Várzea Horta & Bistrot
What to order: the pork cheeks or the prawns à Brás, and for dessert the Aljezur sweet potato bonbon.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 37.32° N · 8.80° W
Your first surf lesson, two and a half hours from Huelva.
A group surf lesson in the shell-shaped bay of Arrifana, lunch in Aljezur and the afternoon at Odeceixe, with a calm river and the open sea on the same sand. From May to October.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Lisboa fromSevilla 1 hMadrid 1 h 15Málaga 1 h 15Asturias 1 h 30Alicante 1 h 45Bilbao 1 h 45Valencia 1 h 45Barcelona 2 hGran Canaria 2 h 30Tenerife Sur 2 h 30
Part of Costa Vicentina
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h 30 each way
Lesson2 h in a group · from €45
SeasonMay – October
ForBeginners who can swim
DifficultyMedium
TimeAn hour behind Spain
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Huelva 2 h 30 by car
Spanish time · via Ayamonte, the A22 to Lagos and the N120 to Aljezur; you arrive around 9:00 Portuguese time
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1
Surf lesson at Arrifana beach
Portuguese time · Arrifana Surf School · 2 h group lesson from €45 · book on its website
+351 961 690 249
- 15 min by car10 km
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Várzea Horta & Bistrot
Várzea Horta & Bistrot · on the way out of Aljezur · €€€ · Sunday from 12:30 to 15:00 · closed on Tuesday and from January to March
EN120, Quinta do Sabugueiro, 8670-122 Aljezur · +351 282 994 043
Restaurant €€€ - 30 min by car20 km
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3
Praia de Odeceixe, between the River Seixe and the sea
calm river and open sea · check the tide table
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Back home
Portuguese time · you reach Huelva around 21:15 Spanish time
Approximate cost
About €80–110 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Surf lesson at Arrifana beach
A Sunday for getting into the water with a board for the first time. Arrifana is a shell-shaped bay, sheltered by the northern cliff, where the waves break in orderly lines over sand: that is why it is the learning beach of the Costa Vicentina. You take the lesson in the morning, have lunch in Aljezur and spend the afternoon at Odeceixe, the northernmost beach of the Algarve, with a calm river on one side and the Atlantic on the other. It is a long day from Huelva, but there is no rush in the water.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 (Spanish time) · Departure. Via Ayamonte and the A22, toll-free, to Lagos, then north along the N120 to Aljezur. When you cross the Guadiana, put your watch back an hour. Have breakfast in Aljezur if you arrive with time to spare.
10:00 · Surf lesson at Arrifana. Arrifana Surf School has a hut on the sand from May to October, from 8:30 to 19:30. The 2-hour group lesson starts from €45 when booked on its website; the 3-hour one, €65. They give you board and wetsuit. It is for starting from scratch; you only need to be able to swim. Depending on the tide, the lesson time can move, so confirm it the day before.
13:00 · Lunch at Várzea Horta & Bistrot. On the way out of Aljezur along the EN120, with a big terrace. Regional and international cooking with local produce: pork cheeks, prawns à Brás and, for dessert, the sweet potato bonbon of Aljezur. On Sunday it serves lunch from 12:30 to 15:00. Closed on Tuesday and from January to March. Book on its website.
15:00 · Odeceixe Beach. North along the N120 to Odeceixe, and along the valley road to the beach. At low tide lagoons and a shallow tongue of river appear beside the sea: this is the children's moment. In summer the car park below fills up; park above and walk down.
17:30 · Heading back. Via Aljezur and Lagos to the A22. You arrive in Huelva around 21:15, Spanish time.
Time2 h
Change the route
If the sea does not allow the lesson:
Fishermen's Trail from Aljezur to Arrifana
If you want something quick, vegan or cheap:
Roots Aljezur
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Roots Aljezur
What to order: the sweet potato waffles and a fresh juice; for lunch, a salad or the soup of the day.
Quarenta & Quatro Restaurant
What to order: if you are walking, an orange juice and a slice of almond tart; for a proper meal, order the cataplana or the monkfish rice in advance.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Costa Vicentina
From May to October, when Arrifana Surf School has a hut on the sand. June and September are the most comfortable months: slightly warmer water, fewer cars and Várzea open. In July and August, arrive early at Odeceixe to park.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the lesson on the website
The group lesson is cheaper when booked online.
- 2Wear your swimsuit underneath
You change in the hut, but you will save time.
- 3Check the tide at Odeceixe
Low tide leaves the lagoons for the children.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need experience for the lesson?
No. The group lesson is for starting from scratch. You must be able to swim.
How much does it cost?
From €45 for the 2-hour group lesson, €65 for the 3-hour one and €220 for a private one.
Can it be done in winter?
The beach hut is open from May to October. Outside that period, ask the school.
What if there are no waves?
The school moves the lesson to another time or beach. If there is no way round it, walk the Trilho dos Pescadores above the bay.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/portugal/algarve/costa-vicentina/itineraries/surf-at-arrifana-and-odeceixe
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.