Matadouro (Ericeira Coast)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Mixed
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Matadouro is a reef-meets-point surfing spot in Ericeira with left and right peaks described as mellow-to-faster depending on tide and swell. Multiple descriptions emphasize that sessions are most reliably set up around mid tide, when the reef is less exposed and the break is safer and more usable. The wave character is consistently described as good to moderate, with a reef-lively/ledgey feel and generally peeling or mixed shape. Working swell is described as starting around roughly 1.0–1.5 m and holding up under stronger conditions in some reports; performance is strongly tied to reef depth and exposure across the tidal cycle. Wind matters at Matadouro. The broader summer regime is Nortada (strong north/northwest wind reinforcement), and one provider notes that favorable winds for wind sports may be cross-onshore for surfing—so surf quality can change quickly with wind angle. For surfing, the most favorable swell direction range is described as northwesterly to westerly (with southwesterly also included). Safety is a central consideration: rocks, reef plateaus, and exposed reef at low tide are repeatedly highlighted, along with sea urchins. Crowd density can increase because the spot is popular with surf schools, so surfers should expect busier lineups in peak summer periods and give priority space accordingly within the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve context.
- Popular with surf schools and used as an accessible reef/point training ground compared with more demanding nearby reefs.
- Best around mid tide; low tide can expose too much reef/rock for safe surfing.
- Reef hazards (rocks/urchins) are a key planning factor.
- Consistent, accessible reef/point surfing with both lefts and rights.
- Mid-tide is a reliable working window for the reef exposure and safer conditions.
- Good amenities and easy parking; close to town/skate park which supports surf school access.
- Reef/rock hazards increase at low tide (shallow/exposed reef, rocks and sea urchins).
- Wind can be sensitive for surfing; summer winds (Nortada) can be cross-onshore.
- Crowds can build in summer due to surf schools and the skate-park-adjacent access.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, N, NE, NW, ESE, ENE
- Offshore directions
- NW, N, NE
- Wind Range
- 12–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Northerly to northwesterly summer wind regime (Nortada) is thermally reinforced; afternoon peak. Winds can be cross-onshore for surfing but favorable for wind sports.
- Reliability
- The Nortada is described as reliable in summer.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reports range from steady to gusty/moderate in the summer wind pattern.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Mixed
- Beach
- Rocks — Mixed sandy/rock bottom reported; beach composition described as rocks/rocky shoreline in one provider and sandy with rock in another.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Medium wave conditions reported; includes descriptions of working at around 1.0–1.5 m swell.
- Launch
- Medium — Access from rocky shoreline near the main rock; reef/rock platform exposed at lower tide. Launch/entry space is affected by rocks and surf-school activity.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch/entry is described as moderate difficulty due to rocky reef entry and tide sensitivity.
Through the year
High in July and August, especially with surf schools; moderate in the off-season.
November to March can see heavy rain and Atlantic storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible in summer Nortada conditions, but generally discouraged/restricted during peak surf hours due to rocky entry and high surfer density. Rocky entry and waves make it more suitable for advanced riders.
- Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Can be used for wave windsurfing during strong NW winds, though it’s described as more challenging/less common than nearby alternatives.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–5.5 m²
Limited suitability due to shallow reef sections and rocks; best only at higher tides with caution.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendliness is described as limited.
- Min Depth
- 2.0m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Reef-meets-point setup with left and right peaks. A mellow left and a better-quality right are described, with the best sessions generally around mid tide and with moderate swell. It works best when swell is in the NW/W/SW range and can be powerful/ledgey on the reef.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide is the preferred window; low tide can expose rocks/reef and increase hazards.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Atlantic-facing reef/point exposure; wind and swell sensitivity is noted.
- Wind Effect
- The spot is described as sensitive to wind; wind angle can change how the reef faces and walls behave.
- Bigger Swell
- Not fully quantified in the provided data; sources emphasize needing moderate swell and that reef exposure/shallow hazards increase at low tide.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality is described as good.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate power; also described as ledgey/reef-lively.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Mixed shape; some sources describe peeling/mixed reef characteristics.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Medium day-length rides reported; can vary with tide and swell.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer mellow sections with faster walls; one description cites rides between about 50 and 100 meters on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) in the full forecast view.
Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–10 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- N353°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2410 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–3.2 m11s period
- Temperature
- 11–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is N. Waves run 0.9–3.2 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Reef plateaus/exposed reef at low tide
- Tidal pools
- Reef/rocky entry areas
- Sea urchins
- Crowds
- Beginner surfers
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard coverage is described for the bathing season.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue availability is described as limited. Nearest major hospital is in Mafra or Torres Vedras; emergency number is 112. Lifeguards are typically present seasonally (June–September bathing season).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Described as mild localism.
Rules of the spot
At this spot (within the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve), respect local priority rules and give plenty of space to surf schools.
- Kitesurfing is often restricted or prohibited during peak tourist/surfing hours in the summer (high density of surfers and surf schools).
- Best surf conditions are typically around mid-tide; low tide can expose too many rocks and make the spot too shallow to surf safely.
- Check for sea urchins when walking on the reef.
- The break is described as sensitive to wind, so conditions can deteriorate if wind angle shifts.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ericeira
- Nearest Town
- Ericeira
- Parking
- Parking is described as available directly above the beach (including a large paved parking lot) and also mentioned as directly in front of the break in source material.
- Access
- Access is described as from the beach/rocky shoreline near the main rock and also as from the main road north out of Ericeira toward Ribamar; described as right in front of a large skate park. A second access description notes driving from Lisbon via A8 to Mafra (N116) and following signs to Ericeira, then north towards Ribamar to reach the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous surf hostels, guest houses, and hotels are available in Ericeira within walking distance.
- Food & Drink
- A small food truck is available above the beach during the season; a snack bar is also described near the beach and Ericeira town center is a short walk away.
- Equipment Rental:
- Board and wetsuit rental is described as available directly at the beach from various schools/containers.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as not available on-site.
- Gear Repair
- Gear repair is described as available at local surf shops in Ericeira town center.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The broader Ericeira coastline offers a strong surf-travel scene with easy day-trip access and dense coastal dining and viewpoints. For watersports visitors, the area’s walkable town setup and skate-park-adjacent access help support surf-school operations.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Matadouro (Ericeira Coast)?
The best overall months at Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) are September, October, November, March, April, May. The best wind months are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Matadouro (Ericeira Coast)?
Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) works with E, N, NE, NW, ESE, ENE winds. Offshore directions are NW, N, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Matadouro (Ericeira Coast)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Matadouro (Ericeira Coast): Kitesurfing: 8–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–5.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–22 kts.
What skill level is Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) suitable for?
Matadouro (Ericeira Coast) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner to Advanced.