Spain + Portugal / El Palmar

Split into two main sections by Portugal, the most famous being the northern coastline or the Costa Verde. This coast faces into the turbulent Bay of Biscay, catching and holding all the swell which propagates down from the active North Atlantic. Southerly winds are offshore. Mild seasonality is the norm here, winter typified by being extremely, wet and but followed by a pleasant but often cloudy summer. From booming beach breaks to long points and shallow reefs, this coast has it all. To the south, under Portugal, the lesser known Costa De La Luz can on it's day have some classic set-ups, but suffers extreme shadowing from the predominant north/north-westerly swells and is plagued by the conflict between the Levante (easterly) and Poniente (westerly) winds so beloved of the wind and kite surfers who flock to the area.

Portugal

Facing directly into the path of the stormy Atlantic, Portugal's west facing coastline receives year-round swell. Winter and its surrounding months being the most consistent time. Numerous classic set-ups abound with some of Europe's finest beach breaks and reefs. The northern areas are wilder and less developed before the populated central belt which contains several large towns and cities hugging the coast. To the South the Algrave offers lots of options on the west coast and the chance of shelter in a huge west swell and northerly winds. Other than that easterly winds are predominately offshore.