Surf’s up for Portuguese National Tourist Office

Portugal is a country of surfing, and one of the best loved locations is Peniche, in the central region, where Praia de Supertubos’ name itself is synonymous with its tubular waves. As part of a new campaign, the Portuguese National Tourist Office is celebrating surfer, Koxa, for surfing the largest wave ever recorded.

Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa returned to the biggest wave in the world on Friday – but this time the wave was on giant TV screens, surrounded by Times Square’s massive skyscrapers. The “Digital Wave” was unveiled by the Portuguese National Tourist Office as a new campaign for VisitPortugal, highlighting the nation’s world class surfing.

The Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, congratulated surfer Koxa who holds the record of surfing the largest wave ever recorded (at 80 feet tall), and Garrett McNamara, the U.S. surfer who previously held the record (for a 78-foot wave). Both waves were surfed in Nazaré, Portugal. Portugal is increasingly known as a surfing destination but also for its beautiful beaches.

“Surfing in Portugal is incredible any time of the year,” said Mr. Koxa. “You can have many wave options, from tubes to giants. For learners, there are lots of surf schools and suitable waves for any ability. Portugal has beautiful coastlines, great places to stay, and amazing food. Anyone who visits, plans to return. I’m going to Portugal for my sixth visit in October.”

For those going after the giant waves, the best are in Nazare, known worldwide for the big waves of North Beach, the largest in the world. Ericeira, Santa Cruz and Figueira da Foz also offer great surfing in the center of the country. For those who want to catch waves near Lisbon, there are spots in Carcavelos, Costa de Caparica and Guincho. In the North, there are beaches like Espinho and Matosinhos, in the Porto region. For those looking to surf in the south of the country, highlights include Sagres, Cordoeira and Amado beach in the Algarve, and the Costa Vicentina in the Alentejo, which also offer surf beaches for all levels of difficulty. Finally, the islands also have their waves, especially the beaches of Contendas and Santa Bárbara in the Azores, and Lugar de Baixo in Madeira. With both easy and complex waves, plus tubes and big waves, Portugal’s diverse beaches are ideal for surfers of any ability.