Ericeira it’s a beautiful small town, with tons of amazing waves, places and friendly people.
However, surf spots in Ericeira can be dangerous and each wave needs specific conditions to work properly. As locals, we know Ericeira and its waves like the back of our hand – this helps us build a surf map for surfers to find the most suitable spots for their experience and level.
Also, Ericeira had a big hype in recent years and suffered from a huge boom with new ideas and new businesses appearing every day. Sometimes with so many options people might feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve also pointed out some of our favourite places and key services in town.
backYARD Ericeira Surf Map was built on Google My Maps where places and paths that we think are important or of interest are marked. We’ve also added a description to most bookmarked sites to share some of our ideas and tips.
The map shows all information from google maps but highlights the places that we had selected.
From surf spots to view points and health services.
The map is divided into categories (layers) to facilitate the search and interpretation.
Explore our map and find what you need. You can also contact us to know more.
And yes, we kept some places secret.
HOW DOES IT WORK
Internet connection to access the map is needed.
Use the map link to open it or click on the button at the end of this presentation.
Map Legend is a bar on the left side of the screen.
Active a category (layer) by clicking on its check box. (by default all categories are active)
Open a category to show all the marked points of a category by clicking on the arrow.
Click on the name of the marked point to open its description and to show the location on the map.
There is a search bar that can be used to find something specific.
To access the menu click on the three dots icon at the top of the map legend.
Zoom in and zoom out to navigate easily.
Change the view from satellite to traffic at the end of the map legend.
BEACHES
Ericeira’s beaches are small but have a special charm. Usually they are small pieces of sand surrounded by big cliffs.
Despite its charm, it is necessary to pay close attention to the dangers on the beaches. The sea in Ericeira is quite rough – from currents to strong waves, you can’t be too careful. Especially attention is needed on unsupervised beaches.
The beaches with the longest sand are the two beaches further south of the municipality – Praia de S. Julião and Praia da Foz do Lizandro.
Every year the waters of Ericeira are tested and many beaches are awarded a blue flag for their quality.
SURF SPOTS
Ericeira is known for the concentration of waves in a short space. It has all kinds of waves, from world class waves to waves suitable for beginners.
Although there are surf spots where surfing is easier than others, spots are super dependent on the ocean conditions. So there are days where conditions turn beginner spots impossible even for advanced surfers.
Most surf spots are on rocky bottoms, there are only a few places (Foz do Lizandro and S Julião) where the bottom is composed only of sand and usually these spots are more suitable for days with small waves due to their currents.
The most famous and consistent wave in Ericeira is Ribeira d´ilhas. It is also the most crowded one.
Coxos is one of the best waves in Europe and Cave is one of the most dangerous waves in the world.
The most suitable areas for beginners are Matadouro and Ribeira d Ilhas on the right side (not on the main peak).
FOOD
Ericeira is also well known for its gastronomy – especially for fresh fish and seafood.
In every corner of Ericeira we can find restaurants for all tastes.
Although many new restaurants have appeared there are still a lot of typical and local restaurants.
But it’s not just restaurants, Ericeira also has lots of bakeries and cafes with delicious sweets and snacks.
It is necessary to be aware that in the busiest months it is necessary to reserve a table or you might find yourself without a place to eat.
Most bakeries and cafes open between 7am and 9am and stay open until 7pm-8pm.
Restaurants usually open around 12 pm and have lunch until 2 pm and open again for dinner from 7:30 pm to 11 pm.
VIEW POINTS
Ericeira has wonderful landscapes.
Despite the excess construction having destroyed part of the landscape and some viewpoints, luckily there are still many places that allow us to contemplate the sea, nature and life in the town.
Viewpoints are scattered throughout the village and in the surrounding area. In every corner near the ocean we will find a magnificent and peaceful view.
SLEEP
In Ericeira there is accommodation for all types of people.
In recent years, local accommodation and hostels have grown wildly in Ericeira. However, although the number of accommodations has grown exponentially, there are times of the year when it is still difficult to find a place to stay due to overcrowding.
Therefore, you need to be extra careful with reserves during the busiest months.
On a special note, it is necessary to say that the price of accommodation has increased more than 3x in the last 10 years, leading most locals to have to leave Ericeira because their salaries are not adjusted to the cost of living and accommodation in Ericeira.
GENERAL SERVICES
You can find almost anything you need in this small town.
Gas stations, barber shops, hairdressers, pet shops, bus terminals, mechanic garages, campervan parks, post office, tourism office and more.
HEALTH & SECURITY SERVICES
Ericeira is a peaceful and safe place, like almost any place in Portugal. However, sometimes accidents happen and we need to be ready for them.
You can find a category on our map of the most important health and security services in Ericeira.
Police, fireman, health centres, health clinics, pharmacies and more.
You also have the contacts on the map for any emergency.
Emergency contact in Portugal is 112.
SURF SHOPS & REPAIRS
When we were kids there was only one surf shop in town. Now there are plenty to choose from.
There are two mega surf shops in town – 58 surf shop and Boardriders Ericeira. You can find anything there, even live music concerts and parties.
However, don’t underestimate the smaller shops. Our favourite surf shop is Boardculture Surf Shop where you get a personalised service and some high quality products.
MARKETS
10 years ago there was not a single hyper market in Ericeira, nowadays there are 6 – a lot to choose from.
However, also in the markets, there are small businesses that can surprise you.
To start this, the traditional market of Ericeira where you can find fresh fish caught by local fishermen and vegetables from the local gardens, there is also Amélia’s store for more grommet products, and there are still other small shops scattered around the village that are perfect for everyday shopping without having to make long trips.
TRACKS
Despite being under heavy construction, Ericeira is still surrounded by nature, on one side it is the ocean on the other are fields, woods and forests.
There are still trails and paths to explore and enjoy the nature that surrounds the town.
Of course, the best known are trails by the sea to contemplate the ocean, watch the waves and see the famous Ericeira sunset. But there are also many trails inland that deserve to be exposed.
On days when the conditions are not favourable for surfing, it’s always good to relax with a walk through nature.
If you want to know more, feel free to contact us.
