Sagres Sun Stay - Surf Camp & Hostel

Ilja's surfskate introduction was the highlight of my week at Sagres Sun Stay. It was arranged separately from the original package, but turned out to be a really useful addition to the surf lessons. Practicing carving and surf turns on land was fun and helped with surfing technique. This could be a great regular part of the experience. The surf sessions with Miguel, Paco, and especially Ilja had great teaching, positive energy, and a lovely atmosphere. I also enjoyed the dinner package, especially the homemade burger, and Galatea provided excellent service.

The staff were incredibly kind and helpful. Breakfast was included and decent, and the restaurant food was pretty good, though service was a bit slow. The bathrooms are spacious, but depending on where your room is, getting to them can mean quite a walk around the grounds. Breakfast is also a long walk away. The beds were comfortable despite seeming a little old, and the curtain didn't close all the way.

We felt unwelcome and repulsed by the atmosphere, and the volunteers seemed aware of it and stressed too. Everyone I spoke to agreed the general vibe was awful. The place has a reputation as “the weird place to send problematic guests,” and its advertising felt like grotesque greenwashing. The surf gear was in awful shape, and Sagres has much better equipped surf schools. The bathrooms were still filthy despite heavy chemical use. Breakfast condiments came in single-use plastic containers, and the coin-operated showers ran for 10 minutes. The acoustics and decor both felt harsh and unpleasant. Nothing about the place seemed welcoming. Whoever is in charge seems woefully out of touch with the world. Avoid it.

A few weeks after booking a private room, I was told shortly before my stay that it apparently wouldn't be available. That's not okay, especially with so little notice that finding another place was impossible. I'm not sure whether the booking system made a mistake, but it seemed more like nobody was checking reservations. I had been chatting on WhatsApp with the person responsible while booking, and there appeared to be rooms available then. After the email came, I replied right away and got no response. I had to ask again on WhatsApp for information, including about getting my money refunded, then wait several more days for an answer. Based on my experience, the service wasn't good and the place wasn't reliable.