Nazaré, Portugal
Praia do Norte
Also known as Nazare, Nazaré, Nazare Big Wave, Praia do Norte Nazare
The biggest rideable wave on earth, and the site of every modern paddle and tow world record. The Nazaré Canyon runs 5 km deep straight at the headland and focuses open-Atlantic swell into a shifting, unpredictable peak that can exceed 20 metres. This is not a surf spot in any ordinary sense: it is a tow-in and big-wave-paddle arena with jet-ski support, and the shorebreak alone has killed people. On small days the beach does break for normal surfers, but that is not why anyone comes here.
Hazards
Conditions
- Best swell
- W, WNW, NW, N
- Best wind
- E, NE, SE
- Season
- Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
- Wave size
- 2–25 m
- Wave quality
- Consistency
- Crowd
- Coordinates
- 39.6094, -9.0847
Facilities
Getting there
Park at the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo lighthouse on the headland for the viewing platform — this is where the photographs are taken from. Beach access is from the north end of Nazaré town. Do not paddle out on a big day without a support ski and a team.