Coxos

Coxos breaks over a shallow volcanic reef shaped into a fast, hollow right-hand wave renowned for its barrels. The break performs best from October through March when north-northwest swell combines with southeast winds, ideally at low to mid-tide. The wave demands a minimum 10-15 second swell period to align properly on the reef and reaches considerable size in winter, making it a fundamentally expert-only break that rewards skilled paddlers with long, tubular rides.

Portuguese surfers discovered Coxos in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when locals realized that the jagged reef the fishing community had long avoided actually generated world-class waves. It remained largely secret until the mid-1980s, when outside surfers like Nick Uricchio followed the tight-knit locals down the farmer's track accessing the break. By then the wider European surf community had begun its pilgrimage, and Coxos became emblematic of Ericeira's transition from anonymous fishing village to recognized surf destination and now World Surfing Reserve.

Access involves walking a farmer's track to reach the break. The local crew remains deeply protective of the spot, with strong unwritten protocols governing how visiting surfers should conduct themselves—waiting for invitations, respecting the peak hierarchy, and scrupulously avoiding dropping in. The combination of powerful water, jagged volcanic rock, sea urchin-infested shallows, strong rip currents, and a protective local contingent creates a formidable barrier that filters out all but committed and respectful surfers.