Costa Nova

Ílhavo · Portugal Norte · Portugal

Live cam and today’s forecast: the live surf cam and the current surf forecast for Costa Nova (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 watch the cam and check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/ilhavo-costa-nova.

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Costa Nova, known for its striped wooden houses, is the beach south of Barra, with rock groynes along the shore. Sandbars beside the groynes give lefts and rights. It picks up more swell than Barra and works all year.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A soft-top or longboard to learn; a shortboard on good days.

When it works

✓ A 1–2.5 m west swell with an east wind, at any tide.

When it doesn't

✕ The north wind, and big swells that close out.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • pollution

Best months

March, April, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Check the peaks beside each groyne. Surf-forecast warns of rips.

Getting there

Costa Nova is just south of Barra, about 10 km from Aveiro. Park along the beach road.

Travel notes

How often it works
Surf-forecast rates it fairly consistent all year, with good surf at all tides.
Crowd and vibe
Sometimes crowded, mostly at weekends.
Camping and vans
Camping Costa Nova has a walkway to the beach, about 1.5 km away, and is open from mid-March to the end of September. 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 1.5 km away.
Facilities
Lifeguards in season, a first-aid post, toilets, showers, beach bars and wheelchair access.
Water quality
Rated excellent in APA's latest annual classification; Blue Flag beach in 2026.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NW best, SW–NNW works
Size
1.1–2.2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 2.8 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–SE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
W (280°)

Live cam

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Portugal Norte · All spots

Sources