Ericeira: Surf coaching at the World Surfing Reserve

The smart idea here is simple: you do not get sent to one fixed beach and hope the waves cooperate. Julien checks the forecast, talks through your goals, then chooses among Ericeira, Santa Cruz, or Peniche for the best chance of a useful session. That turns three hours into a small surf trip rather than a basic beach lesson.

I like the small group of four, the photos and videos, and the chance to study your own surfing while the session is still fresh. I also like the human touch: you meet Julien before the activity, and one family even found his dog Happy to be an excellent beach companion. The main consideration is that you must already be independent in the water, so this is not a first-ever swimming lesson or a fully beginner-proof introduction.

Key points at a glance

• Forecast-led beach choice: The session may head to Ericeira, Santa Cruz, or Peniche, depending on the day’s conditions.
• Only four people: A small group means more room in the water and more direct attention from Julien.
• Your session on video: Photos and clips let you see your paddling, wave timing, and turns instead of relying on memory.
• A useful pre-surf meeting: You discuss board size, wetsuit size, ability, and goals one day before entering the water.
• About 90 minutes in the sea: The rest of the three-hour experience covers transport, changing, coffee, and video analysis.
• All practical basics included: Pickup and drop-off around Ericeira, transport, surf guidance, and available equipment are covered.

Why this is more than a fixed beach lesson

Many surf outings are built around one beach. That can work on a good day, but the Atlantic does not take requests. Waves, wind, tide, and crowd levels change, and a beach that looked ideal yesterday may be awkward today.

Waves Finder takes a more flexible approach. Julien looks at the forecast and chooses the best place around Ericeira. That may mean surfing close to town, going south to Santa Cruz, or heading north toward Peniche. You are not promised a particular break, which is worth remembering, but you gain a better chance of matching the session to the conditions.

The point is not simply to chase the biggest wave. The best beach might offer cleaner water, a calmer entry, better-sized waves for your ability, or fewer people sharing the takeoff area. If you want to practice a turn or catch waves without fighting for every one, that judgment can matter more than a famous beach name.

Your first meeting with Julien

The experience begins with a meeting one day before the surf session. This is a useful step, not just a friendly introduction. You discuss your needs, including board size, wetsuit size, current ability, and what you hope to improve.

Your goal might be to paddle with better form, turn more cleanly, catch a wave without help, or simply find a good day in the water. Tell Julien plainly where you are at. The more specific you are, the easier it is to make the session fit you.

This meeting also gives you a chance to get comfortable with the person who will guide you. Surf coaching works better when you can listen, ask questions, and accept quick corrections without wasting half the session getting acquainted.

Pickup arrangements are handled directly with the guide after this meeting. If it is not possible to meet beforehand, look for a car marked Waves Finder. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the Ericeira area, which removes the need to arrange your own ride with a surfboard and wet gear.

Choosing between Ericeira, Santa Cruz, and Peniche

The destination is part of the experience. You may stay in the Ericeira area, or you may ride to another surf spot if the forecast points that way. Santa Cruz and Peniche are both named as possible choices, so the outing has a genuine road-trip feel even though the scheduled activity lasts three hours.

For you, the benefit is variety. A poor session at one beach can become a useful one a short drive away. It also gives you a better shot at finding space in the water, a detail that matters when you are still learning to read waves or want to practice without constant interruption.

The tradeoff is predictability. You will not know the exact beach from the basic booking information. If your priority is seeing one particular town or surfing one famous break, this flexible plan may feel less certain. If your priority is good conditions and a productive session, the open destination is a strength.

You should also allow for the fact that the drive is part of the outing. Transport is included, but the time spent reaching the chosen beach will depend on the forecast and the final location. That is one reason this experience suits someone who wants a focused surf day, not someone trying to squeeze in a quick lesson between several timed attractions.

What happens in the water

Once you reach the chosen beach, you get into the water for roughly one hour and 30 minutes. That is a solid amount of time for a coached session, especially in a group limited to four people.

The coaching is described as surf guiding, with attention shaped around your own goals. You might work on paddling, catching waves independently, or improving your turns. The small group helps here because Julien can watch what you are doing rather than giving only broad instructions to a large class.

The promise of less crowding is also important. It does not mean an empty ocean, and conditions always control how much room you have. It does mean the plan is built around seeking a suitable place with fewer people in the water when possible.

You need to be independent in the water before booking. That requirement is the clearest boundary on this activity. The supplied information does not define a swimming test or give an exact skill level, so if you are unsure, ask Julien before reserving. This is coaching for a surfer who can manage in the sea, not a substitute for basic water confidence.

Why the photos and videos matter

The guide takes pictures and videos during your session. That may sound like a nice extra, but it is one of the most useful parts of the day.

Surfing is hard to judge from inside a wave. You may think you stood too late, paddled too slowly, or leaned too far back. Video gives you something concrete to examine. You can see your timing, posture, balance, and position on the wave instead of trying to reconstruct the moment afterward.

The session is followed by a video analysis over coffee. That timing works well. You have just been in the water, so the advice connects to what you were attempting. You can ask why one wave worked and another did not, then leave with a clearer idea of what to repeat.

Do not expect a formal film production or a polished surf documentary. The value is practical feedback. If you learn best by seeing your mistakes, the included footage may be worth a large part of the $111 price by itself.

The coffee debrief and return ride

After the water, you sit down for coffee and look at the footage with Julien. This slows the experience down in a good way. Instead of ending with a quick rinse and goodbye, the day includes time to make sense of what happened.

The review can help you set a next target. Maybe you need to paddle earlier, keep your weight forward, or wait for a better wave. The exact advice depends on your surfing, so the one-day-ahead conversation and small group both support this part of the experience.

Afterward, Julien brings you back to your accommodation. That is especially handy after 90 minutes in cold water, when carrying equipment and finding your own transport can feel less appealing. Bring a towel and water. The provided information does not promise food or drinks beyond the coffee break, so pack anything else you need.

Equipment, group size, and comfort

Surf equipment that Waves Finder has is included. If a needed item is not available, you must rent it. That distinction matters if you have very particular equipment needs or prefer a certain board shape. Discuss board and wetsuit requirements at the pre-surf meeting so there are no surprises.

The group limit is four participants. That is small enough for more personal attention, yet it may still include people with different ability levels. Your own time with the guide will depend on what everyone is working on and how the session develops.

The guide speaks English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish. That broad language range is useful if you want to discuss technical points in the language that feels clearest. Julien is the named guide associated with the experience, and the direct meeting before the surf day gives you a chance to confirm the details with him.

One small, memorable detail comes from a family outing: Julien’s dog Happy was at the beach, keeping the non-surfing family members company while Julien coached the younger daughter and her parent. Happy is not advertised as part of every departure, so do not book on the assumption that the dog will be there. Still, it gives you a good sense of the relaxed, personal nature of the setup.

Is $111 a fair price?

At $111 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on a surfboard. A standard group lesson at one beach may cost less, especially if you only want equipment and basic instruction.

The comparison changes once you count what is included. You get pickup and drop-off in the Ericeira area, transport to the selected beach, surf guidance, available equipment, pictures, videos, and a video review. You also get a group capped at four rather than a large class.

The price makes the most sense if you will use the coaching. Someone who simply wants to stand on a board once may not get full value from the video analysis or forecast-based beach choice. A surfer trying to improve a specific skill is more likely to benefit from the feedback, the smaller group, and the chance to find better conditions.

The included transport also has real value. A surfboard, wetsuit, towel, and wet clothes are awkward to manage on your own, and the selected beach may be outside Ericeira. Think of the fee as paying for transport, equipment access, local decision-making, and personal feedback, not just time in the sea.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to an intermediate or developing surfer who can already handle the water independently and wants a better session than a fixed beach lesson can provide. It is particularly well suited to you if you are working on paddling, turning, or catching waves without direct help.

It also fits a small group of friends or family members who want a personal outing. The four-person limit keeps the group from becoming anonymous, while the pre-meeting helps Julien understand different goals.

A confident beginner may be suitable, but the water requirement must be taken seriously. You should be comfortable managing yourself in the sea before booking. If you need close physical supervision or have little water experience, choose a more introductory lesson instead.

This is less suitable if you need an exact start point, a guaranteed beach, or a tightly timed itinerary. The destination responds to the forecast, and that flexibility is the heart of the experience.

Practical details before you book

The activity lasts three hours, with about 90 minutes in the water. The wider schedule also includes pickup, changing time, transport, coffee, and video analysis, so do not treat the duration as three straight hours of surfing.

Bring a towel and water. Surf equipment available from Waves Finder is included, but anything they do not have must be rented. Pickup applies in the Ericeira area, and you will arrange the details with Julien after the initial meeting.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging the rest of your Portugal plans.

Should you book Waves Finder?

Book this if you want a small, flexible surf outing built around the day’s conditions rather than a fixed beach. The strongest reasons are the four-person limit, the choice among Ericeira, Santa Cruz, and Peniche, and the video feedback that continues after you leave the water.

Skip it if you are not independent in the sea, want a simple first lesson, or need to know the exact beach in advance. For a surfer ready to improve and willing to let the forecast guide the day, $111 is a fair price for transport, coaching, footage, and a more personal experience than a standard group class.

FAQ

Where does the surf session take place?

The beach depends on the forecast. The experience may go to a surf spot around Ericeira, Santa Cruz, or Peniche.

How long is the activity?

The full activity lasts three hours. You spend about one hour and 30 minutes in the water, with the remaining time covering transport and the coffee-based video analysis.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the Ericeira area. You will arrange the details directly with Julien after meeting him, or look for a car marked Waves Finder if you cannot meet beforehand.

What equipment is included?

Surf equipment that Waves Finder has is included. If they do not have the equipment you need, you must rent it.

Do I need previous water experience?

Yes. All participants must be able to be independent in the water. The activity is not intended for someone who cannot manage independently in the sea.

What languages does the instructor speak?

The instructor speaks English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish.