Beach
left
Level 5/10

Praia do Tonel

Sagres, Portugal
🪨Rocks🌀Strong rips

Praia do Tonel is where Europe ends—a dramatic beach break beneath the historic Sagres Fortress at the southwestern tip of the continent where Prince Henry the Navigator once plotted explorations. The wave offers a fun left point and beach break peaks in a setting of incomparable beauty and historical weight. Less crowded than Portugal's more famous northern breaks, Tonel rewards those who venture to the Algarve's wild west coast with quality waves and the sense of surfing at the edge of the known world. The sunsets here, as the Atlantic stretches toward America, are unforgettable.

Praia do Tonel surf forecast

Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.

10-Day Forecast
Today20
41
Poor
1.8m@8s
19km/h
Mon21
38
Poor
1.7m@8s
17km/h
Tue22
73
Good
1.2m@12s
11km/h
Wed23
67
Good
1.4m@3s
8km/h
Thu24
85
Firing
1.6m@14s
5km/h
Fri25
45
Fair
1.2m@12s
12km/h
Sat26
65
Good
2.3m@15s
12km/h
Sun27
53
Fair
1.8m@13s
14km/h
Mon28
45
Fair
1.8m@12s
15km/h
Tue29
67
Good
1.4m@12s
9km/h
Groomed 5+ days out, less certain

Today's Conditions

Find Flights
Best session: MorningAM 13 km/h · PM 17 km/h
Swell
1.8m
ENE(58°)
Score: 25/25
Period
8s
Short period / windswell
Score: 4/25
Wind
19km/h
E(99°)
Score: 22/25
Weather
26°C
0.0mm0%
First light 6:51amSunrise 7:21amSunset 7:35pmLast light 8:05pm
Windswell0.7m@3sSecondary0.9mConfidence
100%

Location & Conditions

Loading map...
0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
Showing forecast for today

Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows

Strike window: 6:51am–8:05pm · through highIdeal tide: 0.5–2.0m
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
°C
23°
24°
27°
27°
27°
23°
25°
27°
27°
26°
20°
23°
26°
27°
25°
19°
22°
26°
27°
25°
18°
22°
26°
27°
24°
22°
25°
30°
30°
24°
19°
21°
24°
26°
23°
18°
20°
23°
22°
19°
17°
19°
23°
23°
20°
19°
22°
26°
26°
22°
3m1.5
sec
8s
8s
8s
8s
8s
8s
8s
8s
8s
7s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
16s
3s
3s
3s
3s
14s
14s
14s
14s
14s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
15s
15s
15s
15s
15s
13s
13s
13s
13s
13s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
swell
windkm/h
12g20
14g23
24g44
25g49
8g23
13g23
14g24
22g42
22g44
8g21
5g9
7g12
17g31
15g31
6g13
6g12
4g9
10g20
12g22
5g15
4g9
2g6
3g9
7g16
9g18
7g16
7g16
12g23
18g33
19g36
10g21
8g18
13g27
14g27
13g27
5g13
4g8
14g29
23g48
21g48
19g36
17g34
14g35
13g36
14g37
8g33
8g31
10g28
8g28
16g32
tidem
3:03am1.1m
9:54am1.9m
4:30pm1.0m
4:46am1.0m
11:17am2.0m
5:42pm0.8m
5:46am0.9m
12:07pm2.3m
6:26pm0.7m
12:36am2.2m
6:30am0.7m
12:48pm2.5m
7:03pm0.5m
1:13am2.3m
7:05am0.5m
1:21pm2.6m
7:32pm0.3m
1:44am2.5m
7:40am0.3m
1:52pm2.8m
8:03pm0.1m
2:14am2.7m
8:11am0.2m
2:24pm3.0m
8:35pm0.0m
2:46am2.9m
8:45am0.1m
2:57pm3.0m
9:07pm0.0m
3:18am3.0m
9:21am0.1m
3:34pm3.0m
9:42pm0.0m
Ideal tideStrike windowNight

Tide times today

3:03 am
Low tide - 1.10m
9:54 am
High tide - 1.91m
4:30 pm
Low tide - 1.01m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

41
Poor
Components
Swell Direction0/25
Swell Size25/25
Swell Period4/25
Wind22/25
Raw Score51/100
Adjustments
🌊 Tide+5
💨 Gusty Wind-5
⚠️ Weak Component-10
Adjusted Score41/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score41
🌊 Optimal tide window

Plan Your Strike

Return flights to FAO, departing today with a 5-day trip window.

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Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
WNW (290°)
Direction range
250° - 330°
Size range
0.8m - 3m
Ideal size
1.8m - 2.5m
Height multiplier
0.97×
Ideal period
14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
E (90°)
Offshore range
45° - 135°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
all
Optimal range
0.5m - 2m

Water temp

17°C

Wetsuit

3/2mm fullsuit

Difficulty

5/10

Crowd level

4/10

Access: 75min from Faro airport. 35min from Lagos.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tide is best at Praia do Tonel?

The Praia do Tonel profile favors the recorded tide range, ideally between 0.5m and 2m on the local tide chart. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.

What wind direction is offshore at Praia do Tonel?

The Praia do Tonel profile uses wind from E (90°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 45° to 135°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.

What swell size and direction work best at Praia do Tonel?

The Praia do Tonel scoring profile favors swell from WNW (250° to 330°), a swell-height range of 0.8m to 3m, and a reference period of 14s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.

When is the best time of year to surf Praia do Tonel?

The main season at Praia do Tonel is Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar. A secondary window runs Apr, May, Sep. Best in winter. Atlantic swells.

How do I get to Praia do Tonel?

The spot profile lists FAO as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 75 minutes. 75min from Faro airport. 35min from Lagos.

What kind of wave is Praia do Tonel?

Praia do Tonel is a beach break, a left-hander. Difficulty is rated 5/10.

Best Season

Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Secondary: Apr, May, Sep

Best in winter. Atlantic swells.

Getting There

Airport
FAO
Drive time
75 min
Data quality
verified

Plan a trip around Praia do Tonel

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Community Discussion