Ribeira d’Ilhas is a bathing area further to the north of the parish of Ericeira, located around 3 km away. Famous as the stage for many national and international surfing challenges, this beach is an authentic Portuguese “visitors’ room”, as its waves are the most media-friendly – and competed – of the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve. Situated in a valley where a creek (which gives it its name) flows out, its geographical configuration is that of a natural amphitheatre, with the high cliffs serving as observation points.
Ribeira d’Ilhas has a range of support facilities for bathers and surfers: parking lot, beach support area (with changing rooms, toilet facilities, first-aid station, an inviting restaurant and bar with an outdoor terrace and spaces for surfing schools), showers, access walkways, beach umbrellas and sunbeds on hire. The beach is supervised by a lifeguard and the SOS Praia (Beach SOS) system.