Algarve Surf Camp: Learn to Ride the Atlantic in Burgau, Portugal

The camp is based in Burgau, a village of whitewashed houses wedged between cliffs about 10km west of Lagos. Wave Culture's surf lodge, its apartments in Burgau and its camp in Sagres make up the accommodation side, and the surf school operates out of the same village, so the walk from bed to beach is measured in metres rather than kilometres.

A typical week revolves around the surf timetable. Groups are split by ability on the first day and generally stay that way, with lessons covering board handling and safety for beginners through to paddling technique, take-offs, bottom turns and wave selection for people who can already stand up. Instructors are in the water with you, and the partner International Surf School has been running courses here for over two decades, which shows in how well they know which beach works on which wind and swell direction.

Surf conditions in the Algarve are unusually forgiving for a European Atlantic coast. The south-facing beaches around Burgau and Lagos pick up swell but are sheltered from the worst of the northwesterly wind, and there are enough different spots within a short drive that the school can almost always find rideable, appropriate waves. Summer water temperatures sit in the high teens to low twenties Celsius, so a 3/2 wetsuit is comfortable for most of the season and boardshorts are realistic in August and September.

What separates this from a generic surf camp is the location. The camp sits inside the Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina natural park, which means the coastline around it is protected — no high-rise development, no beach bars pumping music, just cliffs, sand and the Atlantic. The trade-off is that Burgau is quiet in the evenings, so if you want nightlife you'll be taking taxis into Lagos. Most people here are happy with a beer on a terrace and an early night before the next morning's session.

Beyond surfing, there's hiking along the clifftop trails, swimming and snorkelling in the sheltered bays, cycling, and day trips to Sagres and its fortress at the southwestern tip of Europe, or to the markets and restaurants of Lagos. The school can point you toward excursions, and some guests pair surf lessons with yoga or simply use the rest days to explore.

What's included

- Accommodation at the Wave Culture Surf Lodge, apartments in Burgau or the Surf Camp in Sagres - Surf courses split by ability level - Wetsuit and surfboard hire for lessons - Qualified surf instructors in the water with you - Beach safety and technique instruction - Breakfast at the Surf Lodge and camp (apartments are self-catering) - Local area and beach orientation - Group dinners and social evenings - Access to the village, beach and clifftop trails on foot

What's not included

- Flights to and from Faro or Lisbon - Airport and local transfers - Travel insurance (including surfing cover) - Lunches and dinners unless specified - Food and groceries for guests staying in self-catering apartments - Optional excursions such as trips to Lagos or Sagres - Personal expenses, souvenirs and equipment purchases - Extra surf sessions outside the course timetable