How We Will Make Your Stay Safe & Risk Free

Update!

Since writing this post things have changed for the better in Portugal. I can happily declare that surf lessons are back on for beginners and all other levels of ability!

Everything feels very normal here now, the atmosphere is calm and people are getting on with their lives as usual. The masks inside public spaces are still mandatory of course but that is the only restriction.

Our Plan of Action

(Original post 17.05.20)

There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment so we’ve devised a plan to make your stay at the lodge as safe as it can be.

First though here’s a little update on the situation in Portugal:

When the virus hit Italy and then Spain badly Portugal took action almost straight away and the country as a whole went into self isolation before the state of emergency was even announced on the 18th March.

The Portuguese citizens and residents have followed the rules amazingly well and it’s down to this, and the country’s brilliant health services, that Portugal is now slowly getting back to a (new version) of normal life. The state of emergency was lifted on the 2nd May and since then businesses and public spaces have begun to reopen.

On the 4th May we were FINALLY allowed to surf again and tomorrow, the 18th May, bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen. There are certain guidelines though of course, bars and restaurants have to operate at 50% capacity to ensure the safety of their customers and face masks are mandatory in pharmacies, supermarkets and most shops in general. There is also the 2 meter social distancing rule as well (the one we all know so well by now!) which will continue indefinitely.

The beaches will reopen for sunbathing on the 6th June, something we are very much looking forward to however there will be restrictions in place here too. There is to be a physical distance between people of 1.5m and a 3m distance between sun umbrellas (not in the same group).

Ok so onto what’s happening with us:

We are opening the lodge on the 1st July.

Our first big change is that, until further notice, we won’t be running surf lessons for beginners as the restrictions in place make it impossible. The coach and students have to keep a distance of 4 meters and we don’t think this is safe when total beginners are learning to surf. We won’t put our guests at risk so for now it has to be no beginner surf lessons. We’re hoping that this will change before the end of the Summer!

If you are an experienced surfer you can still have lessons. Board and wetsuit hire will also be available to experienced surfers only. Equipment will be disinfected before and after each use.

The second change is our shared rooms will only be bookable by groups travelling together, you can no longer book one bed in the quad room “Pipe” or twin room “Reef”.

The following measures will be carried out at the lodge:

Hand sanitiser will be at the entrances/exits of the lodge and its use is mandatory upon entry and exit.
Staff will wear face masks when interacting with guests.
All common spaces will be routinely disinfected throughout the day and after use.
Breakfast will be served to each booking separately with cleaning done in-between each sitting.
Bed linen and towels will be washed between 60º and 90º.
Room cleaning will be carried out with cleaner wearing PPE.
Surf equipment will be disinfected before and after each use.
Common spaces may be used simultaneously but social distancing rules of 2 meters per person (apart from who you’re travelling with) must be obeyed.
If you are having a surf lesson you must walk to the beach because unfortunately it is not permitted to transport guests to the beach. On the bright side it’s a lovely 10 minute walk along the headland to get there!

This of course is all subject to change if the situation alters in Portugal but for now things are looking really positive.