burgau is a quaint little fishing village in the south algarve region of portugal, with a great vibe, great food, unlimited hiking paths along the coast line and great surf. an underestimated destination if you ask me. surf is too small on the south coast, go to the west coast. surf is too big on west coast? ...you get the idea. a surfers paradise when it comes to the abundance of beautiful surf spots.
- activities
- where to eat
- where to stay
activities
hiking
the fisherman's trail (rota vicentina)
easily found on the all trails app, this trail is actually over 220 km long, but passes right through burgau. join the hiking trail by following the green and blue marked trails on either side of the town.
surf
there are countless surf spots in the algarve region of portugal, but here are a few of my favorites.
praia do burgau
this surf spot is right in the center of town. my experience with this spot, is that it works great for smaller longboard waves. For bigger waves, the current gets quite strong, making it difficult to get out for the less advanced (like me).
arrifana
long beach with lots of smaller surf breaks depending on where you go out along the beach.
beliche
soft mellow waves close to the center of sagres.
shop
ceramica paraiso
albeit touristy, i think this place is still a must if you're in the area. there are so many items in this shop. i recommend going for the items that look more handmade, they have much more character. look at the bottom of the place to see if its been made by hand, if so, there will be a handwritten signature in the clay. they only take cash, but don't worry, there's an atm right outside (told you it was touristy). perfect rainy day activity.
santoloco
great selection of everything surf and so much more. they also do surf rentals!
board traders
great surf shop in sagres, selling used boards. great prices. they also do board rentals.
where to eat
in burgau...
sul café
this place felt like being home in copenhagen. very scandinavian in terms of vibe and interiors. great view, super nice staff and most important of all great food. i went here for dinner, but it is also open all day. i really wanted to try their tahini chocolate chip cookie, but never got around to it unfortunately. they also have really good ice tea that isn't too sweet like many other places - hibiscus is my favorite.
corso pizza and café
this place had such a great vibe. they have a small café off to the left-hand side, which is open from early morning until late evening, and then the main pizzaria. do yourself a favor and try their home-made pistachio ice-cream, you won't regret!
in sagres...
surf and coffee
this place is super close to beliche surf spot. follow a dirt road and get to a camping site and right in there, youll find this little dusty pearl. nothing fancy but loved the simple food and great vibe here. try their mango smoothie and local beef burger, for the greatest post surf fuel.
picnic
very vibey café close. sit outside and have a drink in the sun.
where to stay
Casa Kala
I stayed at the cutest airbnb below. walking distance from the local surf spot and everything else in town.
