Rooms are nice and spacious. Pedro and Gabriel are amazing hosts. Also the cleaning personnel are really good people. However, the surf part of the experience was not that great. First, there were 25 ( some days 27!) people and 3 surf instructors so obviously each one of us got very little attention from the instructors. The instructors seemed frustrated and stressed (I understand why!). When lessons are 40 euros (in town they are 25/30), you’d expect more than that. Second, the surf lessons are timed with the yoga lessons and start at the same time everyday, not considering at what time of the day the surfing conditions are good. I think this place has great potential and amazing people, but the surf experience was not that good.

This retreat is not a retreat for yogi's who are looking for a "real" yoga retreat. Althought the organization promotes themselves as a yoga retreat, it is not. This is a surf retreat where there happens to be yoga. The yoga is clearly meant for surfers. Active yoga in the morning, cool down yoga in the evening. The evening classes were delayed almost every day because the surfers stayed out till late. If you're looking for peace and quite, this is not the place. Because almost everyone is there to surf, it is very loud in the houses (in the evening). If you don't have a car, you're screwed. Apart from the beach, there is nothing to do in Furadouru. One day we wanted to go to the nearby town, Ovar. We wanted to take the free bikes offered by Golden Waves. Too bad they don't maintain the bike. 3 bikes. Every bike had only one working brake. Everything was rusted. 2 of the 3 bikes had a flat tire. When we told something about this to someone of the staff, he simply replied. Oh, yeaaaaah, I should get those fixed. Place your bike under a shelter, it saves you a lot of work to maintain them :) By the end of the week we wanted a massage. We had to book it with the local physiotherapist. Anna, the masseuse, did a great job. Too bad you get your massage in the physio practice. You're separated from people being treated with just a curtain. So no peace and quite during your massage. Conversations the whole time. When I pointed out this is absurd, they promised me to be more quite. But you can not treat people and be quite. So, €50 to waste. To end on a positive note, the room was clean (we had a private room with bathroom). The breakfast was okay. There was a lot of choice (not so much brown or whole wheat bread though). The first 2 days the yoga classes where not for advanced yogi's. On the third day Isabel was back and the yoga was much better and challenging. Isabel really is a good teacher! So if you are not just looking for a zen yoga retreat and are open to surf, I guess you can like this retreat. I can not say anything about the quality of the surf lessons.

I had an incredibly fun time surfing and learning to surf. The instructors, Ricardo, Eduardo, Jose, Pedro, and Vasco were incredibly helpful and friendly. Ana and Gabby at the lodge were helpful and gave good plans which fit my interests. Yoga instructor Isabel made my first yoga class relaxed and a lot of fun. The lodge’s rooms were clean and comfortable. All amenities were conveniently located and easy to access. The atmosphere was welcoming, and I was able to make friends quickly—I would recommend it to anyone travelling through the area.

I went during the last week of the season and was unlucky with bad weather and waves not suitable for beginners. I ultimately cut my trip short and left Golden Waves two days early due to the poor communication and lack of safe surf instruction. I was able to surf for 2 of the the days and found the surf instruction lacking. There was no instruction on reading the waves, safety with a surfboard, or surf technique. Instead, we were taught how to pop up and then thrown to the waves. Mario was incredibly nice and clearly wanted to helo everyone but with 15-20 people to 3 instructors it wasn't possible. The other instructors did not listen to concerns and gave the impression that they didn't care whether we were learning. I'm a beach lifeguard and open water swimmer so know quite a bit about the sea and sea safety. In each day we went surfing at least 2 people got injured by the surf boards. All injuries were easily prevented if there was a better ratio and better instruction. I felt unsafe in the water during our surf sessions. If you were not a beginner, I think you would have had a better time. On the days we couldn't surf, we were given little to no notice and since our surf times were in the afternoon, that meant most of a day wasted by waiting around to hear about the surf. Since Furadouro is far away from other activities, we would have needed more notice in order to plan to do something else for the day. The lodge was not cleaned during my time there and the bins were beginning to smell and the floors and couches were covered in sand. The lodge itself had a nice layout and my dorm was fine enough. The yoga teacher, Elsie, was wonderful! With all of the challenges, golden waves did provide a refund for the nights I left early and the surf sessions I missed. Overall the lack of communication and professionalism left a sour taste in my mouth.

Stayed a few weeks back with my boyfriend for a surf and yoga package and honestly cannot recommend enough! Great staff, great lodge and services! As novice surfers we were a bit nervous to try it out, but the instructors made us feel very secure riding our first waves! We made some stunning and “golden” memories along the test of the gang of surfers! We can’t wait to book another stay :)

This is a great place/experience for single travelers! The yoga was great for all levels. You have the choice of joining shared dinners or a short walk into town for restaurants. The breakfast buffet was fabulous! The only reason this is a four and not a five is because I couldn't get coffee before 8:30 am :-)

I spent a week at Golden Waves and I had unforgettable time! Everyone was so welcoming, I got to know amazing people from all over the world. Big thumbs up for the yoga teacher and for the surf instructors! The place was tidy and authentic! The whole experience had great vibes, I am looking forward to return again! Thank you!

We spent a week a Golden Waves and what a week that was! We directly felt at home, the house is beautiful, and everyone is very welcoming and kind. The surf instructors are great too: they are not only very knowledgeable but also fun to hang out with. 😊 We laughed so much this week and feel like we made friends for life. We will definitely be back!! Simon & Lena

If you decide to come to the Golden Waves Surf Lodge, there are two things I would definitely recommend doing: 1 - Try to stay for a week, not just a few days. 2 - Make use of the courses - especially yoga - as much as you can. While this is a beautiful place on its own, what makes it truly special are the people working there. They went out of their way to make sure I had an amazing time there.

I had the best time at the Golden Waves Surf Lodge in Portugal. The hosts, surf and yoga instructors were all so friendly, fun and welcoming. I learnt so much about yoga and surfing and improved in both throughout my week stay. All the guests were amazing too and I made so many friends and memories. It was one of the best trips I've ever been on and I was so sad to leave - I didn't want to go home! I hope to return again one day. Such a special place!

The people make this place great! Staffs are all super friendly and the guests equally so! I’m so glad I made this trip. Even though I travelled alone, I didn’t feel lonely at all. The teachers, yoga and surfing, were patient and calm and very eager to teach. Definitely make me want to do more. Thank you for a great experience.

if you think about going - this is your sign to book it right now;)) I spent 2 weeks there (after planning on staying for 6 nights) because the place is so great! a warm and social atmosphere, really nice people & staff, a good location, great breakfast and the perfect mix of fun, sports and relaxation. thanks for everything! <3

The yoga is amazing, I didn't do the surfing but it was very popular. Its a great location, away from touristy areas. I really progressed with my yoga practice and Isabel the instructor helped me fix a very old injury through her classes. I have continued yoga daily since returning , feeling inspired. The facilities and breakfast was great with some lovely local restaurants. A perfect getaway from London and I will be going back. If you are considering this alone or as a couple its worth it - Really sociable and welcoming.

Really good stay ! Amazing team, Lucinda the coordinator is really helpful if you have any questions and honestly the surf instructors are really skilled ! They explain very well what you should do and what you shouldn’t! The surf’s spot are nice and Sandy. You can borrow bike for free , the beach and restaurants / bars are at 2min . the venue is really nice and new. We booked a private room with bathroom, located in an independent villa. Of course you will be with about 25 young ish peoples ( average 25 -30 yo ) great memories:)

We stayed there for a week at the end of August with a friend, and it was amazing. The program surf/yoga works so well together, definitely so happy to have added yoga at the last minute (Isabel my spine misses you). We met lovely people, travelers, teachers, members of the hospitality team, and we deep-cleaned our bodies, souls and skins there (never had a better skin, bless the ocean water). As Gonçalo would say, "Welcome to paradise". Do yourself a favor and book it :)

Had a wonderful experience at the golden waves. The staff is wonderful and the other guests were amazing as well. The surf and yoga classes are of high quality and accessible to all experience levels. The breakfast buffet is delicious with gluten free and vegan options. Would definitely recommend and wish I could have stayed longer!

Highly recommended! Spend there 1 week(surf and yoga) Surf instructors and yoga teacher were amazing! Classes were excellent, full of joy and positive emotions! Comfortable sleeping, tasty breakfast and kind personnel. Very nice people from whole world. Come back here next year

It was an amazing week! We booked the private room with bathroom and it was totally worth the price! Very spacious room with a very comfy bed. Location is also super nice. There's a mall nearby to do groceries and the town center is 10m walk away from the lodge. You can enjoy local food in town (recommend Tapas bar Taki Tali). Surfing was so much fun even though we were absolute beginners. Surf instructors Goncalo, Leo and Juan (sorry if I butchered the spelling) were super helpful and friendly! Clear recommendation for everyone who wants to learn surfing

Maybe be a nicer experience in summer season, but not adapted to beginner surfers in October. We had bad luck with the weather but the instructors were also impatient and not very professional which made the very few surfing sessions not very enjoyable and sometimes not really safe. And if you can’t surf, there isn’t much more you can do in Furaduro with your days! The booking team is very flexible for dates, they allow for changes even last minute (but no refunds) and the beds are confortable even if the place could use some repairs it’s nice enough. I didn’t try the yoga but others liked it a lot.

I've stayed at Golden Waves Surf House for three days with my friends. The house is beautiful and equipped with a barbecue area, a shared swimming pool, tennis, basketball and soccer fields and a Jacuzzi. The breakfast is big and full of choices. They offer great surf and yoga lessons for both beginners and not. Apart from that, I would say that the best thing you'll enjoy at Golden Waves is the people that work there, the overall company and vibes. You'll surely live pure moments of fun not easy to forget.