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Traveling to Ericeira in the near future and wondering which beaches in the area would suit you the best? There are many wonderful beaches in Ericeira and they all have something going for them. But one of my favorite ones was Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas. In this post, I’ll explain where this beach in Ericiera is located, what you can do there and the best places nearby to stay. Here we go!
Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas
Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas is a scenic beach located on the Portuguese coast, near the town of Ericeira. It is known for its natural beauty and world-class surfing conditions and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
Stretching along the rugged shoreline, Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Its golden sand beaches are framed by dramatic cliffs and rocky outcrops, creating a stunning backdrop while sunbathing and lazing your day away. The beach is also known for its clean and clear waters, making it an ideal spot for swimming and other water activities.
However, what truly sets Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas apart is its reputation as a surfer’s paradise. The consistent waves and excellent breaks attract surfers from around the world, making it a popular spot for international surfing competitions. The beach’s unique geography and powerful waves offer great opportunities for both experienced surfers and beginners looking to catch their first wave.
Beyond its natural beauty and great surfing opportunities, Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas also holds a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. The beach is home to a lovely bar/restaurant where you can unwind and marvel at the stunning views while sipping a drink or enjoying brunch on a Sunday morning.
Ericeira is a coastal town located in Portugal in the western part of the country. It is situated in the municipality of Mafra, which is a part of the Lisbon District. Ericeira lies approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal.
Ericeira is known for its beautiful coastline, which stretches for several kilometers. It is also known for being the first World Surfing Reserve in Europe and is a popular summer destination for surfers, yogis, and beach lovers.
Ericeira’s location near Lisbon makes it easily accessible for both domestic and international travelers. There are various ways to get from Lisbon to Ericeira. You can read all about it in this Lisbon to Ericeira transport guide.
Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas is famous for being one of the most renowned surfing spots in Portugal and Europe. It is widely recognized for its consistent and high-quality waves, and the swell attracts surfers from around the world.
The beach has gained a reputation as a surfer’s paradise and has hosted numerous international surfing competitions, including events of the World Surf League (WSL) qualifying series.
Aside from that, it’s also a great beach to relax and take a dip in the Atlantic ocean which is by the way pretty cold, even during the summer months!
This is due to a cold water stream, causing the upwelling of deep and colder ocean water, just in front of the coast of Ericeira.
You won’t go bored easily at Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas and you can spend a day here enjoying a variety of activities. That said, even though there are tourists around, the beach doesn’t really feel “touristy”.
As a conscious traveler, you will find that this beach has a great laidback vibe and still holds some local charm. It mainly attracts a crowd that loves the ocean, and watersports and hold a rather eco-friendly attitude.
Ericeira is a world-class surfing destination that has gained a well-deserved reputation among surfers worldwide. It offers consistent and powerful waves, especially during the winter, providing the best conditions in Europe for surfers of all levels.
Ericera boasts a variety of breaks, reef breaks, and beach breaks with Ribeira d’Ilhas being one of the most popular spots in town next to other good surf spots like Coxos and Foz do Lizandro.
Surfers are drawn to Ericeira not only for its quality waves but also for its vibrant surf culture, friendly atmosphere, and the opportunity to surf in breathtaking natural surroundings and that is exactly what you will find at Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas.
Here are some useful things to know if you are planning to surf at Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas:
If you want to take surf lessons at Ribeira d’Ilhas then there are two surf schools right on the beach that offer classes, Surf with Pepe and Blue Ocean Surf School.
There are a variety of possibilities for surf lessons and you can opt to do a try-out if you’re not sure yet if you will like surfing or participate in a multi-day course that can cater to both beginners as mediate/advanced surfers.
Do note that these schools are not the only ones in Ericeira. There are a dozen of schools out there and there’s a chance that also these schools will bring their students to Ribeira d’Ilhas for surf lessons.
Surf gear is for sale and for rent at Surf with Pepe and Blue Ocean Surf School. You can find anything there, from surfboards and wetsuits to leashes and wax.
While they are conveniently located on the beach of Ribeira d’Ilhas, same as surf schools, there are plenty other of surf shops in Ericeira where you can buy anything you might need.
Due to a cold gulf stream, the water of the ocean never gets really warm in Ericeira, not even during the summer months. Depending on the time of your visit, you can expect temperatures that hover around 15 degrees in the winter and 21 degrees in the summer.
The best way to find out about the best surf conditions is through Surf Forecast and Surfline, although you will need to be a premium member of Surfline if you want to check out the live cam for Ribeira d’Ilhas.
You can check the tides here.
Ribeira d’Ilhas offers a great beach that is actually divided into a few smaller beaches by a few rocky outcrops and a river that flows into the sea.
The main beach, which is backed by a promenade and a wooden boardwalk that you can use to cross the river, is the busiest. If you like it quiet, it pays off to walk all the way to the beach on the left. Do note, that you will be pretty far away from the amenities there, like the toilet and showers.
The left part of the beach is also the easiest for swimming since most of the surfers will be practicing on the right-hand side of the beach.
There are no sunbeds or umbrellas for rent, which keeps the beach a bit wild.
The cliffs around Ribeira d’Ilhas are spectacular and provide great photo opportunities. The best time to take some great is at golden hour in the morning and evening.
If you have a good camera, you can also shoot some great pictures of surfers riding the waves.
There is a beautiful trail in Ericeira leading all the way from Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas to Coxos beach. if you love photography, this is the place to be in Ericeira to take beautiful pictures. The trails are flanked by lovely Aloe Vera plants and from the cliffs, you have the most magnificent views over the World Surfing Reserve.
When you arrive at Coxos beach you can either choose to make your way to the cozy center of Ribamar to have a drink or a snack at Barzinho or Puro or you can continue your walk towards the beach of Praia de Sao Lourenço which has a charming cafeteria/restaurant with a nice terrace.
Don’t worry about food or drinks when you visit Ribeira d’Ilhas. The beach offers a great beach bar and Restaurant that goes by the name Ribeira d’Ilhas Surf Bar and Restaurant.
This restaurant/bar is a great place to visit either for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or just a drink. It’s quite big, and offers a large terrace but at certain points during the week (especially on Sunday around brunch time) it can get really crowded and you will have to queue before being able to grab a seat.
There’s also a large indoor space, which is empty most of the time although I’ve seen a few people working there on their laptops during the day, which is a great idea, considering the ocean views.
On the menu, you can find a variety of options from burgers to spaghetti and fish an seafood. As a vegan in Ericeira, you won’t have trouble finding vegan options here. There’s a vegan tofu spaghetti and a tofu salad on offer and appetizers like grilled mushrooms and olives. For breakfast, you can order a fruit plate and avocado toast and, I’m not 100% sure, but I believe the Acai bowl is also vegan.
Casa Ribamar in the small village of Ribamar
There are no accommodation options right by the beach of Ribeira d’Ilhas. While the center of Ericeira is the most convenient in terms of amenities, if you want to stay out of the tourist rumble, I suggest staying in one of the smaller villages surrounding the center of Ericeira.
Here are some great options:
If you like to have a whole place to yourself then Casa Ribamar in the small village of Ribamar, rented out by Carina who lives in Ericeira is a great choice. The house is beautifully decorated and you can truly find anything you need inside the house.
The terrace is perfect to enjoy breakfast and dinner while you can watch authentic Portuguese life slowly passing by. Good for travelers who like privacy and traditional Portuguese villages.
Sandhi House is a beautiful guesthouse in the center of Ericeira near the beach. It offers only five rooms and a tranquil and peaceful setting with a cute terrace. You can participate in yoga classes or enjoy a relaxing massage. Multi-day well-being packages are on offer. Good for travelers who are looking for a well-being getaway.
Omassim Guesthouse is a lovely guesthouse with a pool and cute rooms located between Santo Isidoro and Ribamar. Aside from accommodation, it also offers different surf and yoga packages. Depending on your wishes you can choose if you want to take surf lessons, yoga classes or a mix of both with delicious vegetarian food (and vegan upon request) included. Good for travelers who like package deals and don’t want to do a lot of research themselves.
Surf girl (© Femke Leemans)
If you are staying in Ericeira then you can reach Ribeira d’Ilhas in a little over half an hour on foot. Don’t forget to enjoy the views from the lookout point at the surfer statue before taking the long stairway down to the beach.
Alternatively, you can also rent an e-bike at Takeoff E-bike.
It’s relatively easy to get to Ribeira d’Ilhas if you have your own wheels. The beach offers a large parking lot and I had no trouble finding a place in September when there were still quite a few tourists around.
You can compare prices for rental cars on Discover Cars.
From June to September there is a beach bus that operates between Foz do Lizandro and Ribeira d’Ilhas. It runs approximately every two hours between 9 A.M. and 8 P.M.
Ask your accommodation to provide you with the timetable.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to Praia de Ribeira d’Ilhas near Ericiera in Portugal. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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