Portugal is, for my money, one of the best places in the world. The waves are incredible, of course, but that’s just one of the reasons why I love it. The place is absolutely steeped in culture. Castles sit on bluffs overlooking cities with narrow cobblestone streets. Statues of long-dead explorers stare out at the sea. The wine flows like water. The seafood is unbeatable. The people are extraordinarily friendly, and given the size of it — just over 35,000 square miles, you can move around it easily, getting from place to place in a relatively short amount of time, especially given the driving habits of the locals.
Inland is lush and green, covered in sprawling grape fields. The coast is a beautiful mix of rugged, steep cliffs and vast, pristine beaches. There’s a staggering array of waves, from thick-lipped slabs in Ericeira, perfect barrels at Supertubos, giants at Nazaré, and everything in between. I’ve yet to take a van around the place, but it’s on my list. And some time ago, Matthew McGillivray, Enzo Cavallini, and Teva Bouchgua explored many of those wonderful nooks and crannies on a quick field trip, and if you’re anything like me, it’s a reminder of just how great the place is.
