Nazare - best way to see the big waves
Discussion
I really want to see some big waves in Nazare. We've tried once before, going to Lisbon in November for a few days and then hiring a car and taking a day trip to Nazare. Whilst it was a nice day out, it was a total failure from a big waves perspective - they were about 4 ft. For the avoidance of doubt, I've got no plans to try and surf them, or even go swimming. I just want to see them.
More googling indicated that January was the best time, but that appears to be a bit uncertain and most websites just say November -> March.
Actual wave forecasts seem to be 16 days in the future maximum.
I don't fancy spending a month in Nazare waiting for the right weather conditions. Likewise, a month in Lisbon in January probably isn't top of my list either.
Hiring the car in Lisbon was a PITA - massive queues on both collection and return, and there was no car rental office convenient to our hotel.
I think I'm down to 2 options:
Option 1 - Take a punt on 5 days at the end of Jan, book flights and accommodation in Lisbon now, and then check the surf forecasts when we're there. Take a bus from Lisbon on the optimal day.
Option 2 - Monitor the surf forecasts from the UK - when it's looking good, make a last minute booking for flights and accommodation, fly out to Lisbon and then fine tune the day to go to Nazare. Using this option we could possibly manage an overnight in Nazare, but availability might be challenging.
I'm leaning towards Option 2 - I would assume that flights to Lisbon at the end of Jan are pretty easy to get - likewise hotels / AirBnb.
Does anyone have any experience of doing this / any useful pointers.
Thanks
More googling indicated that January was the best time, but that appears to be a bit uncertain and most websites just say November -> March.
Actual wave forecasts seem to be 16 days in the future maximum.
I don't fancy spending a month in Nazare waiting for the right weather conditions. Likewise, a month in Lisbon in January probably isn't top of my list either.
Hiring the car in Lisbon was a PITA - massive queues on both collection and return, and there was no car rental office convenient to our hotel.
I think I'm down to 2 options:
Option 1 - Take a punt on 5 days at the end of Jan, book flights and accommodation in Lisbon now, and then check the surf forecasts when we're there. Take a bus from Lisbon on the optimal day.
Option 2 - Monitor the surf forecasts from the UK - when it's looking good, make a last minute booking for flights and accommodation, fly out to Lisbon and then fine tune the day to go to Nazare. Using this option we could possibly manage an overnight in Nazare, but availability might be challenging.
I'm leaning towards Option 2 - I would assume that flights to Lisbon at the end of Jan are pretty easy to get - likewise hotels / AirBnb.
Does anyone have any experience of doing this / any useful pointers.
Thanks
Lisbon flight schedules are nowhere near as seasonal as eg Faro. In my experience it’s usually easier to book flights there during the off season than in the summer months. My sons are actually in there now after flying to Porto & catching the bus because the Lisbon flights were a bit extortionate. Accommodation not hard to find in the winter months either.
I’d be inclined to keep an eye on the surf forecasts & book nearer the time.
I’d be inclined to keep an eye on the surf forecasts & book nearer the time.
Surf conditions are fickle. You need to check the forecast from the UK and then book last minute flights when the conditions align. Even the long range surf forecast is unreliable. The later you can leave it, the better.
You'll need to not only look at the swell, but also the wind strength and direction, as if it's absolutely howling in the wrong direction then it's likely that nobody will be surfing it (assuming you actually want to see someone riding it).
You'll need to not only look at the swell, but also the wind strength and direction, as if it's absolutely howling in the wrong direction then it's likely that nobody will be surfing it (assuming you actually want to see someone riding it).
The submarine canyon of Nazare which causes the huge upswell runs about South by West for about 25 miles out to the main continental shelf, so you'll need a good westerly blow for a few days to build up the transatlantic waves above the canyon. Wind in other directions means the sea is "relatively" benign but still oceanic. BTW I'm not a surfer, I've sailed the area albeit in early summer
I live out that way, I was on Nazare beach yesterday.
There’s this website but you may have seen it already. Seems it can’t be easily predicted
https://nazarewaves.com/
Yes, flights will be a lot cheaper over winter but of course the weather will be colder too although ice on a car in the morning is very rare. I’ve done Lisbon to Gatwick many times with either TAP or easyjet.
Care hire: I used these a lot when visiting to prepare to live here. Never had a problem. They will pick you up at the airport and only a five minute drive. Very near. Of course make sure you have a car hire insurance policy taken out in the UK to avoid paying extra expensive insurance.
https://www.driveonholidays.com/en/home
There’s this website but you may have seen it already. Seems it can’t be easily predicted
https://nazarewaves.com/
Yes, flights will be a lot cheaper over winter but of course the weather will be colder too although ice on a car in the morning is very rare. I’ve done Lisbon to Gatwick many times with either TAP or easyjet.
Care hire: I used these a lot when visiting to prepare to live here. Never had a problem. They will pick you up at the airport and only a five minute drive. Very near. Of course make sure you have a car hire insurance policy taken out in the UK to avoid paying extra expensive insurance.
https://www.driveonholidays.com/en/home
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