Backdoor.

Backdoor is a compact, punishing right-hand reef break tucked into the Ericeira coastline, breaking over an uneven reef that demands full commitment from the first moment. Waves pitch quickly over the shallow rock shelf and produce hollow, fast sections that leave little margin for error - the ride rarely stretches beyond 50 meters but packs a concentrated punch into that short distance. It operates primarily as a summer break, coming alive on N-NW swells when surrounding spots either close out or go flat, which partly explains the concentrated attention it draws when conditions align. Mid tide is the window: low tide exposes the reef and raises the stakes on any wipeout, while high tide tends to kill the shape. The break maxes out around double-overhead before becoming unmanageable. Paddling out requires reading the reef carefully, as there is no forgiving channel entry. It gets crowded - when Backdoor switches on, experienced locals and travelling surfers converge quickly. This is a spot to observe before committing, and only for surfers who are genuinely comfortable on hollow reef waves with a solid duck-dive and a fast takeoff.