Figueira da Foz – Cabedelo
Figueira da Foz, Coimbra District, Portugal
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: January–March, September–December
Cabedelo is the beach on the south side of the Mondego river mouth at Figueira da Foz, on Portugal's central coast about 40 kilometres west of Coimbra. Sand builds up against the south jetty, and Atlantic swells from the west and north-west break along it as a fast, often hollow right-hander. The spot has hosted national and international surfing contests. North of the river mouth, Buarcos has a long right-hand point that works on bigger swells.
Easterly and north-easterly winds are offshore and are most common in the mornings in autumn and winter, which is also the most consistent swell season. The jetty gives some shelter from northerly winds. The wave is powerful and quick and suits intermediate and advanced surfers; the rocks of the jetty are close, and the river creates strong currents, especially on outgoing tides and after heavy rain. The line-up is crowded when it is good. The water is about 14 °C in winter and 17 to 19 °C in late summer, so a 4/3 wetsuit is usual for most of the year.
Spots near Figueira da Foz – Cabedelo
- Nazaré – Praia do Norte (62 km)
- Lagoa de Óbidos (85 km)
- Peniche – Baleal (94 km)
- Peniche – Supertubos (98 km)
- Porto – Matosinhos (116 km)
- Ericeira – Ribeira d'Ilhas (137 km)
- Guincho (165 km)
- Carcavelos (167 km)