FAQ

We believe that meaningful travel takes time. While it is possible to learn the basics of surfing in a few days, the full Salty Garden experience is about much more than surf lessons alone.

A minimum stay of 4 nights allows guests to settle into the rhythm of the camp, enjoy the surrounding nature, join community activities, and connect with other travellers. For those looking to experience everything the camp has to offer, we generally recommend staying more than a week.

Staying longer also provides more opportunities to improve your surfing, explore the coastline, and fully enjoy the atmosphere of our surf camp in Portugal.

Not at all. Most of our guests are complete beginners or have only surfed a few times before. Our surf lessons are designed to help you build confidence in the ocean, learn at your own pace, and enjoy the experience in a safe and supportive environment.

We also welcome intermediate surfers looking to improve their technique and spend more time in the water. Lessons are adapted to your level, the surf conditions, and your personal progression throughout your stay.

Our surf lessons in Portugal last approximately 4 hours and include transport, equipment, insurance, and coaching from qualified instructors.

Lessons are planned around low tide, when the sandbanks along our coastline often create the safest and most suitable conditions for beginner and intermediate surfers. To make the most of these conditions, we usually arrive at the beach around two hours before low tide and stay for approximately two hours after, allowing plenty of time to learn, practice, rest, and enjoy the ocean.

Because we follow the ocean rather than a fixed timetable, lesson times vary throughout the week. Surf schedules are generally finalized shortly before your arrival and cannot be accurately predicted several months in advance. Depending on the tides and conditions, some weeks may feature morning sessions, while others may offer afternoon or sunset surf lessons.

Each lesson focuses on a specific skill adapted to your level, personal progression, and the conditions of the day. Our teaching method is based on gradual progression, helping you build confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the ocean step by step.

Depending on the daily conditions, lessons take place at the beaches of Maceda, Cortegaça, Esmoriz, or Furadouro, some of the most consistent and uncrowded surf spots on Portugal’s Green Coast.

Surf equipment is available during the scheduled surf lessons, where transport, coaching, and equipment are all included.

For most guests, the 4-hour sessions provide plenty of time in the water and are usually enough for a full day of surfing. However, if you would like to surf outside of lesson hours, additional equipment rental may be available depending on availability and conditions.

Feel free to speak with the team during your stay, and we will do our best to help you organise an extra session.

We recommend packing light and practical, focusing on comfort, nature, and surf essentials.

For surfing, you only need swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and comfortable clothes. All surf equipment is provided during your surf lessons, including wetsuits and boards.

For daily life at the camp, we suggest bringing casual clothing, a warm layer for cooler evenings, and comfortable shoes for walking and exploring the forest and beach.

You may also want to bring personal items such as toiletries, a reusable water bottle, and anything you need for relaxation or remote work if required.

Since we are surrounded by nature on Portugal’s Green Coast, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for changing weather conditions throughout the day.

In summer, it’s extremely rare not to have surfable conditions at our local beaches, especially at Cortegaça and Maceda, where there are plenty of different surf spots to choose from.

If conditions ever become too challenging, for example during a storm, we always have a plan B to make the most of the day. This can include exploring hidden lagoons and waterfalls or enjoying a relaxed day of activities at the camp.

Our goal is always to ensure you have a memorable experience, whatever the waves do!

Beyond surf lessons, Salty Garden offers a variety of community activities designed to create a relaxed and social atmosphere throughout your stay.

These moments may include shared dinners, sunset trips to the beach, creative workshops, wine and cheese tasting, garden games, and other seasonal experiences inspired by nature, creativity, and simple living.

Everything is optional. You are free to join when you feel like it, or simply enjoy quiet time, rest, or your own personal rhythm during the day.

Salty Garden is part of BONANZA The Land, a project designed around a more conscious and nature-connected way of living.

In practice, off-grid living here means using solar energy, water-conscious systems, and compost facilities to reduce environmental impact while maintaining a comfortable stay.

This does not mean giving up comfort. Guests still enjoy hot showers, electricity,  a fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable communal spaces.

For us, living off-grid is about slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and experiencing a simpler, more mindful way of life during your stay in Portugal.

The beach is approximately a 15-20-minute walk from Salty Garden via a private path through the forest. The walk itself is part of the experience, offering a peaceful nature trail that leads directly to a wild Atlantic beach with dunes and a designated swimming area.

This nearby beach is perfect for relaxing, walking, or enjoying the ocean, but surf lessons usually take place at other nearby spots depending on the conditions.

For surfing, we typically drive around 10 minutes to reach the most suitable beginner-friendly beaches along Portugal’s Green Coast, such as Maceda, Cortegaça, Esmoriz, or Furadouro, known for their consistent waves and sandy bottoms.

At Salty Garden, we offer home-cooked meals during your stay, with a focus on simple, healthy and shared dining experiences. Breakfast is included, and dinners are regularly organised on site, often enjoyed together in a relaxed community atmosphere.

A shared kitchen is also available for guests who prefer to prepare their own meals. Due to our off-grid energy system, storage space is limited, including a small communal fridge, so we recommend keeping groceries simple and fresh.

For more flexibility, there are also supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants nearby, offering a range of options including vegetarian and vegan choices.

 Yes. At Salty Garden, we offer optional yoga classes every day. These sessions are 75 minutes long, mainly based on Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, and are led in a relaxed group setting. Classes are available for an additional fee of 15€ per session and can be joined during your stay.

We also occasionally host massage sessions with Manon, available on request.

For a wider range of wellness experiences, we collaborate with BONANZA The Land, located within the same natural environment. Through this partnership, guests can book holistic experiences such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, breathwork, horse-assisted experiences, and different types of massage and bodywork, organised directly with the BONANZA team.

Together, these options complement your stay, balancing surfing, movement, recovery, and nature-based living.

Check-in is possible between 8:30 AM and 7:30 PM at Salty Garden.

Late arrivals are possible until 9:00 PM, but must be communicated in advance so we can prepare your arrival properly. After this time, check-in is not available, as we prioritise the rest and comfort of all guests, as well as the safety and calm of the animals living on site, including the surrounding stables and natural environment.

If you arrive before your accommodation is ready, you are still very welcome to join the camp activities, relax in the common areas, and start enjoying the experience immediately.

Check-out for rooms is around 11:00 AM. Guests are welcome to stay at the camp after check-out, use the common areas, and join activities for the rest of the day if they wish, as long as they feel comfortable doing so.

If you need to leave earlier, we can organise a simple and smooth check-out the evening before with our team so your departure remains stress-free.

Each week at Salty Garden follows a structured rhythm that is planned in advance, usually over the weekend for the upcoming week.

We carefully check tides, swell, and weather forecasts to schedule the surf lessons at the best possible times. Once the surf sessions are placed, we organise the rest of the week around them, including yoga sessions, community activities, workshops, and shared moments in the evening.

This approach creates a balanced weekly flow between surfing, rest, connection, and free time, while still keeping flexibility when needed.

The weekly schedule is shared with guests every Sunday and is generally very reliable, with around 95% accuracy, as ocean and weather conditions are highly predictable over a short-term forecast. Adjustments may occasionally happen if unexpected conditions arise, but this remains rare.

This system allows us to offer both structure and flexibility, always prioritising the quality of the surf experience and the natural rhythm of the ocean.