https://www.instagram.com/p/BRULkuPDFwg/?taken-by=getawei
Got a couple of questions after posting about surfing on Instagram so I thought I’d make a post! Granted, I was definitely not the person who discovered this (thank you Alex, Emily W, Emily C, and Callie for the suggestion and Monisha for booking for us!!!) so I’m just here to relay the message so that all humans on earth can enjoy approximately $20CAN (it’s actually 15 euros) worth of 2 hours of surf rentals and lessons!!! (If you know something better and you’re hiding it from the world – I hate you.)
PS. Surfing in Tofino (Canada) is about $100 for the exact same thing so yes, this is a big deal.
HOW AND WHERE TO BOOK
Click here to Cascais Surf School & Camp’s website to see their rates and follow their instructions (in other words simply send them an email and see when they’re available!). I also realized after visiting the page that we got our rates even cheaper because we were students on exchange (#Erasmus LOL) but it’s cheap nonetheless!!
Not to boost their ego but they also have a 5 star rating on tripadvisor so…
WHERE IT IS…
The beach itself is not in Lisbon exactly – you have to train your ass to the beach. I’ve even left a few instructions:
#1 – Get from wherever you are (Airbnb, Hostel, Hotel, the street, the bush, etc) to the station: Cais do Sodré
tip: I would Uber there because Ubers in Lisbon are dirt cheap especially if you split with people. If not, WALK. It’s a nice scenery (not that I would know with all the Ubers but from what I’ve seen around and heard from other people…) and plus the city is not that big!
#2 – Buy a round-trip train ticket to Carcavelos (unless they’ve changed the destination, but this is where we were told to go)
From there, the beach is about a 5 minute walk!
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
Instructors were absolutely amazing (as you can see from their trip advisor review). They were extremely helpful and they don’t give up on you – EVEN IF YOU’RE GIVING UP ON YOURSELF LOL. They also learn your name within the first 5 minutes and they say it with their cute Portuguese accents (Liiiizaaaa!!!!). Which also means that if you screw up they yell your name in the middle of the ocean #NoLie #ButInACuteAndFunnyWay.
eg. *me trying to hop on my surfboard*
“NOOOO LIZZZAAAAAAA, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOU”
It was really fun (how basic can that statement be) – definitely lots of work but so worth it! 1000/1000 would recommend to friend. And non-friends.
FAQ (that I made up by myself so who knows)
ISN’T IT COLD?
Yes m’dear. The water is cold especially if you’re not going in the middle of summer in 30 degree weather. But have no fear, wet suits are here!! No lie, these wet suits will keep you so warm that you won’t even notice the coldness of the water.
ISN’T IT TIRING?
Also a yes. The three of us were sore for two days afterwards. One of us was sore all over, one of us was sore upper body, and the other one was sore just in the shoulders (not pointing at who is who ;D). So it really depends on who you are but don’t underestimate the work out that this gives you!
WHAT TO WEAR/BRING
Wear your bathing suit underneath already. Do not think to change into your bathing suit because the minute you get to that parking lot they already have wet suits and surfboards ready for you.
Bring:
- flip flops
- towel
- SUNSCREEN
- Hair tie (I was originally going to say for girls but with all the man-buns these days who knows)
- GREAT ATTITUDE 😀 (I sound like a mother)
That’s about it, folks!
Hope y’all have a great time surfing in Portugal like we did!!!!
Love,
Lisa
