Ericeira – Crazy Left (Coxos)

Ribamar · Lisbon coast · Portugal

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Ericeira – Crazy Left (Coxos) (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/ericeira-crazy-left.

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Crazy Left is the left-hander on the south side of the Coxos bay, breaking under the high cliffs across the channel from Coxos. It is short, fast and hollow over very shallow flat rock. It is one of the few lefts around Ericeira, and on good days goofy-footers paddle over from Coxos to surf it.

Level
Experts only
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or bodyboard.

When it works

✓ A 1.5–2.5 m west to south-west swell with an east wind, at high tide or on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Low tide, when the rock is too shallow, and northerly or westerly winds.

Watch out for

  • reef
  • rocks
  • rips

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

Only surf it at full or rising tide. Paddle out through the Coxos channel, and expect a strong rip in the bay.

Getting there

Park at Coxos (from Ribamar follow the signs to Praia dos Coxos) and use the same channel to paddle out.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fickle: it needs a swell with some south-west in it and the right tide, so it breaks far less often than Coxos.
Crowd and vibe
Usually only a few surfers, but strong locals from Coxos come over on the best days. Wait your turn.
Camping and vans
Ericeira Camping at Mil Regos, on the N247 just north of town, is open all year and sits about 200 m from the sea. Next to it, the Mil Regos motorhome area has about 15 places with water and waste disposal. Portuguese law limits motorhome overnight stays to 48 hours outside campsites and bans them in protected areas. Nearest campsite about 3 km away.
Facilities
Little at the bay: a lifeguard in summer and roadside parking at Coxos. Cafés and surf shops are in Ribamar and Ericeira.
Water quality
The Coxos bathing point was rated excellent in the 2025 official bathing-water classification (APA).

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1.5–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
10 s minimum, best from 13 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–SE; handles onshore up to 8 km/h
Tide
high best, avoid low, on the rising tide
Faces
WNW (285°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Lisbon coast · All spots

Sources