Ericeira Surf Camp

What Ericeira Surf Camp does

Ericeira Surf Camp is a private, founder-owned surf camp and hostel operator based in Ericeira, Portugal, founded in 2005 by former professional surfer Nuno Gonçalves. The company operates from the heart of Ericeira's old town within Europe's only World Surfing Reserve, with physical premises on Rua Doutor Eduardo Burnay (28 and 36). It runs an integrated offering combining 36-bed accommodation across 11 rooms (5 private and 6 shared) with a certified surf school operated under the West Coast Surf School sub-brand, equipment rentals (surfboards, wetsuits, bikes, skates, surf racks), and a menu of complementary activities (yoga, massage, bike tours, SUP, photo sessions, guided surf tours). The business holds Portuguese Surf Federation (FPS) accreditation and tourism licenses (RNAAT-OMT 22/2013, RNALL 495/AL), and is partnered with the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve and Ericeira Surf Schools Association, where the founder serves as president.

The company serves a primarily individual leisure traveler base — solo travelers, couples, groups of friends, and families — visiting Ericeira for surf vacations across beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels. Its go-to-market is fully direct-to-consumer, with customers self-booking packages or à la carte services through a Bookinglayer-powered platform on its multilingual (English/German) website, supplemented by email/phone inquiries and a Lisbon Airport transfer addon. Pricing is structured seasonally (Low/Mid/High Season with special pricing for Easter, Christmas, and Reveillon), and rewards longer stays with 10–20% discounts on 5–9, 10–14, and 15+ day packages. The core package lineup spans Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Short Break, Surf & Yoga, and Surf & Bike options, alongside custom-built packages and individual lesson/activity purchases.

Since inception, Ericeira Surf Camp has reported 482+ guests hosted and 5,300+ surf lessons delivered, with strategic milestones including a 2011 relocation to a central Ericeira village property (acquired during the financial crisis), a 2009 surfboard shaping partnership with Mica Surfboards and Swedish engineer Jonnas, and the 2017 launch of West Coast Surf School's dedicated central facilities. The business carries no venture capital or private equity backing and operates as an independent lifestyle hospitality enterprise with ~25 staff.

Name

Ericeira Surf Camp

Legal name

ERICEIRA SURF CAMP

Website

https://ericeirasurfcamp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ericeira Surf Camp operates a 36-bed surf hostel and FPS-certified surf school in Ericeira, Portugal — Europe's only World Surfing Reserve — delivering integrated accommodation, surf lessons, equipment rentals, and activity add-ons for international surf vacation travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surf Tourism Hospitality

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Recreational Goods Rental (532284), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB), Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM), Coastal & Island Eco-Resorts (THAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Surf camp services
• Hostel accommodation
• Surf instruction
• Equipment rentals
• Surf vacation packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Ericeira

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Surf Packages: Bundled accommodation + surf lessons packages with discounts based on length of stay: 5-9 days (10% off), 10-14 days (15% off), 15+ days (20% off). Includes breakfast, transport to surf spots, insurance.
2. Room/Accommodation: Private and shared rooms available. Private rooms (family, double, twin) with private bathroom. Shared rooms (3-4 pax) with private or shared bathroom.
3. Equipment Rentals: Surfboards (soft top, Mick Fanning, epoxy, shortboard, high performance, SUP), wetsuits, bikes, skates, surf racks available for rent.
4. Activities Addons: Yoga sessions, surf guiding tours, photo sessions, bike tours, massages, SUP classes available as addons to packages or standalone bookings.
5. Surf Lessons: Certified surf instruction for all levels (beginner to advanced) in small groups (max 5 persons per instructor). Includes lessons only or as part of packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ericeira Surf Camp operates a surf camp and hostel in Ericeira, Portugal, offering private and shared rooms paired with a Portuguese Surf Federation-certified surf school delivering lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers. Revenue is generated through pre-built and custom surf vacation packages that bundle accommodation with lessons and add-on activities such as yoga, bike tours, SUP, massage, and guided surf tours, plus standalone equipment rentals (surfboards, wetsuits, bikes, skates, SUP, surf racks) and an airport transfer service from Lisbon.

Product overview

Ericeira Surf Camp is a surf camp and hostel operator offering an integrated accommodation-and-activities experience in Ericeira, Portugal's only World Surfing Reserve. The core offering combines hostel accommodation with a proprietary certified surf school (West Coast Surf School) and surf equipment rentals. The portfolio includes pre-made surf packages (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Short Break, Surf & Yoga, Surf & Bike), custom package building, and à la carte add-on activities (Guided Surf Tours, Photo Sessions, Yoga Classes, Bike Tours, Massages, SUP). All offerings center on surf instruction and experiences for travelers visiting Ericeira.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• West Coast Surf School: Surf school operated by Ericeira Surf Camp, accredited by Portuguese Surf Federation (FPS) and certified by Tourism authorities.

Products and services

• Surf Camp Accommodation Hostel accommodation in the heart of Ericeira's old town with private rooms (double, twin, family) and shared rooms (3-6 pax), all with private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.
• Surf School / Surf Lessons Portuguese Surf Federation-accredited surf school offering lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers with FPS-certified instructors, maximum 5 persons per class, including transport to surf spots.
• Surf Packages Pre-made surf vacation packages combining accommodation with surf lessons at discounted rates (10-20% savings for 5+ day stays), including Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Short Break options.
• Surf & Yoga Package Combined package with 7 nights accommodation, 5 surf lessons, and 5 yoga sessions for a holistic surf vacation experience, priced €425-€625 by season.
• Surf & Bike Package Package combining 7 nights accommodation and surf lessons with guided bike tours through Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve, priced €375-€575 by season.
• Build Your Own Custom Surf Package Fully customizable surf package allowing customers to select accommodation, number of surf lessons, and additional activities for a personalized experience.
• Total Surf Experience Package All-inclusive surf package including accommodation, surf lessons, bike and skate rentals for comprehensive surf immersion.
• Surfboard Rentals Rental of surfboards for all levels including soft-top boards, Mick Fanning boards, epoxy boards, short boards, high-performance boards, and SUP boards.
• Wetsuit, Bike, Skate and Surf Rack Rentals Additional rental equipment including 4/3mm wetsuits (adult XXS-XXL, kids sizes 6-14), bikes, skateboards, surfskates, and surf racks for cars.
• Guided Surf Tours Local knowledge tours taking surfers to the best peaks of the World Surfing Reserve and lesser-known spots, with instructors considering tides, winds, waves, and skill level.
• Yoga Classes 60-minute yoga sessions including pranayama breathing exercises, asanas posture practice, and savasana relaxation, designed to complement surfing with focus and balance.
• Guided Bike Tours Guided bike tours including World Surfing Reserve trail tours, Lizandro Trails, Ericeira to Cabo da Roca routes, Wine Tasting Bike Tour, Cliff Top Ride, and Sintra tours.
• Massage Sessions Professional massage therapy sessions of approximately 60 minutes designed to help recovery from surfing fatigue.
• Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Classes SUP classes at Lizandro River, available twice daily (morning and afternoon), 1.5-2 hours duration with all equipment included.
• Surf Photo Sessions Professional photography sessions capturing surfing moments in Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve.
• Airport Transfer Service Shuttle service from Lisbon Airport to the surf camp, meeting at the Vodafone store with 30-minute scheduling after flight arrival.

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federação Portuguesa de SurfcoreOthersOfficial surf federation providing surf school accreditation and instructor certification. All instructors certified by FPS. Partnership validates quality and compliance with national surf education standards.
• Turismo de PortugalcoreOthersOfficial Portuguese tourism board partnership. Promotes quality tourism services and maintains official tourism registry.
• Ericeira World Surfing ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Europe's only World Surfing Reserve (designated 2011). Located within the reserve and promotes its conservation while utilizing its unique surf resources.
• Ericeira Surf Schools AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESC founder Nuno Gonçalves is president of this association representing surf schools in Ericeira.
• West_Coast_Surf_SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister surf school also founded by Nuno Gonçalves, located in Ericeira center. Run by same team of instructors.
• Ericeira_Surf_ClubeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal surf club partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Dreamsea Surf Camp: Multi-location boutique surf camp brand operating in several countries with surf-and-stay packages. Comparable integrated product and a more developed multi-location expansion model that ESC could emulate.

Direct peers

• Praia do Sul Surf Camp: Ericeira surf camp and hostel offering surf packages, lessons, and accommodation. Closely comparable integrated offering in the same destination market.
• Hospedaria Amigo Ericeira: Long-standing Ericeira hostel/surf camp offering accommodation plus surf school services. Directly competes for the same price-sensitive leisure surf-traveler segment in the same World Surfing Reserve location.
• Salinas Hostel Ericeira: Hostel and surf services operator in Ericeira offering dormitory accommodation combined with surf lessons and packages. Directly comparable as a same-village competitor targeting the same backpacker and solo-traveler segments with bundled surf stays.

Regional players

• Surf Maroc: Morocco-based surf camp and villa operator founded by a former pro surfer (2003), offering all-inclusive surf holidays. Closely comparable vertically-integrated surf holiday model and the original inspiration for ESC's founder.
• Go4Surf Lagos: Algarve-based surf school and accommodation provider offering surf lessons, equipment rental, and lodging. Comparable integrated model targeting Southern European and international surf travelers in Portugal.
• Lagoense Surf Lodge: Surf lodge in Peniche, Portugal (~80km north of Ericeira) offering accommodation with surf instruction. Comparable product format targeting international surf travelers in the Portuguese Atlantic surf corridor but in a different sub-region.
• Ocean Spirit Lodge: Baleal/Peniche surf lodge offering accommodation, lessons, and equipment hire to international surf travelers. Similar integrated product but operating in a different Portuguese surf destination.
• Spirit of Surf Peniche: Peniche-based surf school and accommodation operator serving the Berlengas and Supertubos area. Comparable integrated surf school + lodging model in a different Portuguese surf hub.
• Boarding House Hossegor: Premium surf hostel/accommodation operator in Hossegor, France — Europe's other major Atlantic surf tourism hub. Comparable accommodation-plus-surf-service product targeting international surf travelers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ericeirasurfcamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ericeira-surf-camp

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ericeira Surf Camp