The 5 Best Surf Camps in Peniche

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Oh, Peniche. Sitting plum at the center of a six-mile stretch of coast that sucks in swell from all directions, always has something off shore, and looks downright beautiful with its oat-topped dunes, there’s no denying that this is one of the best surf towns in Portugal. 

We might even go one further than that. We might even say that it’s the single best place to come for a Portuguese surf camp, mainly on account of the abundance of establishments and the presence of north-facing Baleal, a surf spot that’s basically designed for first timers who aren’t ready just yet to do battle with the frothing beefcakes of Supertubos et al.

We might say that, but Portugal has embarrassing riches in the surf-town department so we can’t quite say that. Either way, there are some seriously enticing surf camps here doing seriously enticing packages. At just under 1.5 hours’ drive from Lisbon Airport and reachable by direct bus from the capital, it’s easy to see why thousands flock by to do their wavecraft in these parts.

So, without further ado, here’s a look at what we think are the stand-out surf camps in Peniche for the coming season…

We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!

• Location: Baleal, Peniche
• Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $702 (£583) per person

The folks behind the Salty Pelican have done it again. First it was Sri Lanka, then it was Ericeira, now it’s Peniche. They’ve crafted a super-cool property behind the dunes of Baleal Beach. It’s enough to make the Instagrammers drool. There are dorms and doubles that ooze boho-tropical style, a rooftop garden that would look right at home in Mykonos, and a yoga Shala overlooking the roaring Atlantic waves. My lord it’s lovely. 

You can opt to book it as standalone accommodation if you like, but we’d recommend going for the full surf-camp option. They run a flagship 8-day package that includes five full days of surfing and – get this – UNLIMITED yoga. You’ll learn all the surfing basics under the trusty tutelage of Alex, a Portuguese Surf Federation-rated coach, and other coaches from South Africa and the UK. The price includes gear rental from check in to check out, meaning you can stroll across the street and surf whenever you like.

There are two tiers of booking. The cheaper packages are in shared dorms. The more expensive can be shared by a couple for private doubles. Our advice? Book early if you want to hit the Salty Pelican Peniche in the summer. This is one of the hottest properties on the Euro surf-camp rotation right now!

• Location: Baleal, Peniche
• Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $471 (£391) per person

The Balili Beach House is one of the few surf camps in Peniche that’s actually on the little island of Baleal. That’s a stunning place to be based because you’ll be living in a charming little fishing village that’s been there for centuries, on a rugged rock that’s joined to the mainland by a tombola of sand. Look – it’s pretty, okay?

The aim with this one has been to craft a boutique surf package that gives a taste of cottage life on the Atlantic coast. They do that with rooftop yoga sessions in the evening and loads of social events on top of the surfing, from homemade breakfasts together in the morning to walking tours of the nearby medieval city of Óbidos. 

Rather than having dedicated in-house instructors, these guys outsource the surf tuition to the Escola de Surf de Peniche. Rest assured that’s a place of very high repute. If 4.9/5 on the old Goog doesn’t do it for you, then let’s just say it’s the school we recommend to most first-time surfers heading Baleal way.

• Location: Baleal, Peniche
• Price: 11 days/10 nights starting at $747 (£620) per person

No guide to the top surf camps in Peniche could possibly skip a mention of the Alex Surf Hostel. This is one of the OG surf getaways in central Portugal. It offers a classic camp routine over seven days that allows for a lot of free time on the waves and a backbone of 2x guided surf lessons each day for eight days of the 11. It’s a bit more hands-off than other camps here but that’s good if you like time to practice by yourself.

Accommodation-wise, you’re looking at a bright and breezy townhouse with a pool in the garden and large shared kitchen spaces. It’s about five minutes’ walk up the road from beginner-friendly Baleal Beach and it kinda’ feels like you’ve just rocked up and rented a villa with mates. 

Where the Alex Hostel stands out is on the price front. Packages start at around the $600 mark for a full 10 days. That’s more time on the waves for less moolah than a couple of the places listed here, all without any real dip in quality in our humble opinion.

• Location: Consolação, Peniche
• Price: Deals start at $369 (£306) per person for four nights

The Surf Atlas staff have a bit of a soft spot for the Boa Onda Guesthouse because it manages what few Portuguese surf camps manage these days – it’s small, intimate, and local. Yep, this is no mass-brand, factory-line surf camp. It’s staffed by real people who are almost always smiling and attracts crowds of travelers who aren’t after the height of luxury and whatnot. You know, nice people!

Of course, they gotta’ back that up with a good surf package. And they most certainly do. Yep, the five-day option with these guys offers four two-hour surf sessions on one of Peniche’s most famous beaches (Supertubos – but don’t worry, you won’t be thrown straight in the keg) and four yoga classes. They have a max group size of 10 each week, which is great for making new pals and getting that family vibe.

• Location: Ferrel, Peniche
• Price: 2 days/1 night starting at $206 (£171) per person

Calling all loggers, Peniche’s Ahoy Surf House has put together a tailored package for you and your 9-footer friend. It’s intended to be a quick in-and-out intensive that really helps you hone those stepovers and trimming skills. They’ll cater to just about any level, but we think the highly specialized nature of the package really lends itself to more advanced longboarders looking to progress into more technical areas of the sport. 

The price – which is around just $200 per person – includes a night’s accommodation and long, one-on-one surf sessions backed up by professional video analysis. You’ll be staying about 5 minutes’ drive from Peniche’s logger-friendly Baleal beach in the town of Ferrel. We really like that. It’s quiet, more local, and all-round easygoing. The camp itself has a sunny garden with a pool and loads of social chill-out spaces.

Incidentally, Ahoy also has longer packages aimed at shortboarders and beginners.

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We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!