Name: Baleal Surf Camp - Hostel 1
Address: Rua Amigos do Baleal, 2 Ferrel, Peniche, Peniche, Peniche, 2520-052, Portugal
Rating: 10

Common kitchen

Meals

Location

At the hostel

Ferrel

Baleal Beach

Peniche Beach

Gamboa Beach

Praia do Molhe Leste

Praia dos Supertubos

Fortaleza

Praia da Consolação

Sand Portinho the South Beach

Cabo Carvoeiro

San Bernardino Beach

Foz do Arelho Beach

Obidos Lagoon

Berlenga Island

Jose Malhoa Museum

Dom Carlos I Park

Praca da Republica

Barata Feyo Museum

Sao Martinho do Porto Beach

Salgado Beach

Nazare Port

Nazaré Lighthouse

Nazare Beach

Miradouro do Suberco

North Beach

Praca de Touros

Victory Walls Beach

Macas Beach

Mercado de Sant'Ana

Rodrigues Lobo Square

Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa Stadium

Leiria Castle

Leiria Cathedral

Jardim Luis de Camoes

Teatro Jose Lucio da Silva

Parque Municipal Tenente Coronel Jaime Filipe da Fonseca

Sintra Museum of Art

National Palace

Park Liberdade

Quinta da Regaleira

Iniciatic Well

Vila Sassetti

Moorish Castle

Monserrate Palace

Pena Palace

Cape Roca

Queluz National Palace

Baleal Surf Camp - Hostel 1

I booked a private lesson for three people and had Alessandro as our surf instructor. It was a great experience—he was very patient and understanding, and he made sure we each caught the perfect waves. We were all beginners but felt comfortable in the water. I will definitely be booking again.

We haven't even been to Portugal yet but our experience with Marta has been so exceptional I needed to write about it. We had some trouble initially picking dates and figuring out payment (USA conversion) and Marta very patiently helped us figure it out. We then had a family emergency occur and so we have to postpone our trip and Marta responded with incredible support and said to just let her know new dates and she will take care of it. Going through something so difficult, making this process easy means the world to us. I cannot wait to finally get to Portugal and meet the staff of such a wonderful organization!

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!

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!

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 :)

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 :)

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!

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.

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!!!!

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.

Peniche

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6 bedrooms

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Before we even got there

Great experience overall - relaxing and fun

Perfect family activity holiday

Amazing family surf experience 

Great surf tuition and a lovely spot on the beach

Excellent instructors - an amazing family surf week!

Amazing experience,  best instructors!

Fun, organized, professional week of surfing

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.

Amazing Family Surf Week

I made one of the rightest decisions to choose Baleal Surf Camps. I'll definitely come back again. The capacity of the class is small, 12 young people have classes and live together. It is like having a family and a home for a week. The instructors are very professional, the classes are very intensive though ( I slept like 2 days after the camp :). But it would be heaven for you if you are active and enjoy workout. The group is very international as well, we are all from different countries/and have diverse backgrounds. Everyone is intelligent, educated, friendly with good energy. It is definitely an unforgettable experience for me. If you want a week to run away from reality and forget everything, I highly recommend it. For the whole week, I couldn't think about anything. When I closed my eyes, only feel huge waves surging toward me.

Baleal Surf Camp - Hostel 1

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