Praia da Rocha

Portimão · Algarve · Portugal

Live cam and today’s forecast: the live surf cams and the current surf forecast for Praia da Rocha (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/praia-da-rocha.

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Praia da Rocha is the big town beach of Portimão, next to the long breakwater at the mouth of the Arade river. Peaks form by the jetty and in the middle of the beach. It is a good alternative when the west coast is huge, and a south-west windswell makes it work in winter.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Jetty, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
winter, autumn
Boards
A shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A south-west swell, or a west coast swell of 2 m or more wrapping in, with a north wind, around mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ South-east winds at the jetty peak (then try the middle of the beach), and small swells.

Watch out for

  • crowds
  • rocks
  • boats

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

With a south-east wind, avoid the jetty peak and surf the middle of the beach instead.

Getting there

Drive to Praia da Rocha in Portimão and park near the beach, by the jetty.

Travel notes

How often it works
Unreliable: it needs the right swell, mostly in winter.
Crowd and vibe
Sometimes crowded when it works; locals describe a relaxed mood where everyone knows each other.
Camping and vans
The Ferragudo campsite, across the river, is about 2.7 km away. Nearest campsite about 2.7 km away.
Facilities
Lifeguards in summer, toilets, showers, parking, restaurants and hotels.
Water quality
Rated excellent in the 2025 official bathing-water classification (APA), and it flies a Blue Flag in 2026.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, SSE–W works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 4 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 11 s
Wind
Offshore NW–NE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
SSW (195°)

Live cams

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Algarve · All spots

Sources