Foz do Arelho.

Foz do Arelho is a wide, open-faced beach break sitting at the mouth of the Óbidos Lagoon, north of Peniche. Its orientation and unobstructed Atlantic exposure mean it picks up virtually any swell arriving between SW and N, making it one of the most consistent stretches of sand on this coastline. Sandy banks shift around the small river mouths that punctuate the beach, and those mouths are actually the key to its best surf - they funnel water and build sandbars that generate defined a-frame peaks offering both lefts and rights in the 50-100m range. The wave shape is steep and medium-paced rather than hollow, rewarding surfers who can read a shifty peak and commit to a clean takeoff. Wave faces typically run in the 0.6-2.4m range, with larger swells bringing heavier consequences. Because it absorbs every available swell, the spot rarely goes flat, but its wide, windward exposure means onshore or cross-shore conditions are common - an easterly wind is the one direction that cleans things up. Crowd numbers stay low relative to its quality, making it a genuinely relaxed option when nearby Peniche fills up. The beach suits beginners finding their feet on mellow inside sections while intermediates work the main peaks further out.