Ilha da culatra, Portugal
Also within 20 km of Olhão
- Olhão Kite spot · 0.3 km from Olhão
- Culatra Kite spot · 4.1 km from Olhão
- Ilha do farol Surf spot · 6.1 km from Olhão
- Praia do Farol - lado poente Surf spot · 6.3 km from Olhão
- Ilha Deserta Surf spot · 7.6 km from Olhão
- Ilha da Fuzeta Surf spot · 8.6 km from Olhão
- Ilha de Faro Surf spot · 13.1 km from Olhão
Watch this spot We email you when Ilha da culatra is worth the trip.
About Ilha da culatra
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (145°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (325°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 16°C in February, its coldest month (3/2 wetsuit), and 21°C in July, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For beginners the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Olhão, 4.3 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots and 2 wind sports spots.
Water about 21°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 16 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO), changing at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). About 4 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → FAO · Skyscanner from about £410 returnAdGetting there. 35 min from the airport to Ilha da culatra.
Accommodation.
Stay in OlhãoAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Olhão (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Olhão 8 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 63 places to stay · where Ilha da culatra stays
Places to stay in Olhão · Booking.com AdFaro (Sé e São Pedro) 17 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 93 places to stay
Places to stay in Faro (Sé e São Pedro) · Booking.com AdFuseta 19 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 30 places to stay
Places to stay in Fuseta · Booking.com AdTavira (Santa Maria e Santiago) 39 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 65 places to stay
Places to stay in Tavira (Santa Maria e Santiago) · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Olhão · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Olhão · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Ilha da culatra on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft7 s | 38kJ | wind from the north-east, 7 knots | 22°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft8 s | 8kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 2 knots | 22°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft12 s | 52kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 4 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft10 s | 32kJ | wind from the west, 2 knots | 22°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft7 s | 17kJ | wind from the south, 1 knot | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft7 s | 11kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots | 22°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft5 s | 9kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 1 knot | 22°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft4 s | 3kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 2 knots | 22°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft5 s | 3kJ | wind from the south, 2 knots | 23°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft7 s | 18kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 22°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to FAO, changing at LIS, then 35 min by road. About 16h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 15 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 12 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 12 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 7 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 13 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to FAO, changing at LIS, then 35 min by road. About 16h 40 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Olhão each day: Ilha da culatra, Ilha Deserta, Ilha do farol, Praia do Farol - lado poente.
Rough cost
About £845–£1,610 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to FAO, estimated from distance and season, changing at LIS, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £410–£850 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £20–£35 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £160–£265 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £150–£280 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£115 |
| Total | £845–£1,610 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Olhão
- Umi sushi barSushi · 0.1 km from the centre
- Indian mercadoIndian · 0.2 km from the centre
- Pizeria SÃO MartinhoPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- Vai e VoltaPortuguese · 0.2 km from the centre
- À do FernandoPortuguese · 0.3 km from the centre
- Doca's Pizza RistorantePizza · 0.3 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.