Nazaré is a noisy resort located on the Atlantic coast. The city is divided into three parts. A Praia – located along the sea coast, whose beach is about 4 km long. Pederneira – the old town on the hill. O Sítio – the old town where the long sandy beach ends abruptly in a 318 m high cliff. At the top there is a large terrace with a panoramic view of the resort, which can be reached by steep steps, road or funicular. The name Nazareth comes from a statue of St. The Virgin, who, according to tradition, was brought from Nazareth by a monk in the 4th century.

Nazaré is the real paradise on Earth, well not for everyone, but for one group of daredevils who love big waves - the surfers. Whether you like kite, wind, Hawaiian or other style - the big waves and the wind in your hair are the main tools to have a more than exciting time here, as well as to get a great dose of adrenaline.

Big wave surfing is the most popular extreme sport here. Scary wipeouts, never-ending wave hold-downs, steep drops, and inevitable bail-outs. We know it can be painful and, sometimes, put your life in serious danger but also that Big wave surfers have learned to prepare for the big occasions.

 

Big wave surfing requires to control panic and let fear do its job. Fear can be good and should be driven to big wave management.

And we believe that this place is perfect to learn doing it even better. Overcoming fear and challenging yourself along with extreme discipline evolved exponentially across all its variables.

Nazaré is the place with the biggest waves possible and Disneyland for every daring surfer. The huge waves that you will see here are obtained thanks to the canyon of the same name. It creates a constructive interference between the incoming waves and so they swell incredibly much! Many surfers are here in the hope of catching a 100-foot wave and making big wave surfing history.

We know that adrenaline makes your blood hot but to know about when, where, and how to ride the world's biggest wave, ask local surfers and foreign veterans about the peculiarities of Nazaré.

It is a psychological and physical test for savvy surfers who learn to harness its authority with a humble attitude.

Here even the jet skis are set up differently: the kill switch, which cuts the engine if the rider is thrown off, is not attached to the driver’s wrist as usual.

Adrenaline has its loyal supporters, and we know why. And Nazaré offers a lot of that, being the place with the biggest measured waves. Their fame quickly succeeded in displacing what the town was previously known for, namely the traditional fishermen's costumes.

Gareth McNamara did not accidentally managed to enter the Guinness Book of Records, riding a wave right here in 2011 - 23.8 meters! The surfer managed to jump over this huge wave as well, when in 2013 he rode a 30 meter wave here again. There is even someone to beat these impressive records - Carlos Burle, who became famous for taming the biggest wave in Nazaré.

When you’re planning your next surf trip, make sure to check this box and visit Portugal. Before you do, let us share these tips:

• Prepare mentally before booking your trip. You're about to face one of the most challenging waves on planet Earth. Nazaré is a mirror of Nature in its fiercest state.
• Take your time to improve your Breath-Hold

You’ll need to be able to hold your breath for between 90 and 240 seconds. In some situations, you will be fortunate to get a breath before a giant lip land on top of your fragile body.

• Get your hopes going and when you are here, start training in medium-sized conditions. Nazaré has waves of all sizes and tastes. During summer, you may be catching one-foot waves on a longboard. When fall comes, a double overhead is warning you of what is about to unfold.

And when the cold season arrives, the swells start building, initially in the 30-foot range and later in the 50-to-80 range.

• Train to get used to bigger and bigger waves. And remember that

Nazaré is a big wave, but it's not famous for allowing you to ride it at high speeds.That is simultaneously an advantage and a problem.

It is truly an experience of a lifetime but the experience is short and intense. Anything beyond that is not a smart move. Plan your exit before you can and don’t get greedy.

Any failure in the equipment can lead to a potential life threatening situation.

Don’t forget:

• Big board - The paddle-in guns of today, ridden by the elite surfers in waves like Maverick’s, Waimea Bay and Todos Santos, are usually in the normally in the 9 to11-foot range.
• Personal Water Craft (PWC) or Jetski - mandatory for the modern big wave surfer
• Inflatable life vests - One of the biggest advancements in big wave surfing in the last five years has been the use of inflatable life vests.you pull the chord, the jacket inflates with air and you are brought immediately to the surface.
• CPR and First Aid Training

Last but not least, you wouldn’t wanna miss the annual big wave surfing event :

WSL Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge - World Surf League - Big Wave Tour

This year WSL Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge 2022/2023 event date will be on one day between November 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023 (waiting period, winter in Portugal). The event day will be confirmed by the WSL (organizer), sponsored by TUDOR and presented by Hurley. So there’s still hope you didn’t miss it. This competition does not have a fixed date, the event day normally is confirmed 48 hours in advance, but this possibility may be announced a week in advance. The date on which good conditions are expected for the event will be set. This competition as you may well know is reserved for athletes who challenge the giant waves.