Rio Mondego / Spot do Berbigao (Ponte dos Arcos) Search Add Picture Edit

Continent
Europe
Country
Portugal
Next Big City
Figueira da Foz
Next Town
Cova, Gala
 
Type:
River
Rider Ability:
Intermediate, Expert
Features:
None

Water

Type:
Shallow, Flat
Hazards:
None
Quality:
Cloudy
Best Tide:
Low tide

Flat and shallow water. Mid tide (highest 4.0m) floods the island, so check tides before. Mostly soft sand with small shells, some areas are muddy (not to many). It's a good place to go when the surf is too big/stormy on the ocean.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Small
Hazards:
None
Beach Users:
None

Small island in the middle of a shallow river. The island is soft sand (a bit muddy but not too much and not dirty) mixed with 40cm tall grass. It's safe and good to launch on the island on top of the grass/sand. There are concrete/rock walls, a bridge, and power cables around the area (river) that's why you always ride in the side of the island to where the wind is blowing (onshore to the island).

Weather

Spring:
Normal
Summer:
Shorty
Fall:
Normal
Winter:
Normal

Water: 14-19°C. 4/3 or 3/2mm wetsuit in winter, maybe a shorty in summer. You can ride all year.

Wind

Best Months:
No information
Wind Type:
No information
Best Direction:
E, SW, NW
Main Direction:
NW

NW is the most common in Portugal, but at this beach it will be less strong, maybe 2 to 6 knots (than in the ocean) and a bit gusty. Also good with SW an E (probably not so gusty). You ride different sides of the island (where it is onshore) because it's safer (you'll be blow to the island). Onshore is good. Just walk with the kite upwind to get enough water depth.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Short walk

From Figueira da Foz go to Cova/Cabedelo, just after the big bridge and before the small one turn right, go south (left) and under the main road you where using before and then left again just after. Get a small cheap supermarket rubber boat (fins are good to have!), put everything on top, put on the wetsuit and paddle to the beach. Launch the kite on the beach (better with 5th line).

Extra information

Rules
None

Check the tides, the island vanishes at high tide.

Nightlife

Figueira da Foz, Coimbra.