A visit in Ericeira, the first surfing reserve in Europe
Yesterday we had a truly intersting visit in the first surfing reserve in Europe.
The route following the sea north of Lisbon is one of the most popular tours of the Portuguese coast. Along the way there are some great surprises, like Ericeira, a fishing village with a lot of tradition linked to the sea, now recognised as one of the world’s surfing reserves.
At sea, the daily work of the fishermen is only equalled by the habitual dedication and presence of surfers and bodyboarders, who find here a special refuge. The national champion, Tiago Pires, and many other surfers were born here and have made this small village in the municipality of Mafra known. It currently hosts world championships such as the WSL World Surf League Tour and Quik Silver Pro Portugal.
The characteristics of the sea and the coast, where tall cliffs alternate with small sandy coves, the preservation of Mediterranean natural habitats and the surf culture make Ericeira a destination for surfers from around the world.
The part of the coast that is considered by the American organisation Save the Waves Coalition as the 1st surfing reserve in Europe and the 2nd in the world is 8km long and includes beaches that are a worldwide reference point for surfers, such as Ribeira de Ilhas, the Baía dos Dois Irmãos, known by the community as Coxos, Empa beach in front of the village, and São Lourenço beach.