Surf filming in Costa da Caparica, near Lisbon
Get your session filmed at Costa da Caparica and do your own surf video analysis. It's 20 to 30 minutes from central Lisbon by bus, or by ferry and bus, which makes it the easiest place to add video to a Lisbon trip.
The northern beaches closest to town have soft, sandy-bottomed peaks and the most surf schools, so they're the natural place to be filmed if you're learning or moving from whitewater to green waves. Every paddle-out is over sand, with no reef or rocks.
Further south the beaches get quieter and can hold more power on bigger swells. Footage there shows how you handle a steeper takeoff and whether you're reading the peaks well enough to be in the right spot.
Surfing in Costa da Caparica
Northern beaches
The busiest and most consistent stretch, closest to town, with soft peaks for beginners and improvers and the most surf schools.
Southern beaches
Quieter the further south you go, and able to hold more power on bigger swells. In summer a beach mini-train runs along the dunes.
Best conditions
West to north-west swell of 0.5 to 2 m with north to north-east offshore winds. Autumn and spring mornings are the sweet spot.
Surf filming in Costa da Caparica: FAQ
Is Costa da Caparica good for beginners?
Yes. The northern beaches have soft, sandy-bottomed peaks, plenty of surf schools and lifeguards on the main sections in summer.
How do I get from Lisbon to Costa da Caparica to surf?
It's a 20 to 30 minute trip from central Lisbon by bus, or by ferry across the Tagus followed by a bus.
When is the best time to get filmed surfing at Costa da Caparica?
Autumn and spring mornings usually bring consistent swell, manageable wind and fewer people. In summer the afternoons often get choppy with the sea breeze, so go early.
Is this the same as hiring a surf videographer in Costa da Caparica?
Not quite. A surf videographer is after the best shot of your best wave. Session filming records how you surf across the whole session, including wipeouts and missed waves, so you can see what to work on.