The spot known as Lagide in Baleal is located in the north side of the beach of Baleal. So basically, on the other side and opposite where Cantinho da Baia is located. Lagide has three main peaks or surf areas clearly differentiated. It is a hotspot for surfers of all levels, and both begginers and more advanced surfers along with surf schools can be found here, so as you can imagine it is common to have crowds in the water.
Main peaks at Lagide
In Lagide we find three main areas where you can go catch waves:
- The area known as Prainha (meaning small beach) is the area closer to the cliffs of the island of Baleal where you have a wide area where waves usually break in different directions. This area is where usually begginers or advanced begginers go to catch waves, but also depending on the swell size and direction can handle some decent size waves for intermediate and more advanced surfers. This area is perfect for any kind of board and the waves here break slowly which makes it easy to practice. Waves here break best during mid to high tide. When tide gets too low it is totally shallow and it does not work anymore.
- Lagide is the most known peak in this place, and the one that gives the name to the spot. It is a wave breaking over a reef formation, around 100 meters away from the Prainha area, offering both lefts and rights, even though the left is almost always longer and of better quality. If the spot is working, expect to find some crowds in the water. Best tide for Lagide is around mid tide: with low tide it gets too shallow, and with high tide it stops working unless the swell is a bit bigger.
- Gigi is located around 400 meters north from Lagide, and offers a wave that breaks both to left and right and usually is less crowded than Lagide and Prainha. However, this wave is only suitable for intermediate or even advanced surfers and works best during mid tide.
Video of surf in Lagide
In this video from Surfers of Portugal you can check how is the surf at Lagide reef. As you will see, the most consistent shoulder is the left side one:
Services in the spot
At the beach there are showers you can use and two medium size parkings just in front of the spot. Those parkings can get crowded easily, but there’s plenty of space if you drive for one minute. In Baleal you have beach bars, surf schools, surf shops, some restaurants and also hostels. As well, within two minutes driving you can arrive to the towns of Ferrel or Peniche, that also have plenty of services.
