Day 5 - Surfing Excursion, Beach Day in Nazaré & A Visit From Sam Blyth

July 2nd, 2025

Today we hit the road, making our way to Porto with a sunny stopover in the coastal town of Nazaré. This beach is famous around the world for its record-breaking waves, sometimes reaching over 30 meters high. While the surf was much calmer today, our students still got a taste of the action with a surfing lesson led by an incredible team of local pros. After a few tumbles and lots of laughs, every student managed to stand up on their board…and the smiles said it all.

For those who chose to stay on land, the day was just as magical. Students soaked up the Portuguese sunshine with a relaxing beach day, complete with soccer matches in the sand, swims in the ocean, and the chance grab lunch in town. 

Afterward, we continued on to Porto, where we checked into our new hotel and had the chance to share dinner with none other than Sam Blyth, the founder of Global Summers Academy. He inspired us with stories from his 48 years of running these programs and reminded us why experiential learning is so powerful. Tomorrow, we will be heading out to explore Porto after morning classes, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

McKay – Activity Coordinator