Often called one of the best right-hand reef breaks in Europe, a powerful, barrelling wave for experienced surfers only.
Coxos is the crown jewel of the Reserve and a wave with genuine international pedigree, frequently compared to Anchor Point in Morocco. When a clean NW swell meets an offshore easterly, it throws long, fast walls and the occasional barrel over a shallow reef.
It needs some swell to switch on. Small days are fat and underwhelming, but once a solid north-west groundswell arrives at low to mid tide, the wave stands up and races down the point, with a bowling section that will barrel for those in the right spot. It holds real size, and the bigger it gets the more serious the drop and the consequences become.
This is not a spot to learn on. The reef is rough, booties are sensible, the paddle-out demands timing, and the local crew is protective of a wave they have surfed their whole lives. Show respect in the line-up and earn your waves.
Localism is real here, and the crew is small and dedicated. Waves are contested, so do not drop in, do not paddle straight to the peak, and sit wide to watch how the rotation works before you expect a set of your own. Humility goes a long way.
The spot sits on the headland just north of Ribeira d'Ilhas. A dirt track leads to rough parking on the point, from where you walk down to the water. There are no facilities to speak of, so bring what you need and leave nothing behind.
The hazards are those of any shallow reef point: dry rock, a sharp bottom, strong currents that push along and off the point, and the risk of being caught inside by a bigger set. Hold-downs can be long. Go with people who know the spot, and never underestimate it.
It is at its best in autumn and winter, on a solid NW swell with an east wind. If it is too heavy, too big or too crowded for your level, Ribeira d'Ilhas right next door is far more forgiving. And if you never paddle out, Coxos is worth the short drive north of town simply to watch: the headland gives a grandstand view of one of the finest waves on the Portuguese coast.
