Praia de Cortegaça

Portugal, Portugal

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Praia de Cortegaça is an urban coastal beach in Cortegaça, Ovar, Aveiro, on Portugal’s Silver Coast, located 2.5 km from the center of Cortegaça and 9 km from Ovar, surrounded by pine forest and dunes and known for its vast sandy shore and strong Atlantic waves ideal for surfing and bodyboarding.

It is a traditional fishing community that still relies on the sea, historically using the Arte Xávega (a unique beach seine fishing technique), and its distinctive beach architecture includes traditional “palheiros” (wooden fishermen’s houses) that are unique in Portugal. The beach has Blue Flag certification (2026), accessible facilities, showers, restrooms, outdoor parking, a bar, a restaurant, surf and bodyboard activity, and a campground nearby, and it is a popular destination for surfers because of its consistent, powerful waves.

An annual half-marathon, the Meia Maratona de Cortegaça, has been held since 1985 in May, linking Cortegaça beach with Furadouro beach, and the beach is easily reached by train to Cortegaza station (about 2.6 km away) or by car, with a lively summer population of around 4,000–5,000 visitors. Average summer seawater temperatures are 16–18°C, and the beach is well protected by dunes and a large pine forest, making it a preserved, scenic spot for relaxation and water sports.