Overview
Praia Azul is a long, very consistent stretch of sand in Portugal, home to a number of sandbars and a couple of sand-covered reefs, with a little shelter from the wind. At the northern end of the bay a slab reef produces hollow but fickle lefts and a more regular right, while the beach itself offers fun, walling lefts and rights. It's a decent, flexible spot overall, though water quality can suffer from agricultural run-off from the river.
When It Works
The spot picks up swell from southwest through north, with northwest (NW) swell the best match. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft and does its best work in small to medium swells, typically waist to head high. Summer and autumn are the seasons to aim for, with June to November the prime window. When it gets big the waves turn heavy and rippy, and the paddle out goes from easy to hard work.
Wind and Tide
Look for east (E) offshore wind, with southeast also keeping things clean. Mid tide is best, and a rising tide is generally the better call. The beach can handle all tides, but the reef really needs mid tide to work.
Local Tips
Expect a fairly quiet lineup with a somewhat reserved atmosphere, and the long beach serves up plenty of peaks to spread people out. It suits everything from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards, and bodyboards, though the waves are best suited to expert surfers.
Access
There's beachfront parking plus a clifftop car park, with free and roadside parking available.
