One of the Algarve's most consistent and famous beach breaks, sitting inside the Costa Vicentina natural park near Carrapateira. It has hosted WSL Qualifying Series (QS) events and is home to a cluster of surf schools and camps, offering fun, rippable peaks that work in a wide range of swell and tide combinations. Best for intermediate surfers and up, with more powerful faces on bigger winter groundswells. Best season is roughly October to March.
🌡️ ~18.6°C now · a 2mm spring suit / shorty
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near Praia do Amado worth checking out.
Our eco apartments sit in the heart of the Natural Park of the Vicentine Coast, 1 km from Carrapateira village and Bordeira Beach and 3 km from Praia do Amado. Built the traditional Portuguese way with stone and clay, they stay warm and dry through the winter, with underfloor heating and solar-heated showers, so they suit surfers and Rota Vicentina hikers all year round. We support other local businesses and keep things slow and relaxed.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Praia do Amado. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Praia do Amado's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 19 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 16° | 16° | 15° | 16° | 16° | 18° | 17° | 17° | 17° | 19° | 18° | 16° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 7.5 ft (2.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 18 km/h from the NE. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.1 ft (2.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the NE. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.8 ft (2.4 m), with cross-onshore winds around 19 km/h from the NW. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 19 km/h from the N. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.4 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 20 km/h from the NW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.0 ft (1.2 m), with cross-onshore winds around 20 km/h from the NW. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 23 km/h from the N. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.5 ft (1.4 m), with cross-onshore winds around 24 km/h from the N. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.8 ft (1.5 m), with cross-onshore winds around 18 km/h from the N. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.7 ft (1.7 m), with cross-onshore winds around 16 km/h from the NW. Water is ~19°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.2 ft (1.9 m), with cross-offshore winds around 16 km/h from the N. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.7 ft (2.0 m), with offshore winds around 15 km/h from the NE. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
For intermediates: Apr–Oct. For advanced surfers: Oct–Apr. The biggest waves come in March, averaging 7.8 ft (2.4 m), and the smallest in June, at 4.0 ft (1.2 m).
It ranges from ~15°C in March to ~19°C in October, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In March (~15°C): a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. In October (~19°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty.
Not really: Praia do Amado is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is FAO, and the nearest town is Carrapateira, Portugal.
