Baleal Surf Camp
Rua Amigos do Baleal 2, Baleal, Peniche 2520-052 Portugal
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About
#1 of 10 hostels in Baleal
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Baleal Surf Camp is a family run local business in Peniche Portugal, based on prime location in Europe’s most consistent and flexible surf spot. It was the first surf camp established in Portugal in 1993. By focusing on quality service and the environment it has grown to become one of the best known and loved surf schools on Europe's Atlantic coast. Teaching people how to surf here in Peniche and making sure they have the best possible surfing holidays is our main goal and what we thrive on. The surfcamp has a laid-back vibe and accommodation for all tastes and budgets. We welcome everyone from singles to families, experts to novices, a great surfing vacation is waiting for you here in Baleal beach, Peniche-Portugal.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Yoga classes
Bar / lounge
Beach
Bicycle rental
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Shuttle bus service
Street parking
Wifi
Massage
BBQ facilities
Convenience store
Gift shop
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Shops
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Ironing service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Safe
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
72Somewhat walkable
Grade: 72 out of 100
33Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
4Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Rua Amigos do Baleal 2, Baleal, Peniche 2520-052 Portugal
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357Reviews2Q+A50Room tips
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Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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I decided to book last minute and more or less stumbled over this camp. Marta, the booking manager was very helpful and assisted me with all my questions. I was booked into appartment (super clean thanks to a lovely Nepalese cleaning lady) which gave me a bit of privacy but those living in the appartments will still be able to tune into the hostel vibe with BBQs and nights out. Surf lessons are well organised and the surf instructors from our group - Gustavo, Alex and Dschunio - really looked after us. Always there to get the right waves and on the one day without waves they took us to Peniche, skating and to a Surfboard factory. I had so much fun this week and really got to relax. On that note - a massage with Morgan (she comes to your house) is just what you need at the end of the week! Can recommend this camp thanks to the amazing staff and the brilliant bunch of people I got to meet there!…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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Room Tip: Go shopping at Lidl or Aldi - Baleal Coop is pricey with a limited selection
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A great week of inclusive fun with a 19 YO son & 16YO daughter. I am 50 plus mum, not very fit and none of us had surfed before. Due to my messing up GCSE finish dates we managed to move the week out by 1 week. All communication to arrange was easy & effortless. Things to note - you need very few clothes. The vice is very relaxed and we could have bought half our luggage! Well maybe not my 16YO daughter! We stayed in the surfers nest which is about a 10 min walk but we had hired a car from Lisbon airport - and given we always leave last minute - this was needed for us. Having the car meant we could shoot 10 mins up the road to big supermarkets and given how tired we were we ate at home often at lunchtime and even evenings. But some great restaurants nearby - Taverna do Ganho (could be the wrong spelling) and a tip off from one of our instructors Andrea. The walk between the 2 beaches is lovely. We ate and drank at Tribe several times and also took part in the camp dinner. This followed with my son being encouraged to stay out without us, and I sensed the instructors around were welcoming and would look out for him as he didn’t know anyone. When I left he was already doing ok on that score and rolled in at 5am! 😂 I suspect staying in the hostel would feel more inclusive but how we did it (as a family doing an activity holiday together) it was perfect. Having the car also means you can pop up to the ‘Chinese shop’ as recommended by reception as we had forgotten towels. Driving in Portugal is easy (so far) even in Lisbon wasn’t too bad - me with a left hand manual and limited experience of driving abroad. Waze is the best invention ever. On the last night I realised there is a nightlife here which isn’t obvious. Weirdly you don’t hear noise from the partying at all. The apartment has everything needed mainly except an aider for drying clothes. You can see the sea from many different angles from it. For me surfing was though we all found is physically challenging. But it’s a great kick start to a continue with a new skill and healthier lifestyle. I feel stronger and my clothes are looser despite all the Caipirinhas! We all managed to get up on the board and made huge progress. The kids obviously way better than me! Last point - the instructors - Luis and Andrea. Very patient, flexible and extremely relaxed. They noticed one of my kids can’t listen to instructions for long periods without switching off and they changed up what we did and included surf skating skills and made allowances without getting agitated or upset. I have told several families I know, already, that this would be a great idea to do as an inclusive holiday. I can envisage my son coming back with his friends and I would consider the same, or with them again another time. Being right on the beach makes a huge difference - getting in and out of the wetsuit isn’t easy and carrying boards around esp if there is a wind. Thanks Baleal surfcamp. It was a fab week and see you again sometime!…
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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Had high expectations when we showed up to book 5 lessons monday-friday for family of four. Unfortunately the instructor had no inspiration or plan for our five day lessons. Seems like the surf-camp is prioritised. Much more energy in those group.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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We booked a family package in April 2023 (2 x adults and 2 x children - 12 & 14). Everything was so easy with booking, great communication from Marta initially and then the wonderful Maria following booking. We stayed in one of the apartments which had everything we needed; quiet location but just 5 minute walk from base camp on the beachfront. As we were arriving late at night we had booked a private transfer from the airport to Baleal which didn’t turn up (nothing to do with the surf camp)…Maria was super helpful and advised us how to get a transfer to Baleal and stayed out of hours to do our check-in, she even brought some snacks for us as our welcome meeting was first thing the following morning. Our surf instructors were Dorian and Junior who really looked after us and were fantastic with the children. Bruno and his entire team are so wonderful and really welcomed us, nothing seemed to be too much trouble. I had a bit of an accident (again, not the surf camp’s fault) and I was incredibly well taken care of. The instructors and staff know just what to do in an emergency and I am so grateful for their care. I’d have no hesitation in recommending Baleal surf camp and will definitely return. Peniche and the surrounding area is beautiful. Tips - we flew in on a Sunday evening so arrived late in the night. The welcome meeting is 9am Monday morning so I’d plan to arrive earlier next time. The public bus between Peniche - Lisbon is so easy, we used it to return home and I’d definitely use this for arriving next time - the surf camp will take you to from the bus stop in Peniche and their base in Baleal. We ate at Bruno’s Bar a fair bit and never had a bad meal. Particularly recommend the Bruno Burger and the pad thai! A fantastic family holiday with lots of memories made….cannot wait to come back :)…
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Date of stay: April 2023
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Helpful
Thank you guys from the Baleal Surfcamp for this perfect surfcamp! The whole team are so professionel, funny and patient… The lessons are adapted daily to the conditions of the waves, weather, wind, etc.. I immediately felt comfortable and very well taken care of. I will surely come again :)
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
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We loved our stay at Baleal - and felt that the surf tuition and surf facilities were really high quality. We were in an intermediate group and had 2 instructors in the water with us, giving advice and the occasional push which is more tuition than I have had at any other surf camp. One thing that really stood out was how inclusive the surf instructors were -they really treated everyone well and made sure that everyone was looked after and that everyone was having a good time. . The camp has vans and minibuses so they moved us around to different beaches to get the best waves - and they bring the volleyball nets and sun umbrellas!. The boards and wetsuits were good quality and the whole operation is super well organised. They arrange activities if the waves aren't working. The rest of the team were really helpful with transfers from the bus station and dealing with queries. We stayed in an apartment which was clean and well equipped for a weeks self catering. All in all it was great! Thanks to everyone at Baleal and hopefully we will be back!…
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Date of stay: August 2022
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We are an English family who hadn't really surfed before, with two boys aged 12 and 8. By the end of the week we were all standing up surfing and the children especially absolutely loved it. The instructors were great - so patient, kind and so much fun!! We are already planning when we can go back. Our apartment was really close to the beach, clean and bright with a little balcony. The beach café was lovely with fantastic food and friendly staff. It was a great holiday and I would highly recommend Baleal Surf Camp. Thank you.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Helpful
We went at the end of June, weather a bit cold and windy but with waterproof suits that camp provided it was absolutely fine in the ocean. Besides that it’s the best getaway from reality (I didn’t think about work for a single time) its also an amazing experience. And we agreed (my partner and another couple that we came with) that it’s only thanks to the best instructors (our instructors were: Gustavo, Dorien, Goncalo all completely fluent in English) they really know how to explain and prepare you in a 2-3 days meaning that the rest of the days you can enjoy catching waves alone (ofc under their surveillance!). It’s not only surfing experience but also human touch, meaning that instructors were super kind by telling us the stories from their surfing experience, helping us when we struggled with different things besides surfing (such as finding a city to visit and going there, having a beer with us and just talking about life). So Gustavo, Dorien and Goncalo we thank you for amazing experience!!!!…
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
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I am a novice surfer with some experience but not a lot, and I highly recommend Baleal Surf Camp for the following reasons: 1 The instruction was excellent with small classes. I was in a class of five students. My primary coach was Gustavo, and he was knowledgeable, patient, and helpful in his comments about how to improve. He stressed health, safety, and technique. He kept the sessions focussed on having fun and catching waves, but he also drew our attention to being aware of our surroundings and other surfers. We had some interactions with our “sister” group of similar-level surfers, led by Dorian, and he was similarly experienced, kind, and informative. I comment on the instruction first, as I think that is the most important reason why I came here: to learn. Gustavo was an excellent teacher and genuinely decent and funny person. He really made the week worthwhile. 2 The location of Baleal Surf Camp is outstanding. It is basically a surf camp, restaurant, and bar right on the beach. You show up in the morning, suit up, and walk down a flight of steps to the beach. No cars, transfers, parking lots, long walks… nothing. Just show up and surf. There are many, many surf companies in Baleal, it seems (my sense from walking through the town). And, I suspect a lot of them have to drive to the beach or have a designated meeting spot. Not the case with Baleal: their facilities are right on the beach. So, consider this when booking, depending on what you want. 3 The camp is run very smoothly and cleanly. During my week, there were probably 50-60 surfers present, all split up into small groups. They made it clear how to get your wetsuit for the day, get your board, and get into the water—like clockwork. Everyone knew what to do by the end of the first day, and it was never confusing. They staggered start times, so groups showed up in roughly half-hour intervals, so there wasn’t crossover confusion. Each small group is color-coded, so you know where your stuff goes and you can find it easily again. The organization maximizes your time in the water. 4 There are on-site washrooms, an outdoor shower for rinsing, unlocked storage boxes for your stuff, many boards to choose from, and staff to help with any problems. 5 The bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There is a good menu from snacks to meals. 6 The owner was on-site and gave an introductory talk to welcome everyone, and he chatted with participants over the week. He gave a warm sense of familiarity to the place. 7 The surf conditions at Baleal were quite varied. As a novice, I could easily catch waves closer in, while there were obviously places for more advanced surfers. Conditions varied throughout the week, as is to be expected, and I considered every day to be excellent. Weather was mostly sunny (late June) and fantastic. 8 Accommodation. Baleal Surf Camp has its own hostel accommodations, which I cannot comment upon, as I stayed in a hotel not far from the camp (I wanted a private room and booked too late to get one at the hostel). But, the hostel is right across the street from the camp and beach (probably a three-minute walk). 9 The week-long session includes a roughly 90-minute video review of your group’s surfing. It’s a humbling and necessary part of the learning process. It’s done simply and with an aim to improving your surfing. It’s definitely helpful. We laughed at ourselves a lot. 10 Local tours: we went to a medieval town (Obidos) one afternoon and toured Peniche and a surfboard manufacturer another afternoon. So, they keep you busy a little bit outside of surfing hours but not every day (so you have time to spend on your own, if desired). 11 They let you use the equipment any time during operating hours, should you desire. There are two two-hour sessions daily, so I found I was properly tired every day. I didn’t participate in extra surfing time, but other group members did. This will obviously vary by fitness level. 12 Overall, if I’m back in Portugal, this is where I’d book a future surfing trip. Professional and personal with a focus on having fun and learning to become a better surfer. The people matter, and Baleal Surf Camp is good people.…
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Date of stay: June 2022
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+1
We had a fantastic time at the Baleal Surf Camp. As a family with 2 Kids (13 f / 11 m) we booked 2 surf session per day for 5 days. The four of us where accompanied by 2 surf instructors who did a fantastic job. From the booking (and re-scheduling and re-re-scheduling due to Corona), to the apartment and the whole surf-package including the reception team, the location, the equipment, the tours and especially the instructors (being very patient with us) it was amazing.
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Date of stay: April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
baleal surf camp hotel baleal
LOCATION
PortugalCentral PortugalLeiria DistrictPenicheBaleal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
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Frequently Asked Questions about Baleal Surf Camp
Which popular attractions are close to Baleal Surf Camp?
Nearby attractions include Baleal Beach (0.2 miles), Baleal Cocktail (0.5 miles), and Waterlost Shop / Surfschool (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Baleal Surf Camp?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Baleal Surf Camp?
Guests can enjoy a lounge and barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Baleal Surf Camp?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Baleal Surf Camp?
Conveniently located restaurants include Taberna do Ganhão, Cantina de Ferrel, and The Base.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Baleal Surf Camp?
Yes, guests have access to yoga classes during their stay.
Does Baleal Surf Camp have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Baleal Surf Camp offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Baleal Surf Camp located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.6 miles away from the centre of Baleal.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Baleal Surf Camp?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Are there any historical sites close to Baleal Surf Camp?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Capela De São Martinho (9.7 miles).