SURF LESSON FAQs
Everything we get asked, answered properly. Still curious? Drop us a line — we love a good question.
LOCATION & ERICEIRA
We teach at Praia de São Julião, about forty-five minutes from Lisbon. Here's how to reach us and what to do with the hours you're not in the water.
WHERE IS MAGIKVANILLA SURF SCHOOL LOCATED?
We're in Ericeira, a coastal village about 35 km from Lisbon on Europe's southwest edge. Ericeira was named Europe's first World Surfing Reserve in 2011, with 8 km of beaches offering surf for every level.
WHAT MAKES ERICEIRA SPECIAL?
Narrow cobbled streets overlook the Atlantic, with 8 km of protected coastline and some of the best food and sunsets in Portugal. It's the kind of place you can easily fall for.
WHAT CURRENCY DO YOU USE?
We're based in Portugal, so prices are set in Euros (EUR).
HOW DO I GET FROM LISBON TO ERICEIRA?
A taxi costs roughly €65–€75, or take the metro to Campo Grande station and then a bus (about 90 minutes total, under €10). An Uber typically costs under €50 during the day.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO IN ERICEIRA?
Plenty—cafés, restaurants, shops, and a bar scene that runs late into the night in summer, plus beaches and surf.
SURF LESSONS
What a session actually involves, who's teaching it, and what to bring. The short version: swimwear and a towel — we provide everything else.
DO I NEED EXPERIENCE TO TAKE A LESSON?
No experience needed for beginner lessons — just comfort swimming in the ocean and a good attitude. For intermediate or advanced sessions, we ask that you already have some surfing under your belt.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN A LESSON?
All your gear (wetsuit, board, leash, wax), beach transfers to and from the meeting point, and personal and public liability insurance. Week-long courses and bookings of four or more lessons can also include video analysis and a photo session.
A single two-hour lesson costs €60 per person, and a five-day course costs €340 and includes video analysis and a photo session.
HOW LONG DOES A LESSON LAST?
Up to two hours in the water. With pick-up, theory, warm-up, safety brief and drop-off, plan for about three hours from start to finish. Session times shift daily to match the best conditions, so they can run anywhere from early morning to sunset.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Swimwear, flip-flops, sunglasses, sunscreen, and something warm for afterwards. We handle the wetsuit and board.
ARE YOUR INSTRUCTORS QUALIFIED?
Yes — Every coach is certified by the IPDJ as a Sports Coach in Surfing, is federated with the Portuguese Surf Federation, and is a qualified surf lifeguard and first responder. We keep a full first aid kit on the beach at every session, and we are registered with Turismo de Portugal under RNAAT 142/2013.
HOW BIG ARE THE GROUPS?
Maximum 5 learners per instructor, so everyone gets real coaching and feedback, not just a board and a wave.
WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN TO SURF AS A COMPLETE BEGINNER?
Right here, if you ask us. Ericeira's sandy beach breaks are among Portugal's most beginner-friendly — gentle, consistent waves that work in every season. Your first lesson includes theory, a warm-up, and a safety briefing before you get in the water, with your instructor beside you the whole time to help with paddling, timing, and your first pop-ups.
IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE, OR DO YOU TEACH CHILDREN?
Yes. The minimum age for our standard group lessons is 12; children aged 7 and up can join our dedicated kids' surf weeks or enquire about options. We also offer private coaching for younger surfers, with a parent or guardian present throughout.
WHAT IF I GET HURT?
Unlikely, but you're covered either way. All instructors are first-aid qualified; a full first-aid kit is on the beach at all times, and a 24-hour clinic is in town.
HOW DO I BOOK A MULTI-DAY SURF COURSE?
Choose your dates, level, and number of days, then book online in a few clicks with a 50% deposit (pay the rest later). Multi-day courses are the fastest way to progress because each session builds on the last, and week-long packages include video analysis so you can see yourself improve day by day.
FAMILIES, GROUPS & PRIVATE TRIPS
Children, families surfing together, and groups of ten or more. These usually start with a conversation rather than a booking form, so just ask.
IS MAGIKVANILLA A GOOD FIT FOR FAMILY SURF HOLIDAYS?
We think so. Kids from around age 7 join lessons tailored to their size and confidence; our coaches are qualified lifeguards and first responders, and every session opens with a fun warm-up and safety brief. Parents usually say the best part was watching their kid stand up for the first time. (We'd call it a tie with their own first wave.)
CAN YOU ORGANISE A GROUP SURF TRIP?
Yes — for friends, stag and hen parties, company retreats or clubs. Tell us your dates and group size, and we'll split levels sensibly (so nobody's held back or left behind) and build a package around you, always with a maximum of 5 surfers per coach.
I’M COMING ON MY OWN. WILL THAT BE AWKWARD?
No. A good proportion of our surfers arrive alone, and five people falling off boards together is an unusually fast way to stop being strangers. Quite a few people who met in a lesson here have come back together the following year.
IS ERICEIRA SAFE FOR A WOMAN TRAVELLING ALONE?
Yes, and many of our solo surfers are women. Portugal consistently ranks among the world’s safest countries, and in Ericeira, people walk home at night without thinking about it. Lessons run in daylight, transfers are door-to-door, and you never have to find your own way to the beach.
BOOKING, CHANGES & CANCELLATIONS
Deposits, date changes, refunds, and what happens when the Atlantic has other plans.
HOW DO I BOOK AND PAY?
Book online with a 50% deposit and pay the rest later, or reach us by email (welcome@magikvanilla.com) or WhatsApp (+351 927 199 020).
CAN I CHANGE MY DATES AFTER BOOKING?
We'll do what we can, subject to availability. If your group size changes, email us at least 3 weeks (21 days) before your start date — after that, you're responsible for the original booking value.
CAN I PASS MY BOOKING TO A FRIEND?
Yes. Send us the new person's name and date of birth, along with an email from the original participant confirming the change.
WHAT'S YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
Full details are in our Terms & Conditions — the short version is that refund eligibility depends on how far ahead of your start date you cancel.
WHAT'S YOUR REFUND POLICY?
For bookings paid in full 30+ days ahead:50% refund if you cancel more than 21 days before your start date;
No refund within 21 days. Deposits and bookings made within 21 days of the start date are non-refundable.
This applies to direct bookings only — if you booked through a tour operator, their policy applies.
WHAT HAPPENS IF SURF CONDITIONS ARE BAD?
We check forecasts daily and schedule sessions for the safest, best conditions available, which is why lesson times vary. If we judge conditions genuinely unsafe, we'll cancel and reschedule where we can — and if that's not possible, we'll issue a credit voucher or a full refund.
EXTRA SERVICES
Video analysis and photographs — what's included in each package, and what you can add to a single lesson.
DO YOU OFFER VIDEO ANALYSIS?
Yes — included in weekly packs and available as an optional extra if you book 4 or more single sessions.
DO YOU OFFER PHOTOGRAPHY?
Yes — can be included in weekly course packs (genuinely worth it) and available as a paid optional extra for smaller bookings.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
What a surf lesson costs, whether you need to swim well, and what happens if the weather turns. These are the ones we get asked on WhatsApp most days.
HOW MUCH DOES A SURF LESSON COST?
A single two-hour lesson costs €60 per person. A five-day course costs €340 per person and includes video analysis and a photo session. Both include a wetsuit, board, insurance, and beach transfers from anywhere you stay in the Ericeira area.
DO I NEED TO BE A STRONG SWIMMER?
You need to be comfortable in roughly chest-deep water and able to swim well enough not to panic if a wave knocks you over. You do not need to be fast, fit, or able to swim any particular distance. Beginner lessons take place where you can stand.
If you are nervous about the water rather than the surfing, tell us when you book. It changes how we run your first session, and it is a common thing to say — not an awkward one.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS?
You get wet either way — you are in a wetsuit in the Atlantic, and Portuguese rain is rarely cold. Some weather and the ocean can cancel a lesson: lightning, wind, swell size, or a rip that makes teaching unsafe. In that case, we reschedule you, and if we cannot find a time that works, you are not charged.
WILL I STAND UP IN MY FIRST LESSON?
Most people do, in white water, holding a shape that no photograph should record. That is not quite the same as surfing, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. Standing up takes a session. Riding a green wave with any control takes closer to five, which is why the week course exists.
WHERE DO I PARK AT PRAIA DE SÃO JULIÃO?
Free parking is available by the beach, but it fills up on summer weekends. If you are booked with us, you don't need it—as long as you are in Ericeira, we pick you up and drive you back afterwards. But if you are outside Ericeira or just want to drive your car, don’t worry; there is plenty of space.
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY PHONE AND KEYS DURING THE LESSON?
STILL GOT A QUESTION?
Ask us. WhatsApp is fastest — +351 927 199 020 — or email welcome@magikvanilla.com, and we will reply within a working day.
If you already know what you want, the lesson options and prices are here.
