The net/net: if you're looking to be really social with a good proximity to beach/restaurants, with yoga as more of a cherry on top, this could be great for you. If you're looking for what I was - a quiet retreat to reset and focus on stillness and yoga, this is not that. I did not see my experience reflected in reviews, so hoping this is helpful for others. Guests seemed to range from 20s-30s, and everyone was mostly pleasant and welcoming. Based on the description of the evening events, I expected this to be a quiet sanctuary with low-key social events and early-ish bedtimes. At least some kind of quiet hours or a little slower of a pace. Everyone went out super late, coming home past 1-2 AM my first night and staying outside laughing and talking loudly. I heard a dozen folks talking about their plans to stay out til 6 am my second night, so I made the decision to leave early, as this was not the vibe I wanted. The building itself - the pool, the common areas, are gorgeous - they absolutely live up to the photos. The rooms were well-cleaned daily (appreciated this), but the top bunks are not fun to get in and out of, and that's all that was available. The girls were all very respectful of belongings and space, and the RFID drawers were solid. My biggest issue in the room was the smell - a mix of BO and stale air that just wouldn't leave, even with open doors. I think that just kind of happens with 6+ people in a room who have been traveling, but it was really unpleasant. I wasn't planning to post a review, but was emailed a link to a 'feedback survey', which happened to be a google review.

A new hostel building, just one of the rooms has a personal bathroom and shower which could be difficult for the people after the group surf lesson when everyone wants to shower and has to line up and wait. The facilities are nice but i expected a bit more for about 100 Euro the night. They try but it feels more like trying to be more commercial and not trying to make the guests happy, the girls that work at the hostel and also live there don't really enjoy working there and just wait for their time off. For example i asked if i could get a massage instead of a surf lesson, the said they would check and let me know and never did - because they had their time off on the afternoon/other day and didn't. They serve food only until 20 o'clock and its usually also overpriced for the stuff you get - better go to a restaurant or the nearby bakery that is 3 min per foot and amazing. The nice, mostly gentle massage costs 65 euro for 50 minutes. The breakfast is ok but nothing local- toast bread, canned fruits, some yogurt and filter coffee. They do offer soy milk. The yoga teacher Lindsay is amazing, the surf teachers not so much - the just push you from the board to catch the wave and most of them don't explain a lot. I had 4 surf lessons and each time i got another instructor. Meeting new people- since there are no arrival or departures dates for a yoga or surf camp people are arriving and leaving all the time which makes you build a group with the people staying the same time period as you, there is not much get together between the groups. There is a photographer who makes photos of the surf and yoga but works just twice a week so you catch him if you're lucky. Overall a bit pricey and without much passion for the things they offer.

Overall we had a great stay at the Salty Pelican Ericeira. The double (private) room did unfortunately not have its own bathroom. Contrary to our worries of queues at the bathroom, we never had to wait. That said, the hostel was not at its fullest capacity. Otherwise,the interior of the whole place is amazing. Food was good, especially as they had GF options! The staff is super nice and the yoga teacher the best I had in years! The only downpart was timing. They booked our massage right at the same time as yoga (which is twice a day except Monday and Thursday afternoon). We could however re-arrange it. One time the surf lesson started right after morning yoga so we had barely time to eat. Once the surf lesson was done, the teacher rushed us back as the other students were waiting. Hence, we felt in a hurry and stressed. Generally however, I would definitely come back! 😊

Actually one of the best hostels I've been too recently. They really do deliver and take care of all guests. Comfy beds, delicious breakfasts and positive vibes all around! Yoga sessions are really well organized and surfing is so much fun in Ericeira!

Absolutely loved my stay at the Salty Pelican Retreat in Ericeira. The staff was very friendly, the town Ericeira is so cute and offers a lot of good food spots and places to chill. Would definitely recommend for a solo trip or as a trip with a friend.

I had an amazing time! This is not a normal hostel at all it is a place you find new friends and peace and you will create so many great memories! The staff is super friendly and facilities are very modern and clean :)

My first solo travel! Had a great time at the salty pelican and met a lot of lovely people. The hostel in it self is beautiful, clean and with a nice pool and room to relax. Was in an 8 bed female dorm, without a bathroom/toilet which worked out surprisingly well. We had to share one shower/two toilets with the 2bed room, but was never in a line for the toilets. You had to sort of plan your showers, but a cold shower after surfing/at the pool area was fine for me most days. We had a lot of party people where I was there, which I did not fully participate in, so a lot of waking up at 2,3,4,5pm. But guess this depends on the guests. Would have appreciated if it was possible to book a “bed at midnight” kind of rooms, as I was mainly there for yoga, surf and relax. The yoga was really nice, especially Lindsey made me appreciate yoga in a whole new way, thank you so much! I had two massages when I was there, one was more focused on the muscles and one was more a relaxing experience, personally I preferred the muscle focus, so make sure to ask when you book. I was on the 5 day surf package for beginners, but the beginner level is really basic and not comparable to a beginner class I have had anywhere else. I would recommend going on the intermediate classes if you know how to surf just a little, which are 5 eur more or class), but this level is almost too advanced. I had a private lesson which was really great, but would have appreciated something in between. The conditions when I was there were apparently not the best either, so tough luck. The hostel is a 5 min walk to town, with loads of restaurants and supermarkets. Take an Uber/bolt from the airport, it’s basically half price if you arrive at a normal time, compared to the private transfer.

It was an amazing time! Cool and chilled people around, easy and deep conversations as well, friendly staff, clean, amazing view. I can highly recommend it to solo travellers and surf beginners! Ericeira is a pretty town with lots of good places to eat, very fair value, it has places for little partys and nice beaches. The hostel is quiet and everyone was really taking care about each other. Go there, you’ll have a great time!

Best hostel I've ever stayed in. Rooms are comfortable and clean. Staff are friendly and helpful. Great vibe, especially for solo travellers with evening meals and daily activities. The food is really good and the location is extremely convenient. Only thing worth mentioning that's missing is a curtain over the bed for a little privacy - otherwise flawless!

Honestly, had the best time at The Salty Pelican! The staff and everyone are super friendly and chill so a great place for solo travellers! The breakfasts included were amazing! they had a wide buffet and even catered for Vegans. The excursions they provide are so worth it these included: Yoga, surfing, meditation hike, massage, and more... the only reason why it isn't 5 stars for me is because it is expensive and had to share a bathroom but apart form that I loved being there and meeting new friends I defo recommend! :))))

Our group of eight had a fantastic stay here - our second time to visit. The instructors were amazing - we really felt in safe hands. We'll definitely be returning next year.

What an amazing experience! I spent 4 nights at The Salty Pelican, and I am so glad I chose this hostel over the others, the staff is exceptionally kind and very approachable, and the facilities are clean. I loved that it was a women-only retreat as well. The massage I had was fantastic. I would definitely recommend you stay here on your next visit to Ericeira!

Great surf and yoga retreat during low and mid season. Would not stay there during high season as the hostels common areas are quite small and it probably gets super crowded. One bathroom (toilet and shower on the same bathroom) for 10 or 8 people doesn’t sound enough, specially when people have to get ready for yoga/surf. I came in low season and we were only 2 in a room for 10 so it was perfect. Unlike what is advertised on the website, not all rooms have a balcony, I don’t recommend the rooms on the ground (-1 floor) cause they don’t have balconies and are in front of the main door (you hear everyone getting in and out) A little expensive but worth it since the hostel is very new and is in great condition. It’s very close to the historical center, unlike most of the other surf/yoga hostels, so I guess you also pay for the location. Great for solo travelers. Amazing breakfast. All in all a good stay :)

My Salty Yoga/Surf retreat in Ericeira was... IMPECCABLE! House: immaculate, clean and restful Food: delicious and healthy Staff: super friendly, real and helpful Guests: fun and respectful Kit: brand new and a perfect fit Lessons/Classes: fabulous and attentive Guest services: super responsive Obrigada!

The house was nice and the massage was good, but this was really the only thing that I liked. Part of staff were not patient at all and the really bad thing about my experience happened because of them. When I checked in with my friend, they asked if we would like to dinner that night. They told that the dinner was at 7pm, but they hadn't said what time was about to end. When I arrived there with my friend around 8:30pm there was no food left and we had to pay 30 euros for the information that was not clearly explained. They said that they had to waste food because of ourselves - a clearly fake environmental friendly vibe - because when we arrived there was no food left at all. I wouldn't recommend this experience at all. Better go to a hotel in ericeira and book some surf and yoga classes (there are many around the city).

Lovely place to stay! Great friendly and helpful staff that will make you feel welcome and at home. Loved the morning and evening yoga classes by Lindsay; they are really relaxing, inspiring and fun! Enjoyed the great surf classes at the Matadouro beach a lot! The hostel has a great view of ocean, a really nice pool & delicious food! Everything is perfectly clean and taken care of. Can’t wait to come back for the third time!

Stand out elements - the facilities were spotless, pool and surrounding areas well kept. Had a lovely relaxed vibe all round. Very peaceful. - Susannah on reception was an absolute GEM. So helpful and friendly and always happy to answer questions. - Really lovely relaxing massage as part of the surf/ yoga package - I loved that they were chilled about people bringing their own bottles/ snacks to the guest house. The food on site was pretty great, but limited menu and not much in the way of lighter bites. - a nice mix of yoga classes, from very chilled to more dynamic. Something for everyone! Minor negatives The surfing was OK, little opportunity to paddle/ progress as had to wait your turn and then instructor pushed board when the waves came. Great for a TOTAL beginner I suppose. All round a great trip and would recommend to all!

The place is nice and modern and the yoga teacher is good, but that is really all I liked. No hot showers all week, bad surf teacher and way too many schools/classes in the water, overpriced food and most of all: unfriendly or helpless stuff, they just really dont care and seem to hate their job.

Loved this place. Kind staff, fun people, amazing breakfast and fabulous rooms. Lindsay's yoga classes were simply the best! Especially the ones by the beach. The surf teachers were kind and super enthousiastic. I liked the large setup of the rooms and the possibility to hang up your clothes. In general the hostel was beautiful. It was cleaned regularly.I was in a 10 bed dorm, but never had problems with lines or long waits for the shower. I would defs recommend tapas night and bbq night.

THE BEST RETREAT EVER. I have already met the other Salty Pelican retreats in Cascais... but I'm completely overwhelmed with the Salty Pelican Ericeira... Such a dreamy place! I have chose to book my stay right in the opening week and I couldn't be happier about that decision. Such great vibes! The place looks amazing, the staff is the most welcoming (as usual) and I've absolutely felt safe with all the Covid measures! Ericeira is absolutely magical and the Salty Pelican crew did a wonderful job showing it to us. I'm only sorry that it's over but for sure that I'll be back soon to enjoy that amazing pool and sunsets! Thank you for being the best and always providing such memorable experiences!

This place is so awesome! They have great food, great staff, great swimming pool and the most important thing a GREAT VIBE! If you wanna feel the Ericeira vibe, you must come to the Salty Pelican.

Having just returned to the UK from The Salty Pelican in Ericiera, I have one word - AWESOME! We had the most amazing stay in every way. The location is superb - a stunning spot which is close to the town centre yet tranquil, and the actual property itself has been done to a great standard with sea views. Indoors and outdoors, there isn't a single thing we could fault. The staff and experience were something else - every one of them tried their absolute best to ensure we were catered for. They really went above and beyond the call of duty for is. The yoga and the activities were perfect too. All in all, we had a 10/10 experience and would recommend highly!!

Can not recommend Salty Pelican enough! I spent a week there doing the surf and yoga retreat and absolutely loved it! All of the surf and both yoga instructors were great, the location is perfect and the hostel is really clean and new.

My first holiday in 18 months and Salty Pelican made it worth the wait. On the practical side of things, the camp is thoughtfully designed, clean and has all the amenities you need. There are two daily yoga sessions, beginners and intermediate surf lessons and group dinners that you can sign up to during the week — so plenty to occupy your day with if hanging by the pool isn’t your thing. What makes it stand apart is the sense of community you experience from the other guests, along with a fun team that make Salty so welcoming. Katie, Jamie, Lindsey and Emmy were the most wonderful hosts, and really made our trip extra special — we can’t wait to go back.

THE PERFECT SPOT ! The Salty Pelican is just the perfect spot nestled right above Ericeira central, close enough to all the action in town but with a swimming pool area that offers amazing views of Ericeira and surrounding coastline. It's clear so much love and attention to detail has gone into this retreat. The yoga classes with Lindsay each morning were just what the doctor ordered, fantastic teacher and the setting right by the seaside was just magical. I found my Portugal paradise and I left this place feeling totally rejuvenated. I only have great things to say about my whole experience! Can't wait to visit again.