Tiago Pires Surf School kids' camp

The Tiago Pires Surf School runs its kids’ surf camp at Fonte da Telha, the long sandy beach at the southern end of the Costa da Caparica, across the Tagus from Lisbon and about 25 minutes’ drive from the city. The school has taught here since 2023, from a base at Praia Piscina, a beach lounge that serves food. Its other school, in Ericeira, has run since 2010.

The school is named after its founder. Tiago Pires, known as Saca, grew up surfing in Ericeira and was the first Portuguese surfer to qualify for the World Championship Tour, the top level of professional surfing, where he competed for seven years. For a child who’s into surfing, learning at his school is a small thrill in itself.

The camp runs for a full week, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 17:00. Each day mixes surf lessons with surf-skating, beach group games and arts and crafts. Surf-skating brings the feel of riding a wave onto solid ground, so children practise on land the moves they’re trying in the water. That helps a child who finds the sea hard going at first.

No surfing experience is needed. The school keeps a strict maximum of five children per instructor in the water, and its terms say all its instructors are accredited by the Portuguese Surfing Federation. The camp is staffed by teachers and monitors, so children are looked after on the sand as well as in the sea. Children can bring their own wetsuit and board if they have them; otherwise the school provides both.

Meals are included and eaten at Praia Piscina. The school describes them as healthy, and asks you to tell it in advance about allergies or other dietary needs so it can plan for them. There’s a private changing room where children can leave their bags.

This is a drop-off camp: you leave your child with the school for the day. In 2026 there were six weeks: 29 June to 3 July, 6 to 10 July, 13 to 17 July, 20 to 24 July, 27 to 31 July, and 3 to 7 August. The school warned in 2026 that places were filling fast, so book early for next summer.

For families in Lisbon without a car, there’s a pick-up and drop-off service from Lisbon at extra cost. The exact meeting point and times are confirmed when you book. If you drive, Almada council says parking near Fonte da Telha is paid in summer and that traffic queues are common on the single road into the village during the bathing season, so allow extra time for the 9:00 start.

The school didn’t publish camp prices online when checked, so ask for a quote. Its general terms ask for a €50 deposit to confirm bookings, with a full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours ahead; check whether the same terms apply to the camp.

Fonte da Telha is a lifeguarded beach in the bathing season, which the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) lists as 1 June to 30 September in 2026. The APA rated its water excellent for the previous season. The central stretch has a first-aid post and toilets, and Almada council lists lifeguarded beach concessions with sunshade hire. The beach has a small fishing community where you may see arte xávega, the traditional net fishing hauled in from the sand. There’s more about a family day here on our Praia da Fonte da Telha page.

Outside camp weeks the school runs two-hour kids’ group lessons for ages 6 to 12, at €50 each when checked in September 2026, both here and at Matadouro beach in Ericeira. Groups are capped at five. You get 10% off from the second lesson and 15% from the fifth. The school’s recommended minimum age for lessons is six. Lesson times depend on the tides and the weather, and unsafe days are rescheduled.

Each lesson includes a warm-up, a briefing on safety rules and time in the water, and every pupil is covered by accident insurance. A single lesson is a good way to see whether a child enjoys it before booking a week.

Surfing happens in the open Atlantic, even on a gentle day. Talk to the school about your child’s swimming and confidence before booking. Small groups help, and the surf-skating gives a nervous child a way to join in on land before going out on the water.

In Ericeira, Ericeira Surf Clube runs a summer camp for ages 6 to 16. Closer to home on the Costa da Caparica, the Parque Urbano da Costa da Caparica is a free park behind the beach with three play areas, including trampolines and a zip line, and Praia de São João da Caparica is a Blue Flag beach just north of Costa da Caparica town.

What ages is the Tiago Pires kids’ camp for?

Children aged 6 to 12. No surfing experience is needed.

What are the hours?

Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, for a full week.

Is food included?

Yes. Meals are included and eaten at Praia Piscina. Tell the school about dietary needs in advance.

Can the school collect my child in Lisbon?

Yes, for an extra charge. The pick-up point and times are confirmed when you book.

How much does the camp cost?

The school doesn’t publish camp prices. Email surfschool@tiagopires.pt or call +351 961 411 373 for a quote.