Algarve

Arrifana sits in a dramatic horseshoe-shaped bay on the Algarve's west coast, offering two distinct waves: a sandy-bottomed beach break with multiple shifting peaks on the inside, and a right-hand point break called Kangaroos at the northern end that peels over shallow rock for up to 200 metres on bigger days. The bay is a swell magnet, picking up west, northwest, and even south swells, with waves starting to work from around 2 feet and the point firing at 4 feet and above. The beach break suits confident beginners to intermediates, while the point is a heavier proposition for experienced surfers only. Offshore winds blow from the east, and the sheltered bay shape provides protection from prevailing northerlies. Winter, especially January, delivers the most consistent conditions.