you need to choose the surf school in Ericera that’s best for you.
Why its Hard to Recommend a Surf School
How good a surf lesson is depends a lot on the teacher, and to some extent if that teacher has a teaching style that works good for you. For example do some people need more hands on teaching. While other people prefer more flexibility and to get the chance to do things on their own, combined with exactly the right advice for their skill level.
On top of this, if you sign up for one surf school, it’s not certain which of the surf teachers you get. So it’s hard to make any specific surf school recommendations, since the quality depends more of the surf teacher than on the school.
We’ve had guests who had a great surf lesson one day. Only to come back the next day, having had another teacher and a little bit less great surf lesson.
General Ericeira Surf School Info
All accommodation in Ericeira have a surf school they work with and that they send their guests to. So you don’t have to plan and book a surf school before arriving in Ericeira. Just ask at your guesthouse and they will organize a surf lesson for you the next day. Or even the same day.
The price for the lesson should be around 35 euro and the maximum number of students is 6 pupil per surf instructor. Every lesson is 1.5 hour long.
Having all this said, there are advantages and disadvantages with the different surf schools. And trying a few different can be a good idea to find your favorite.
The different surf schools use different beaches and the different beaches around Ericeira comes with pros and cons. With this in mind, lets have a closer look at some of the surf schools in Ericeira.
Na Onda Surf school
We have had several guests using this surf school and they have all been satisfied. According to the school themselves they are the oldest surf school in Ericeira. Regardless of if this is true or not, they have a lot of experience when it comes to teaching people how to surf.
Na Onda surf school operates at Foz do Lizandro beach, so this is the obvious choice if you want to learn how to surf on a beach break. There are no rocks on Foz do Lizandro and at low tide, when the surf lessons take place, the water is shallow.
Most of the time there are also plenty of space in the water at this beach. So the chance of crashing into someone is less at Foz do Lizandro than in Ribeira for example. This makes Foz do Lizandro a good place if you are a bit on the cautious side.
Beach Break Lessons
The downside with Foz do Lizandro is that since it’s a beach break, the waves break faster here than at most other breaks. This means less chance to actually take a green wave on your own. If you already have taken a couple of surf lesson (or even surfed for a couple of weeks) I would not recommend Foz do Lizandro. But for a total beginner Na Onda surf school is a great place to start your surfing journey.
Another big advantages of Na Onda is the great atmosphere at Foz do Lizandro. After the lesson you can have lunch at one of the restaurants and then spend time just chilling at the beach.
To read more about Na Onda you can visit their website: http://www.ericeirasurf.com/
Pure Ocean and Wesurf
These two schools are located at the Ribeira d’ilhas beach. Ribeira has a flat rock bottom. You can think about the area like more of a swimming pool and the ocean as a gentle wave machine. When you learn to surf here you wear boots. The advantage with Ribeira is that the wave is longer. This is true for the advanced wave further out as well as the smaller waves on the inside.
Ribeira is great if you have come a bit further in your surfing journey, on a small day (around 1 meter) it’s a good wave to practice on. Since it’s a fun long ride its often crowded. This is true for both the beginner’s area and the areas who are for the more advanced.
Wesurf have managed to rank up some bad reviews at trip advisor, with guest claiming that their service is not personal enough. I have however recommended many people the surf schools at Ribeira (it’s the beginner break closest to our guesthouse) and I have not heard any bad comments. But as written above, your experience will depend a lot on the teacher you are paired with.
Ericeira Surf school
The owner, Michel Amaro, of Ericeira Surf school is both serious and social. We often spot him at the Pizza mobile restaurant or around town mingling. When I emailed him about which beach he teaches on he answered fast.
He has a lot of experience with surfing as well as organizing surf schools. He does his lessons at Ribeira d’ilhas with a team of surf instructors.
Choosing Ericeira Surf School you can expect a serious, well organized surf school with great teachers. He also does Standup Paddle Board tours. We really recommend giving this a try since SUP is fun and easier to master than surfing. Let’s just say it’s a more peaceful experience and you actually have time to hear the birds sing. Visit Ericeira surf Schools website here.
3 surfers
This is a cool name and a cool story about 3 local guys who started their Ericiera surf school to share their passion for surfing. They are located inside the old town of Ericeira. So if you stay in central Ericeira it’s a good idea to try their lessons. They have a lot of good reviews on TripAdvisor. Thus they are a popular and well appreciated choice among the Ericeira surf schools.
3 Surfers has licenses to teach in 3 beaches. Normally they teach at Foz do Lizandro. When the waves are too big at Foz do Lizandro they go to Praia do Sul for intermediate lessons and Praia do Matadouro for their beginner lessons.
Here is their webpage for further info.
The ocean Surf school
To finish this extensive guide to the surf schools in Ericeira we recommend our friend Marcio. He is an easygoing, fun, encouraging surf teacher. And he will provide you with lots of insight both about the area and the ocean. He is very passionate about explaining the ocean and gives a lot of knowledge about how it all works. So be prepared for some theory mixed in with the wave catching.
When Marcio is not teaching you can often find him at Adega, taking his student out for a drink. We recommend a lot of people going surfing with Marcio. He is a bit of a time optimist, so bring a book, plenty of water and a snack. And see it more like a relaxed surf trip with friends then a fixed 1. 5 hour experience.
Marcio is a great choice if you want to move away from the big surf schools and go surfing with a local guy. Check out Marcios and his brother Filipes surf school here: The Ocean.
Also Check Out
If you are interested in taking a surfcamp or a surf and yoga retreat in Ericeira, this blogpost will help you decide which one is for you.
Everything you need to know about private surf lessons in Ericeira.
Our complete guide to surfing in Ericeira. If you are interested in surfing in Ericeira this guide has everything you need to know.
