A wall of water approaches the coast. In front of it, a surfer almost disappears. For a few seconds, the contrast in scale makes the ocean difficult to comprehend, even from land. These images made Nazaré famous, but behind the numbers are pioneers, rescue teams and a remarkable natural setting. Meet the athletes who shaped this story, and learn how to visit.
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Which were the biggest waves ever surfed?
A ratified record is not the same as a preliminary measurement. A seasonal award does not automatically establish an all-time world record. Men’s and women’s categories are recognised separately. These are selected milestones, not a ranking of every giant wave.
Garrett McNamara: 23.77 metres, 1 November 2011, a recognised historical record. Rodrigo Koxa: 24.38 metres, 8 November 2017, a recognised historical record. Sebastian Steudtner: 26.21 metres, 29 October 2020, the recognised men’s record in the sources consulted. Maya Gabeira: 22.40 metres, 11 February 2020, the recognised women’s record. Guinness timeline, Steudtner, Gabeira.
Rodrigo Koxa’s wave of 19 December 2025 was preliminarily measured at 29.15 metres and won a 2026 award. World-record ratification has not been confirmed. Unoeste.
Garrett McNamara: bringing Nazaré to the world
McNamara’s 2011 wave marked a turning point in Nazaré’s international profile. The town already had a strong maritime identity, but the recognised 23.77-metre ride brought new attention to Praia do Norte. Images of the lighthouse against enormous waves reached audiences around the world and drew other athletes, teams and visitors to the coast. Guinness World Records.
Rodrigo Koxa: from the 2017 record to the 2025 wave
On 8 November 2017, the Brazilian surfer rode a recognised 24.38-metre wave, surpassing McNamara’s record. Eight years later, on 19 December 2025, he rode another exceptional wave at Nazaré. Guinness World Records.
The preliminary measurement was 29.15 metres. In September 2026 it won Men’s Largest Wave at the Big Wave Challenge. An award is not world-record ratification: Unoeste’s update of 1 October 2026 still described that process as pending. Unoeste.
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Sebastian Steudtner: a 26.21-metre wave
Steudtner surfed his 26.21-metre wave on 29 October 2020; Guinness announced recognition in 2022. The ride and its later verification explain the different dates attached to the same achievement. Guinness World Records.
In 2024, Porsche Engineering reported a further wave measured at 28.57 metres using drone technology, presented as a potential new largest wave. That measurement should not be described as automatically ratified. Porsche Engineering.
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Maya Gabeira: a milestone in women’s surfing
On 11 February 2020, Gabeira surfed a 22.40-metre wave at Nazaré. It surpassed her own previous mark and received Guinness recognition in the women’s category. Her achievements have become a reference point in women’s big-wave surfing. Guinness World Records.
These sessions also reveal the importance of teamwork. Behind the surfer are people monitoring conditions, operating jet skis and providing support and rescue at sea.
Why are Nazaré’s waves so big?
The Nazaré Canyon, an underwater valley approaching the coast beside Praia do Norte, influences incoming swell. Seabed shape, swell direction and weather can combine to produce extraordinary waves. The canyon does not guarantee giant waves every day: the ocean’s conditions constantly change. Visit Portugal.
When is the best time to see giant waves?
Autumn and winter are most associated with major swells, but travelling then does not guarantee giant waves or surfers in the water. Follow forecasts and local updates close to your visit and keep your plans flexible. Even without a major session, Nazaré offers coastal scenery, seafood and a living fishing heritage. Visit Portugal.
Where to watch the waves
The headland and Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo are reference points for views of Praia do Norte. Access depends on conditions and local instructions. Stay in authorised areas, respect barriers and never approach the water for a photograph during rough seas. Make time for Sítio and viewpoints over the bay as well.
What to see beyond the waves
Walk the promenade and the streets beside the beach, discover local seafood, then head to Sítio for a different view of the bay. Combining these places with Praia do Norte reveals a town with its own everyday life, not just a backdrop for surfing videos.
How to reach Nazaré from Lisbon
By public transport, check coach services for your travel date, arrival points and return times. Include connections between the town, Sítio and the fort in your planning. A rental car offers flexibility, but allow time for parking and walking on busy days, and check local road restrictions.
An organised day trip can combine Nazaré with Óbidos. See the Zoom Travel Óbidos and Nazaré tour for the itinerary, available formats and inclusions. Check your chosen option before booking. Giant waves depend on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
A journey to feel the Atlantic’s scale
Records translate the waves into numbers. Being in Nazaré adds the sound of the ocean, the position of the lighthouse and the tiny scale of a surfer against the water. From McNamara and Gabeira to Steudtner and Koxa’s newly awarded wave, these stories show how Nazaré keeps testing the sport’s limits, with or without a new record on the horizon.
