Portugal's Least Intimidating Surf Hotel

"Opened in 2018 on Portugal’s Atlantic coast, this family-friendly surf hotel channels classic surf culture without the intimidation: reviewers called it an “instant hit,” travelers flocked, and the vibe remains relaxed and welcoming even if you never touch a board. Seaside symbols are everywhere—fishing nets and octopus traps in the public spaces, outlying cubist bungalows that reflect the ocean like sea glass, and warm wood that recalls a beach snack shack—and there’s a nightly get-together around the fire with a glass of wine and a guitar sing-along. In Santa Cruz on the Costa da Prata (about an hour from Lisbon and about 80km south of Nazaré), locals’ “Magic Land” delivers wide, remote beaches and waves without crowds; the hotel offers surf lessons for all levels, plus cliffside trekking, bike rentals, on-the-water “liquid balance” yoga, and a skatepark, along with an infinity pool, solar deck, jacuzzi, trampolines, and a restaurant/cocktail bar/snack bar. Rooms span eight in the main building and thirteen cozier, more private bungalows; Terra Rooms trade sea views for terraces or gardens and sleep up to six or eight (with ladder-access bunk beds), while Mar & Cook Bungalows sleep up to four with sea views and fully equipped kitchens. The property’s past life as a children’s holiday camp informs a creative, sustainable design—old pipes become lamps, a former water deposit warms as a reception fireplace, industrial furnace bricks line the walls, an entire wall was preserved, and recovered storage lockers reappear—complemented by cork insulation, planted garden rooftops, and solar panels that generate seventy percent of the hot water. The restaurant leans on Portuguese cuisine with Japanese and Mediterranean accents, sourcing locally with plenty of fresh seafood and vegetables from the on-site organic garden; a second beachside restaurant has closed as attention shifts to refreshing the main space. No, you don’t have to surf here—but between the design, the setting, and the easygoing, active spirit, we’ve rarely found a friendlier place to give it a try." - Mark Fedeli