The competition arena and the friendliest of the Reserve's waves, a long, forgiving right that suits improvers and pros alike.
Ribeira d'Ilhas is the wave that put Ericeira on the world map. It has hosted international competitions for decades thanks to its remarkably reliable swell window, and on the right day it peels for a hundred metres or more beneath the cliffs.
On a small swell it is a gentle, workable wall that longboarders and improving surfers love. As the swell builds it links top to bottom, the sections join into one long, faster ride down the point, and the outside starts to demand commitment. It handles size well and rarely closes out, which is a big part of why it is so consistent.
The takeoff is mellow enough for confident beginners on the inside, while the outside section rewards longer, faster lines. Paddle out from the boulder beach at the base of the access road; the rip that runs along the point will help carry you out if you time it. There is a large dirt car park above, though it fills by mid-morning in summer.
Expect company. This is one of the busiest waves in the area, especially at weekends and through summer, but the peak spreads riders along the point so waves are easier to share than at a tight reef. The vibe is generally relaxed and mixed, with longboards, shortboards and surf schools all in the water, so keep your wits about you on the inside.
There is a café and restaurant above the beach that open in the warmer months, along with basic facilities, and surf schools run lessons on the inside. It sits just north of town off the main coast road, an easy drive and signposted.
The main hazards are the boulders you cross to get in and out and the urchins on the reef, so watch your footing and consider booties. Keep clear of other surfers on the crowded inside, and if the swell is big the paddle and the sets get serious.
Autumn and winter bring the cleanest north-west groundswell and the best shape; summer is smaller and busier. It suits improving intermediates, longboarders and anyone wanting a long, forgiving right, less so nervous first-timers on a crowded day. If it is too small, drop south to São Julião or Foz do Lizandro; if it is too big or the wind swings west, the town reef at Matadouro is more sheltered. Watch a few sets from the clifftop miradouro before you commit, it reads the crowd and the timing at a glance.
