Espinho
Portugal Norte · Portugal
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Espinho's best-known wave is the 'Direita do Casino', a long right off the groyne in front of the casino at Praia da Baía. Rock groynes line the town beach and hold the sand, so there are rights and lefts beside them and easier beach-break peaks between. Espinho hosts surf and bodyboard contests regularly.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Break
- Jetty, sand and rock
- Waves
- Lefts and rights
- Crowd
- Crowded
- Season
- autumn, winter, spring
- Boards
- A shortboard; a step-up on big days.
When it works
✓ A 1.5–2.5 m north-west swell with an east wind; it works at all tides.
When it doesn't
✕ The north wind, which is common here, and small swells.
Watch out for
- rocks
- rips
- crowds
- pollution
Best months
January, February, March, October, November, December
Local tips
Use the rip along the groyne to paddle out, and watch for rock piles on the inside and fishermen's lines. Get there before 9:30 at weekends, when the crowd arrives.
Getting there
Park along the seafront road in front of the beach; the casino groyne is in the town centre. Espinho has a train station on the Porto–Aveiro line.
Travel notes
- How often it works
- Surf-forecast rates it quite reliable all year, mostly from groundswell. Wannasurf contributors say it can be tubular and perfect at 1.5–2.5 m with no north wind.
- Crowd and vibe
- Empty in the week and crowded at weekends, especially when the right is working.
- Camping and vans
- The Espinho municipal campsite, near the beach in town, is about 1 km away. Portuguese road law bans motorhome overnight stays outside authorised places in protected areas, Natura 2000 sites and zones covered by the coastal plans, and limits other overnight stops to 48 hours per municipality. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
- Facilities
- A town beach with lifeguards in season, a first-aid post, toilets, showers, beach concessions and wheelchair access. Cafés, shops and the train nearby.
- Water quality
- Baía beach was rated 'good' in APA's latest annual classification, with no Blue Flag. Wannasurf contributors note poor water at times, though guides say it is cleaner than Matosinhos.
Ideal conditions
- Swell
- W–NW best, WSW–NNW works
- Size
- 1.5–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3 m
- Period
- 9 s minimum, best from 12 s
- Wind
- Offshore NE–SE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
- Tide
- low, mid best
- Faces
- W (265°)
Live cams
- Espinho – panorama · MEO Beachcam
- Espinho beach · Surftotal
- Espinho – view from above · Surftotal
Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.