I just spent two weeks at Lapoint in Ericeira and I’m genuinely mad at myself for not coming sooner. Everyone says “best surf camp in Europe” and I used to roll my eyes, yeah sure whatever, but now I get it. Place is stupid good.

Walked in on a Sunday, total beginner hangover from Lisbon the night before, and within ten minutes some Swedish girl handed me a coffee and said “grab a board, shuttle leaves in five”. That’s the vibe the whole time, zero stress zero, stoke maximum.

The camp itself is this big white Portuguese house on the hill above Ribeira d’Ilhas, looks like something from a postcard. Dorm rooms are basic but clean, I did the 6-bed one for 45 € a night including everything (lessons, food, yoga, video analysis, parties, the lot). Private rooms exist if you wanna flex but honestly the dorm is where the crew forms.

Coaching is next level. They split you by real level, not the “oh I surfed once in Bali” lies we all tell. I ended up in intermediate group with this guy called Tomás who basically rebuilt my bottom turn in three days. Every afternoon they show footage on the big screen, you see yourself looking like a drunk giraffe, everyone laughs, you fix it next morning. Actually works.

Food though… breakfast is acai bowls, fresh fruit, eggs however you want, bottomless coffee. Lunch is usually some massive poke or grilled fish with salads. Dinner is family style, think Portuguese cataplana, barbecued sardines, always vegetarian option that doesn’t suck. Unlimited beer and sangria 6-9 pm, dangerous but beautiful.

The community thing is real. First night I knew nobody, by night three I’m doing midnight swims with people from ten different countries and planning road trips together. They do theme parties (Hawaiian, white night, whatever), skate bowl in the garden gets used way too much, someone always has a guitar. Felt like summer camp for adults who refuse to grow up.

Waves are literally five minutes away. Morning session usually Ribeira or Foz do Lizandro, afternoon they check Pedra Branca, Coxos, maybe Sao Juliao if it’s small. You surf twice a day unless you’re dying, and even then they’ll drag you to the beach for sunset beers.

Cheapest weeks in 2025? Book shoulder season, April-May or September-October. I paid 649 € for seven days all-inclusive in late September, flights from Europe are dirt cheap then too. Avoid July-August unless you love 40°C and sharing waves with half of Germany.

Only complaint: leaving sucks. Had to physically pull myself onto the shuttle to the airport while half the camp waved from the terrace with coffees. Already booked again for spring.

If you want a place that actually improves your surfing AND gives you friends for life, just go. Tell them the idiot who cried on the last day sent you.

Still dreaming about those sunset sessions at Ribeira. Ericeira, I’m not done with you yet.

(And yeah, five stars, obviously.)