Praia de Patos

Praia de Patos is a sandy beach break with an adjacent reef section at El Pico, offering both left and right-hand waves that work best on NW to W Atlantic swell with offshore winds from the east or southeast. The break responds well to high or mid-tide conditions, which organize the sandbars into defined peaks. Winter provides the most consistent surf with December typically offering the best conditions, while summer flattens considerably. The spot handles all ability levels in theory, though in practice weekend crowds can exceed 50 surfers on quality days, and localism is a reported issue.

El Pico de Patos, the reef section breaking over a rocky triangular bottom, is one of the oldest continuously surfed breaks in southern Galicia with over 30 years of documented history. The nearby Patos Surf organization traces its roots to 1991 when the club was founded, with a dedicated surf school opening in 1994 as one of Galicia's earliest. The club has grown into the largest by membership in the region and remains central to the local surf community.

The beach sits on the southern shore of the Ría de Vigo estuary with views toward the Cíes Islands. Access is straightforward with abundant free parking (100+ spaces) plus paid options and caravan areas. Multiple surf schools operate directly at the beach offering rentals and instruction. The town of Nigrán provides basic services and restaurants within walking distance.