Figueira da Foz - General Info

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Description:

A lively resort town on Portugal’s west coast, midway between Lisbon and Porto. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego river.

Entrance Notes or Cautions:

If a large sea is running at low tide this entrance can be difficult. Conditions over the bar at the entrance are broadcast on VHF channel 11. The river entrance has been dredged to about seven metres, but one should aim to cross the bar during a rising tide.

In case of poor visibility, it is advisable to contact Figueira Pilots on channel 14 or on channel 16 before entering.

This port will close if there are dangerous swell conditions at the entrance.

Danger signals are displayed from Forte de Santa Catarina (on the north side of the entrance);

  • black ball or vertical green, red, green lights = port closed,
  • black ball at half mast, or vertical green, flashing red, green lights = entrance dangerous.

Remember if this port is closed, it is not a safe port of refuge and attempting to enter in these conditions is foolish and dangerous. Boats have been rolled and dismasted trying to do the same.

Boats that do enter the port when it is officially closed will be heavily fined.

Position:

40° 08.51’N, 08° 52.65’W (river entrance).

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Figueira da Foz was last updated 5 years ago.

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  1. June 29, 2022 at 6:17 PM
    twofish says:

    Unplanned May 2020 visit.

    Pleasant, somewhat laid back but generally well-kept town, where the tourist industry seems mainly focussed on domestic visitors (and the place is all the better for that).

    Marina staff friendly and helpful, though operating hours may need to be planned around. Helpful authorities too; the nice policeman who met us was happy to serve as ‘tourist information / ambassador’ for his town. Much of the marina is given over to small recreational fishing boats. Good showers and loos. A well stocked ‘Pingo Doce’ supermarket 10 mins walk away. Some basic chandlery facilities nearby.

    The ‘Santa Catarina’ fort(e) by the harbour entrance (with the red lighthouse) proved an excellent spot for beers-with-a-view. ‘Bijou’ restaurant in the town proved so good that we didn’t sample anywhere else for dinner.

    As others have said, pay attention to the harbour approach / entrance swell and all the warnings relating to it.

  2. December 23, 2020 at 11:46 AM
    johnseddon says:

    I arrived from the south in September 2020. Figuera is a lovely little town with an enormous sandy beach bustling with tourists in summer. Good supermarket and the fresh-food mercado (sensational choice of fish) are a few minutes away. Modest mooring rates. No haul-out facilities but excellent protection from wind in all directions. No botherwome swell from the river or passing fishing fleets. Access to the marina is easy, but use the entrance quickly when the river is running fast. Just moor immediately on the eastern visitors pontoon if there is space or in front of the harbour office opposite the entrance. The staff speak English. I would recommend coming in only near high water: there have been tragic accidents to yachts grounding outside the harbour entrance during heavy swell. It’s a long leg round from the visitors pontoon to the harbour office. Good sanitary facilities. Fuel pontoon. Laundry with tokens (but there’s a public launderette much cheaper just across the road). Easy, cheap bus ride to Porto.
    I was making my way north to find a place to winter, thinking about Leixoes at Porto which is well protected and which had offered me the very lowest overwintering rate on this coast – but is located in an unattractive industrial port (it also proved to be full when I drove up from Figuera by car to have a look !!). Figuera offered me a price of 1450 euros for 12 months (boat 10m x 3.5m) which I gladly accepted, thinking that COVID might prevent me coming back in the spring. A nice stop-over when heading north or south.

  3. August 5, 2017 at 1:39 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Fuel available weekdays and Saturday and Sunday 8.30 – 12.30pm. There are now toilets and showers at the end of the pontoon that you can use with a code.

    Office closes at various times for them to have breaks, one being 8.30pm to 9 pm. If arriving during this time then just wait on the welcome pontoon. We called once on channel 9 but no response, he was waiting on the pontoon when we entered the marina.

    Fuel had to be paid in cash but marina can be paid on credit card. As others have said, it is a long walk to the marina office and you have to go back to the welcome pontoon before leaving to pay and hand back your tag.

    Showers in the marina office were exceptionally clean. Good recycling facilities. Good English is spoken by staff. We were moored on pontoon G and were told there would swell, we didn’t experience any swell.

  4. May 17, 2017 at 10:56 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Stayed 3 days in F.d.F. marina, May 2017. Price € 28,50 per night for a 10-12 m yacht, 50% extra for multihulls. From the 3rd day a bit cheaper.

    Splendid toilets, showers and washing machines + dryer, but a long walk from the visitors berths.
    Marina office opened at 08.30, closed around 17.00 with a long siesta in between.

    Terrible swell in the river entrance when we left on the ebb in a relatively calm westerly wind.

  5. September 19, 2015 at 7:54 PM
    Data Entry5 says:

    Visited overnight 9 Sept. Marina office opens at 0900 but otherwise above is accurate. English is spoken by the Marina Staff.

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