Oporto Surf Camp — Hotel in Ovar

Do Not Stay Here – Please...Avoid This Camp at All Costs.

If you're even thinking about booking at the Oporto Surf Camp, I beg you – choose any other camp. This place doesn’t deserve a single star. I stayed in June 2025, planning to spend a week, but I left early due to a series of unsafe, unacceptable conditions. The fact that this camp has a 4.9 rating is baffling – my experience was a nightmare from start to finish.

The conditions I encountered were far below any reasonable standard and entirely unworthy of the money I paid. Several issues were not just inconvenient but unsafe, including an extremely alarming incident where a staff member, visibly under the influence of alcohol, drove me back to the camp. This blatant disregard for basic safety put my well-being at serious risk.

Here’s a breakdown of the most serious issues:

Reckless and Unprofessional Staff: One staff member, visibly drunk late at night, drove me back to the camp. This was not just irresponsible – it was dangerously reckless. It should never happen, especially at a place that claims to care about its guests.

Rude and Dismissive Communication: Some staff were outright dismissive and rude. When I raised concerns, I was met with hostility and a complete lack of basic courtesy.

Unsettling Stranger on Property: An older man, who wasn’t even a guest, was frequently seen loitering in the garden. As a solo female traveler, this made me feel extremely unsafe and uncomfortable.

Disgusting and Unhygienic Accommodation: I’ve stayed in budget hostels cleaner than this. The house was old, filthy, and unhygienic. The kitchen and bathroom were unbearable, and there was even mold in the fridge. The shower drain was clogged, and the tub quickly filled within seconds with disgusting water full of bodily fluids and sand from previous guests. You were literally standing in someone else’s filth. The photos on their website? A complete lie. The pictures I’ve attached speak for themselves. I wouldn’t let my dog stay here, let alone pay for it. And to top it off, you’re not even allowed to wash your clothes as a paying guest. Beyond unprofessional. And let’s not forget the dirty ashtrays lying around...everywhere.

I had to book a flight home early, just days into my stay, and I wasn’t the only one. Another guest left two days before me for similar reasons. This is clearly not an isolated issue – it's a pattern of negligence and complete disregard for guest safety and comfort.

After I left, I contacted the camp for a refund. They dismissed my concerns entirely and refused any refund, claiming it was my choice to leave early and that the conditions were “prepared according to their usual standards.” This response was not only shocking but deeply insulting. Reporting these issues during my stay would have certainly been pointless, as it was clear the staff lacked any capacity or willingness to address them.

This was not the experience I signed up for. It was a huge disappointment that left me feeling unsafe, uncomfortable, and misled. I can’t believe I paid for this. It was nothing like what was advertised or promised. I've never felt this unsafe and deceived in my life.

BOTTOM LINE If you value your safety, comfort, and well-being, stay as far away from this camp as possible. There are plenty of other surf camps in the area that actually care about their guests. This place is an...

We spent a week as a group of friends (consisting of 5 people) at the Oporto surf camp in Esmoriz and had a really good time there. The rooms were clean and the house is cozy and equipped with everything you need. The cozy seating area in the garden is particularly great, where you can chat with the other camp residents. From the camp you can walk to the beach in a few minutes and watch the sunset. What is unique about this surf camp (this is not our first surf camp) is the family atmosphere. The volunteers, the surf instructors and the other camp guests are really nice, caring and open, so it's easy to make friends and feel totally comfortable. Traveling alone wouldn't be a problem either. The volunteers show you the different restaurants and bars, but the surf instructors also take the time to have lunch together after surfing or spend a relaxed afternoon together on the beach. A trip to Uncle Joe’s Jam Session couldn’t be missed. You also sit at a large shared table with the volunteers at breakfast, which creates a feeling of community. Our surf instructor João was totally motivated and always in a good mood. After I initially lacked some theory and mentioned it, the feedback was immediately addressed the next day and made up for. Overall, João helped us to improve our skills. So he identified the good waves and then gave us the right momentum on the surfboard so that we could surf some green waves. João analyzed our mistakes while surfing, was able to respond well to them and give us help to improve them. When we found out that he happened to be free during our last session, we were all a little sad. Overall it was a great week, not only because of the good weather, the surfing and the group of friends but above all because of the great staff and the nice camp guests who made this week...

I can‘t wait to come back again! This was my first surf camp experience and it couldn’t have been better. The location is great: it’s very calm and cute but day trips to Porto are easy with the train if you are up for some more city atmosphere. The camp itself is thoughtfully decorated, I felt at home.It was also clean and enough space for everyone. You have a kitchen to prepare food and the breakfast that was provided was perfect fuel before the surf sessions. The sessions were really helpful and beginner friendly. It was professional but the instructors made sure everyone was having fun while learning ;) The surf spots themselves were really unreal - so beautiful! After surfing the camp is super nice for hanging out together and having a great time. Karaoke and improvised stage performances are part of the experience! :D It’s a special place, especially because of the...