Praia do Norte

Praia do Norte is a tow-in exclusive big wave break accessed only by jet ski. The break's extraordinary size stems from the Nazaré Canyon, a deep submarine trench that approaches within three kilometers of shore and funnels Atlantic swell directly toward the beach with minimal energy loss. As open-ocean swells race up the canyon, they collide with slower-moving waves from the shallower shelf, creating steep, towering walls that regularly exceed 40 feet and sometimes reach nearly 100 feet. The break requires westerly to west-northwesterly swell with 15–20 second periods and benefits from easterly offshore winds and mid-tide conditions. Peak season runs October through March, with December to February offering the most consistent giant swells. The break is reserved for elite big wave specialists; the beach remains dangerous year-round and unsuitable for swimming even during summer calm.

Surfing at Praia do Norte began sporadically in the late 1960s, but the break remained largely unknown until the mid-2000s when Hawaiian big wave surfer Garrett McNamara was informed by a local bodyboarder that the beach faced enormous winter swells. In November 2011, McNamara set the Guinness World Record with a 78-foot ride that put Nazaré on the global big wave map. The record passed through several hands before Sebastian Steudtner extended it to 86 feet in October 2020. Steudtner again claimed the record with a 93.73-foot wave in 2024, the largest ever ridden. The TUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge, sanctioned by the World Surf League, now brings competitive tow-in teams to the break during the winter season whenever conditions allow.

The beach sits on Nazaré's outskirts, accessible via paid parking near a small fort that descends to the sand. Visitors can also reach it by walking 15–20 minutes from Sítio, following a path behind the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré. However, the beach is closed to casual visitors and swimmers; it functions as a specialized venue for elite big wave athletes and draws international spectators during major swell events.