7 Handpicked Surf Camps in Porto [2026]
We at The Surf Atlas are big, big fans of what northern Portugal and Porto has to offer for surfers.
Yes, the waves here are a bit more unruly than the long, punching shoulders of the western Algarve, and there might not be any fancy World Surfing Reserves a la Ericeira.
But the region is wilder, lusher, wetter, and great for escaping the crowds. On top of that, we rate some of the beaches around Porto city as prime territory for learners looking to improve.
Waves from Espinho up to Azurara are just about perfect for honing your pop up and getting the basics right in the spring and summer, particularly if you don’t like crowds (and who does?).
What’s more, the number of surf camps in Porto has been growing in recent years. That’s down to a mix of people straying further from the tried-and-tested surf meccas of the Silver Coast and Peniche, and an increasing array of low-cost airlines going into the local Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
We’ve visited quite a few of the best in the region and have heard excellent things about others (and not-so-excellent things about others still).
Cue this guide, which runs through the five very finest surf camps in this loveable second city. You’ll notice that most aren’t based in Porto proper but rather in one of the smaller surf towns on the outskirts to the north or south.
That’s to be expected, since you’d need to travel further to the waves if you stayed in the downtown anyhow. Spots like Ovar, Aveiro and Maceda tend to be the most popular.
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!
>>This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Portugal
>>It’s also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
Quick-click guide to our top surf camps in Porto…
- Golden Waves Surf Lodge – The best surf camp in Porto
- Onda Pura – For enjoying Porto’s urban beach life
- Marias Hostel & Surf – The best budget surf camp in the Porto region ($300/five days!)
- Caruma Surf Hostel & Suites – A low-cost, social surf stay really close to the city center
- Ocean Porto – Beach House – Hotel-style stay with style for city breakers who want to surf
- Conde Surf Camp – For a private surf camp
- Maceda Surf Hostel – A wonderful combo of glamping site and surf camp
>>Plan your own Portugal surf trip with our guide to the best surf hotels in Portugal. And – for shoestring travelers, we also have a guide to the best surf hostels in Portugal
Golden Waves Surf Lodge
The leading surf camp in Porto right now
Located 30km south of the city in a gorgeous part of the Silver Coast, The Golden Wave Surf Lodge is a relative newcomer and it’s doing things just right. They have a sort of villa-surf lodge mashup that’s got gardens filled with pine trees, its own swimming pool, and a real nice living space that has Zen vibes.
They have an 8-day package that includes six days of surfing on the beaches of Furadouro, Cortegaca, or Maceda, all of which are super-reliable and generally fairly beginner-friendly throughout the spring and summer months. All lessons are run by in-house guides who are accredited by the Portuguese Surf Federation.
We also love the range of extras: Free bike hire for cruising around the coast town and the coast forests, great vegan-friendly breakfast buffets, and a just an all-round super-social vibe that’s wonderful if you’re new to surfing and want a good ease-in.
Groups are never more than 18 people at once, which helps with that family feel. Prices are very reasonable, too – a full week’s stay will set you back under $800 in 2026.
Onda Pura
For enjoying Porto’s urban beach life
Veteran surfers who’ve been in and out of Portugal’s northern city in the last 10 years might have heard of Onda Pura (or the Onda Pura Surf Center to give them their full name). Basically, they are one of the highest-rated standalone surf schools in the region, with nearly 30 years of experience running classes for all levels of surfer on their CV.
Anyway, they’ve recently partnered with the folks over at Casa Rietsch, one of the city’s newest hostels. And, this time, it really is IN the city, right there between the cool coast cafes of Matosinhos. Yep, the beauty of this 7-day package is that you’ll get to stay within the urban buzz of Porto itself and be taken out to the surf breaks each day, depending on where’s working best.
Crucially, all your transport to and from the surf breaks is included. As is surf gear and board rental for the duration of the lessons. There’s 2x lesssons per day (which is on the higher end) and one video-feedback session to help you iron out any technical issues along the way.
Marias Hostel & Surf
The best budget surf camp in the Porto region – $300 for 5 nights!
In the midst of salt-washed, sandy Praia do Furadouro, a bijou resort town about 40 minutes’ drive (or the same on the train) south of Porto, Marias Hostel & Surf is the picture of a budget surf camp.
If you’re keeping a close eye on the spending, then you can drop a mere $300 on this one and fit in four days of guided surf tuition at one of the most consistent beaches on the Silver Coast.
The price includes transport to and from the breaks, and up to three hours of surfing each day. Them be the basics.
On top, you get a tasty homemade breakfast each morning and access to one of the best gear stashes we’ve seen of any surf camp in PT – their boards are all very well maintained and wetsuits are premium stuff. The package also includes surf photography and use of surfskate equipment when you’re off the waves.
The whole thing is framed by the sociable vibe. That’s encouraged by the hostel-style accommodation, which offers a small-group vibe and plenty of communal spaces to gather and mingle after a day on the water.
Caruma Surf Hostel & Suites
A great budget and social option
Caruma Surf Hostel& Suites/HostelWorldJust a couple of minutes’ walk from Matosinhos Beach – literally the go-to spot closest to the city of Porto – Caruma Surf Hostel & Suites nails that perfect surf + city balance.
It’s less a basic dorm and more an open, upbeat surf-centric social hub with stylish industrial-chic design, hammocks, communal areas and a relaxed athlete atmosphere that keeps guests hanging out long after sunset.
The hostel itself has a mix of shared dorms and private suites, a well-equipped kitchen and plenty of chill space to meet other surfers before and after the water. None of them are ever uber-expensive.
It’s super close to the metro (Matosinhos Sul), so you’ll be within easy distance from Porto center while still being in the thick of the beach life.
Surf-wise, Caruma goes beyond just location – you can book onto either surf lessons or a guided Surf Safari to explore quality breaks up and down the northern and central coast, all with boards and guidance included. H
Hosts are friendly, the vibe is communal, and it’s excellent for solo travelers or groups looking to blend waves with social evenings and beach bars just steps away
Do remember: This is a hostel booking only. Surf lessons etc come as extra and are booked once you arrive.
Check prices and availability at Caruma Surf Hostel & Suites
Ocean Porto – Beach House
Best hotel-style stay for city breakers looking to surf and see Porto
We think the Ocean Porto – Beach House is a fantastic option for surf travelers who aren’t keen on the overly organized schedule of a full-on surf camp. We actually list it as one of our best hotels for surfers because it’s a private, hotel-style booking but it’s got some added features that make surfing every day a cinch.
First off – that location. The beach house sits tucked two blocks back from Matasinhos, which means about 5 minutes’ walking each morning for a dawnie on the most reliable city break there is.
Second – the surfboard rental. These guys have racks of boards (think Ocean Earth softtops mainly, but good quality stuff) that guests can use totally free of charge.
Third – access to the metro. The tram leaves right beside the hotel, so you can be in central Porto in the time it takes to finish a pastal de nata. That makes this a perfect option for people looking to combo up a city break with some surf on the side.
Your day could go something like this: Wake up early, nail an hour’s session down Matasinhos with the free boards, grab a coffee and a pastry, shower at the hotel, spend the rest of the day wandering Porto’s UNESCO downtown. Cool, eh?
Oh yea, and the style of the hotel is real nice. It’s got natural wood floors, muted color schemes, and super-comfy beds.
Conde Surf Camp
A private surf camp
We kinda like the Conde Surf Camp because it offers a completely private stay – basically you book out the entire surf house and enjoy living less than 5 mins from the beach and the surf for a whole week.
They offer affordable packages that suit couples but the place can host up to six people at once. It’s nice, too, with a cozy lounge, a small garden/patio area, and an outdoor shower for getting rid of the sand and the salt. It’s probably a touch on the basic side compared to more lux surf camp stays but it also offers something they can’t: That authentic, local feel.
The package they do here includes surf lessons every day but, again, they’re super flexible with stuff. You can also just grab your gear and go to the beach to free surf yourself.
The location is great if you’re planning on renting a car and driving north from Porto into the Green Coast region. You can be at the surf house in like 50 minutes or so, less if there’s no traffic. It’s perfect for freewheeling couples and families who don’t like to be tied down too much.
Maceda Surf Hostel
A combo of glamping site and surf camp
The Maceda Surf Hostel is the top pick here if you’re looking to escape the city and really taste what the wild top end of the Silver Coast (just south of Porto) of northern Portugal is all about.
The accommodation itself is also downright fantastic. It’s a bona fide eco resort with pod-style glamping rooms set between forests of lanky pine trees. You’ll spend evenings there chatting and clinking beers with other guests, and watch as the stars come out overhead.
Then there’s the ridiculous overload of surfing…
Take their flagship 8-day package, which includes the standard five lessons throughout the week, only these lessons are a whopping four hours long! That’s 20 hours+ of surfing across a week-long package, which is right there at the top end of what most camps in Portugal offer.
You’ll mostly be hitting the beaches of lovely Cortegaca, an area that’s usually best suited to intermediates but has plenty of sheltered breaks for learners too.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
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!
