Nazaré North
Canyon
Nazaré, a fishing village, unites traditions from
the past to the present, having in common the
challenge of facing the sea.
Explained by the submerged canyon with an
extension of 230 kilometers and 5000 meters
deep, the natural phenomenon that they
call the “Nazaré North Canyon”, in Praia do
Norte, has conquered the world and attracts
thousands of tourists today, by the waves that
rise higher than 30 meters.
Hawaiian Garrett McNamara is Nazarés
best-known giant wave challenger, riding
a monstrous 23-meter wave in 2011 and a
30-meter wave in 2013 that was registered in
the Guinness record book.
His achievement made Nazaré known to the
world. It went from an unfamiliar village to
become a world reference for giant wave
surfing, today stage for the world elite
competition - Big Wave Tour.
Surfing the longest
right in Europe
Despite being a lesser known destination
worldwide, such as Peniche or Nazaré, Figueira
da Foz is a meeting point for the surfing and
longboarding cult at the international level.
In Figueira da Foz we find the longest right in
Europe. It is at Praia de Buarcos that those
who surf the right wave prolong the feeling
of “spiritual lightness”, as one resident surfer
says.
The extension of the Buarcos wave, known as
“Jewel of the Atlantic”, can reach astonishing
800 meters in the large winter swell, making
this wave unique to the surfing community.