Your Portugal team is made up of some of the best bodyboarders in the world, and some local legends, all with decades of experience, they all receive in-house training and are all qualified lifeguards – so you can be sure of being in safe hands for your entire trip.
Matt, Mave to his friends, has been bodyboarding since he was 15 years old - now with over 30 years of bodyboarding under his belt it’s shaped his life in amazing ways and taken him all over the world. Mave has been living in Portugal for 15 years now, drawn to the impeccable waves, the climate and the culture. He speaks fluent Portuguese and knows all the secret spots to share with the bodyboard holiday trippers! Mave has been working with Bodyboard Holidays for 10-15 years and is a highlight of the trip for guests and staff alike, he loves to meet great people and make new friends to share his passion for bodyboarding with.
João is your local specialist - born and raised in Portugal he is a respected member of the Portuguese bodyboarding community! Having started bodyboarding at the age of 12 he now has over 27 years of experience. His main passion in life is bodyboarding and it means a lot to him to share all the amazing waves that Portugal has with people on the trips. His favourite part of working in the team is having the chance to share his passion for bodyboarding with the awesome people on Bodyboard Holidays Trips.
Your trip includes seven nights of accommodation in one of two luxurious self-catering apartments in an epic location, just a short walk to the historical old town and modern harbour of Lagos. They are the ideal base to explore the captivating beauty of Lagos, renowned for its pristine beaches, shimmering sea, limestone cliffs, and laid-back cafes.
Situated within a larger condominium, your apartments grant you access to a range of communal facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool perched on the terrace, providing breathtaking views of the town and the expansive ocean – a perfect haven for a morning coffee or a spot of sunbathing. The condominium also boasts an indoor heated swimming pool and a gym for your convenience.
Step inside these thoughtfully designed apartments furnished to a high specification, featuring open living spaces and large windows that invite the warm Portuguese sunshine, and plush sofas for relaxation. The well-equipped kitchens offer the flexibility of self-catering for the evenings if you wish.
You’ll also benefit from complimentary WiFi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, a dishwasher, towels and bed linens – all the essentials for a comfortable stay in the heart of this traditional Portuguese town. There are limited private rooms and twin rooms available, so please book as early as possible if you require a private room.
Foundation level instruction
With two coastlines to explore, and over 20 beaches, you can be sure of getting the right waves for your ability. This is great if you’re looking to test yourself without jumping in at the deep end.
Whatever your level, your coaching team will be on hand to offer daily guiding and tuition should you want it. This is tailored to your ability, with instructors who are in-house qualified and fully insured, and includes beach, water and classroom-based tuition.
Our team comprises two local bodyboarders that are fluent in English and Portuguese, experienced lifeguards, and have over 20 years of surfing and worldwide travel behind them.
We’ve got your back whatever your ability, and that’s a promise. Don’t stress if you’re only now giving it a go – on this trip there’s something for everyone, and we all have to start somewhere.
You’ll be amazed how quickly you master paddling out to catch good-quality waves, and we’re committed to patiently helping you progress.
Foundation coaching includes:
Intermediate and Advanced instruction
So many amazing bodyboarders were made on these shores. The waves lend themselves to high level bodyboarding and we can help you perfect specific moves from reverse spins to airs. The variety of the waves in this area is huge and as a result you have the opportunity to focus on every aspect of your riding. Or if you’re looking for independent surfing, your team are happy to guide you to the best waves each day and let you enjoy them while being your videographers.
Joao and Mave rip prone and dropknee respectively. They not only have the riding experience but they both take great pride and pleasure in taking people’s riding to the next level. They have an innate ability to explain the technical aspects of bodyboarding and give game changing tips in an understandable and practical manner. If you’re already a ripper and are just looking forward to exploring and tackling some Atlantic swell in good company, you’ll love Portugal – a daily routine of seeking out the best breaks in the area, pulling into glassy tubes and boosting out of barrels in the sun.
Intermediate and Advanced coaching includes:
Seeing yourself bodyboard is a fantastic way to improve your performance. Every day you’ll watch a move-by-move breakdown of your bodyboarding session with footage both from the land and in the water. Our Bodyboard-Holidays team of bodyboard instructors undergo staff training to ensure they take great shots and video of your riding.
You’ll get to take a photo and video package home with you at the end of the week, which is a helpful tool for your on-going progress and an epic memento of your trip. It will all be uploaded to an online gallery as you go so you have access to all your best shots and videos to upload throughout the week. We love seeing your waves on social media so feel free to share them as you like and make all your friends wildly jealous!
One of the advantages of visiting Portugal is the excellent yet affordable restaurant options. We take pride in choosing the best eateries for you to enjoy on a daily basis. You’ll need a budget of just 40€ per day to sample the variety of fine Portuguese cuisine as well as giving you the flexibility to eat at a vast selection of coastal locations, by the surf spots that you visit, allowing a full flavour of Portugal. A full self-catering option is available at the villa if you prefer.
Food – We suggest you budget €40 Euro per day to cover your evening meal and any additional snacks, coffees or ice creams during the day.
Equipment Hire – If you decide not to bring your own kit (or you don’t own it) to hire equipment for the week the prices are as follows;
Swim fins – £40 per week
Board – £85 per week
Wetsuit – £70 per week
Flight – You organise and book your own flight to Faro.
You are responsible for booking your own flight to Faro, but super-cheap flights are always on offer through budget airlines to Faro. It’s only a couple of hours from the UK, with fantastic air links with the rest of Europe and the world.
Your trip price includes an airport pick up at 2pm and 6pm on the first day of the trip and a drop off at 8am on the last day, so organise your flights accordingly.
If you would like to arrive or depart at another time of the day, we can help you to organise a transfer to or from the airport for around 50 Euros.
For our English customers you can fly to Faro Airport (FAO) from Manchester, Birmingham, Newquay and London airports with EasyJet and Ryanair. If you are flying from the UK, we work closely with the good people at Dial-A-Flight – just give them a call and ask to speak to our bodyboarder-friendly agent, Lee (020 7295 1556).
Once you’ve collected your bags, we’ll meet you at the arrivals area. Our representative will have a clipboard that clearly states ‘Bodyboard-Holidays’, and we’ll be looking for people with bodyboard bags.
You may have a short wait at the airport as the rest of the group assembles. If this is the case, it might be worth bringing a good book, a Kindle or an iPad. There is a Costa Coffee with WiFi in the arrivals area.
Once everyone has been located, you’ll be checked in, then transported back to your home for the week – a luxury villa, where you’ll be shown to your room. Shortly after arriving we’ll have a big group welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead.
You’re of course free to fly into wherever you choose, but please note you’ll need to find your own way to Lagos if you’re not landing at Faro. If you would prefer to make your own transfer arrangements or can’t make the whole week that’s fine – just let us know.
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We Offer 3 Easy Ways To Pay!
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a trip confirmation email with all details on.
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with a host of new bodyboarding buddies.
Due to this trip being in high demand and having limited spaces, we can only hold your space for up to 24 hours without payment.
You are welcome to attend for a shorter period to suit your personal schedule, however the package price will remain the same.
Group booking discounts are available, please contact us for more information.
ASAP! These holidays fill up quickly and, with limited spaces available, sell out fast. We operate on a first come first serve basis. If you want to secure your place on the trip, it is advised that you pay as soon as you can.
If you are based outside of the UK and would like to book or chat through the holiday details, we can be contacted through our online chat.
If you wish to bring a non-bodyboarding partner with you, that is absolutely fine, please contact us for a price for the none bodyboarding partner.
We have a great mix of all ages from young whipper-snappers to silver surfers.
The gender ratio at the moment is around 60% men to 40% women. However, this is constantly changing and Bodyboard Holidays is inclusive to all.
Nearly all International mobile networks work in Portugal. For internet calls, there’s WiFi access at the villa with a decent connection.
Yes, a strong connection throughout the apartments.
You’ll be asked to fill in an enrolment form as part of the booking process. You’ll signify which level of bodyboarder you are. You may be in a different group suited to your ability, however, there will be plenty of time to see each other back at the villa and during our social evening meals.
We choose the time of year and location for our holidays based on local knowledge and historical swell data. In the event of flat waves or stormy conditions, we will offer alternative activities and day trips to help you get the most out of your holiday.
We may also adjust the format of the week, for example, choosing to run more bodyboard sessions on the days that the waves are at their best.
Please visit our Terms & Conditions for more information.
The area that we visit is blessed with constant surf, you can expect great conditions most days of the trip. To give you a clearer idea, the videos on this webpage were all filmed during previous bodyboard holiday trips.
Please refer to the Waves section for more details.
We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.
Remember to check the baggage size and weight allowance with your airline, as well as reading their guidance for carrying bodyboards. Baggage handlers can be unforgiving, so a tough bag and intelligent packing are a must.
Firstly, pack your board(s) in a protective, padded board bag, and write FRAGILE and TOP LOAD ONLY on it with a permanent marker. Make sure you wrap your towel and clothes around your board inside the bag for added protection. Place your shampoo and other wet toiletries in a separate sealed bag in case of leakage. We also recommend locking the zips on your bag with a padlock.
Visas are not required for British and European passport holders for stays under 90 days. Passports must be valid for three months from the date of entry into Portugal. Non-European travellers should seek advice about visa requirements from their travel agent.
If you’re not a British national, please check international travel requirements for your nationality.
Please contact your travel agent or airline if you have any further questions. It’s a good idea to carry photocopies of your important documents and guide books and pack them separately. We also suggest scanning copies and emailing them to yourself for extra reassurance.
If you are under 18, we will need to chat to you on the phone and you will need to be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian throughout the holiday. If you are 60 or over we’d love to chat with you about the trip before you book. Please contact us via our online chat.
On the day you travel please keep your mobile phone handy so we can stay in touch in case of delays and flight changes. Please inform us if you’re early or delayed for any reason.
If you need help booking your flight then just drop us a line or read our helpful blog post about booking flights.
If you can’t find our representative at the airport, stay there and wait, they won’t be far away. Our transfer representatives will have access to your arrival details. However, if you’re having difficulties finding them follow the instructions in your pre-arrival email. One of the team will locate you.
As with any holiday, full travel insurance is a requirement for all guests booking a trip with the company.
Please also ensure that your policy covers you for ‘disruption to travel’ and ‘cover for cancellations’ as standard.
For further help please read our helpful blog post about travel insurance.
You may need to add additional cover for surfing or bodyboarding, it is essential that your insurance policy covers you for all activities during your stay. Failure to take out travel insurance breaks the contract between Bodyboard Holidays and the client.
If you are joining one of our trips and you are native to the country of its location (i.e you live in Lisbon and are joining our Portugal trip) you do not need to take out medical travel insurance. This is as long as you have your own personal health-care plan or are covered by your country’s National Health Service. Although, we kindly request that you still take out trip disruption and cancellation insurance to cover all possible eventualities.
The currency in Portugal is the Euro which you can pick up from travel agencies, banks or post offices. There are exchange facilities in airports as well as ATMs.
Please get your money changed before the trip or bring a valid card to withdraw from an ATM in Lagos. This is within walking distance from the villa. We plan to be surfing and chilling as much as possible, so please don’t bring currency other than Euros. It’s your responsibility to organise your currency in your own time.
Please refer to the “What to budget for?” section.
We are a UK based company that delivers trips all over the world welcoming travellers of all nationalities.
If your circumstances change and you can’t join the trip, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation terms:
We hold part or full costs, depending on when you cancel:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions videos.
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