The base is a renovated three-storey townhouse in historic Gaia. That part of the city sits inside the Douro landscape that UNESCO lists as a World Heritage Site. Each floor has its own kitchen and bathroom. There are two private double rooms on the first floor, a six-bed dorm on the second and a four-bed dorm on the third. A common room gives guests somewhere to meet. Metro, train, bus and taxi stops are all under five minutes on foot, so getting around Porto without a car is easy.

On a surf day, the team collects you at the hostel and drives you to the beach. They don't use the same spot every time. They check conditions and pick the beach that suits your level, which matters on a coastline where the swell changes a lot from beach to beach. Lessons are taught by a Portuguese Surf Federation certified instructor, and all the gear is supplied. Bodyboarding is also offered.

The wakeboard session takes up a whole afternoon. Pickup is at 3 p.m. and you're back around 7 p.m. The session is on a lake about half an hour from Porto, surrounded by countryside. A pro wakeboarder teaches it, and you get a board, wetsuit, life jacket and helmet. It's included in the three-night pack, and you can add it to any other stay.

The Douro cruise lasts an hour on a Rabelo, the flat-bottomed wooden boat once used to carry port wine down the river. It passes under all six bridges linking Porto and Gaia and goes down to Afurada, the old fishing village near the river mouth. It's a relaxed way to see the city from the water, and it's included in every package.

What sets this place apart from a beach-town surf camp is the city. You aren't stuck in a quiet surf village with nothing to do after the session. You're a short walk from the Ribeira waterfront, the cellars and Porto's bars and restaurants. Staff also mention skate lessons, stand up paddle, sailboat trips and city tours as things they can arrange.

The camp is open year-round. The owners say March to October is the best time, when the water and air are warmer. Shorter stays suit a long weekend. The five-night option gives you enough lessons to make real progress on a board.

What's included

- Accommodation in a shared dorm or private double room - Daily breakfast - Surf lesson(s) with a Portuguese Surf Federation certified instructor (1 or 3 depending on package) - Surfboard and wetsuit - Hostel–beach–hostel transport for lessons - 1 wakeboard lesson with a pro wakeboarder (3-night pack only) - Wakeboard equipment: board, wetsuit, life jacket and helmet (3-night pack only) - Transport to and from the wakeboard lake (3-night pack only) - 1-hour Douro river cruise on a traditional Rabelo boat - Free wifi - Free luggage storage

What's not included

- Flights and travel to Porto - Lunch and dinner - Additional surf, bodyboard or wakeboard lessons (available as add-ons) - Airport shuttle (available on request, confirm price with the hostel) - Skate lessons, stand up paddle, sailboat trips and city tours - Port wine cellar tastings - Travel insurance - Personal expenses