Praia De Sao Pedro Da Maceda / Porto / Portugal

Situated between Porto and Ovar is the beach of Praia de Sao Pedro Da Maceda which is a good spot for surfers of all types and levels of ability. It is not as popular as some of the beaches along this stretch of coast but is a good one to visit in the summer when the sea is small and other beaches are flat because you may be lucky with the conditions here. The season is from March to September although off season is possible.

The beach is long and sandy with plenty of space apart from the summer when it can get crowded. The beach is regularly patrolled by lifeguards during the season and there is also a first aid hut. You can get here by travelling south from Porto to Espinho and then a little further south until you hit Praia de Cortegaca. From here follow the signs for Praia de Sao Pedro Da Maceda.

Maceda is a beach break with waves breaking right and left. A good wind direction for this spot is south east, east or north east with a good swell direction being northwest, west or south west. The swell starts working at less than 1 meter and holds uo to 2.5 meters. Mid tide is the best with rising and falling tides giving the best movement. Summers are pleasant here and you can get by with just a pair of shorts, although come the winter months and you will need to suit up accordingly. The water temperature is never really warm, ranging from 12 degrees in the winter to around 19 degrees in the summer.

There is plenty of free parkng here. Also there are shower and toilet facilities on the beach as well as a first aid hut, and bars and restaurants. The beach is patrolled by a lifeguard during the season. You may need to head into Porto or Ovar for supplies and nightlife.

Watch out for crowds during the summer months and swimmers in the sea.