MOVIJOVEM
HI Santa Cruz – Pousada de Juventude
Apartment-style hostel with kitchenettes, pool and sports courts
Why stay
here
01
Your own apartment by the Atlantic
Every room is a self-contained apartment with kitchenette and private bathroom — independence you won't find in typical hostels. Cook your post-surf dinner, store your board wax in the fridge and enjoy balcony views without sharing facilities.
02
Portugal's Jurassic coast
The Lourinhã Museum houses the Iberian Peninsula's largest dinosaur fossil collection just 20 minutes away, while Dino Parque brings prehistory to life with full-scale models. Combine morning surf sessions with afternoon paleontology.
03
Year-round surf at your doorstep
Santa Cruz beach delivers consistent Atlantic swells 2 km from the hostel. Summer brings gentle waves perfect for learning, while winter storms create powerful breaks for experienced surfers. Multiple surf schools operate from the beach.
HI Santa Cruz – Pousada de Juventude
Apartment-style hostel with kitchenettes, pool and sports courts
Apartment-style hostel with kitchenettes, pool and sports courts
HI Santa Cruz occupies Block 6 of the Mar Azul tourist complex, a modern building opened in 2013 with an unusual setup for a hostel — all 24 rooms are apartments with private kitchenettes and bathrooms. The property feels more like a holiday complex than a traditional youth hostel, with its swimming pool (open June–October), tennis court, sports field, and sun terrace spread across landscaped grounds.
The hostel sits at the entrance to Santa Cruz village on the EN 247, 2 km from one of Portugal's premier surf beaches. The Atlantic swells here work year-round — gentle waves in summer for beginners, powerful winter breaks for experienced surfers. Beyond the beach, the Eco-Caminho do Sizandro trail leads inland to Torres Vedras, while the Lourinhã Museum's dinosaur fossils and Dino Parque's life-size models are a 20-minute drive away. Lisbon is 90 minutes south via the A8.
What’s available during your stay.
Free continental breakfast 8:30–10am, bike rental for coastal rides, 24h reception with tour assistance. Luggage storage and guest laundry. Meeting room seats 30. Free parking on-site behind secure gates.
facilities and services
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Safety
Accessibility
In-room (may depend on room type)
Flexible, comfortable, affordable.
100 beds across 24 apartment-style rooms — unusual for a hostel, with every room featuring its own kitchenette and private bathroom with bidet. Room types include 4-bed apartments, 6-bed apartments, and two accessible apartments for 4 people. Each kitchenette has a fridge and cooking facilities, giving complete self-catering freedom. Some apartments include balconies, sitting areas, and tea/coffee facilities. The lift serves all floors, and two apartments are fully adapted for wheelchair users.
100 beds across 24 apartments sleeping 4–6 people each — ideal for small team allocation within larger groups. Every apartment has its own kitchenette and private bathroom, giving unusual independence. Two apartments are fully accessible for wheelchair users, with adapted bathrooms and level access. The lift serves all floors. Groups can book entire floor blocks for better supervision. The meeting room accommodates 30 for briefings, presentations, or indoor activities.
Room with Kitchenette
Each room at HI Santa Cruz features its own fully-equipped kitchenette — a rare amenity in hostel accommodation that gives you complete flexibility over your meal times and budget. Located in the modern Block 6 of the Mar Azul tourist complex, these self-contained rooms allow you to prepare your own meals after long days exploring Portugal's surf capital. The kitchenette includes essential cooking facilities and storage, perfect for storing fresh catches from local markets or preparing pre-surf breakfast. With the beach just a short walk away and consistent Atlantic swells year-round, these rooms provide the ideal base for surfers and coastal explorers who value independence and the comfort of preparing their own food.
With 100 beds in apartment-style rooms, HI Santa Cruz works brilliantly for school groups, sports teams, and youth organisations seeking independence within a structured environment. The unusual setup — every room has its own kitchenette — allows groups to self-cater or combine hostel breakfasts with packed lunches and group dinners. The meeting room holds 30 for briefings and workshops, while the dining hall (refeitório) handles full group meals with 3-day advance booking. The swimming pool, tennis court, and sports field provide on-site activities between beach visits. Surf schools at Santa Cruz beach (2 km) offer group lessons year-round, while the Lourinhã dinosaur museum and Dino Parque make excellent educational excursions. The Ocean Spirit international wave sports festival brings additional programming opportunities.
HI quality-assured
Rooms held together
Everything your group gets
Accommodation
100 beds across 24 apartments sleeping 4–6 people each — ideal for small team allocation within larger groups. Every apartment has its own kitchenette and private bathroom, giving unusual independence. Two apartments are fully accessible for wheelchair users, with adapted bathrooms and level access. The lift serves all floors. Groups can book entire floor blocks for better supervision. The meeting room accommodates 30 for briefings, presentations, or indoor activities.
Services
Full board with 3-day booking: lunch/dinner €8, buffet €13.50. Packed lunches available. Dedicated group booking line: +351 21 723 21 43. Secure bike storage for cycling groups. 24-hour reception for late returns.
Activities & experiences
Santa Cruz surf schools offer group packages. Lourinhã Museum runs educational sessions on Iberian dinosaurs. Eco-Caminho do Sizandro for guided nature walks. Ocean Spirit festival workshops. Torres Vedras Carnival activities Feb/March.
Food & drink
Groups 20+ can book meals with 3 days notice. Breakfast included, lunch/dinner €8, buffet option €13.50. Refeitório dining hall for group meals. Kitchenettes allow self-catering flexibility for special diets or budgets.
Wellness
Swimming pool June–October for group sessions. Tennis court and sports field for team activities. Garden spaces for outdoor yoga or relaxation. Sun terrace for group gatherings.
Work from here
Travelling with your school, university, team, colleagues, ...?
HI is the only global network that specialises in all levels of school, university, sports, corporate, and other groups.
Make the most of your time here.
Santa Cruz beach (2km) with surf schools and year-round waves. Lourinhã Museum's Iberian dinosaur fossils (20 min). Dino Parque life-size models. Eco-Caminho do Sizandro trail to Torres Vedras. Ocean Spirit wave sports festival.
Santa Cruz surf schools offer group packages. Lourinhã Museum runs educational sessions on Iberian dinosaurs. Eco-Caminho do Sizandro for guided nature walks. Ocean Spirit festival workshops. Torres Vedras Carnival activities Feb/March.
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Location
Empreendimento Turístico “Mar Azul”
Torres Vedras
Portugal
Directions
Getting here
From Lisbon (90 min): A8 motorway towards Torres Vedras, exit Torres Vedras-South, follow signs to Praia de Santa Cruz — the hostel is next to the main roundabout at the campsite entrance. By public transport: train to Torres Vedras station, then local bus to Santa Cruz. Rede Expressos coaches run from Lisbon Sete Rios to Torres Vedras, then connect to local Santa Cruz bus. The hostel is a 2 km walk from Santa Cruz beach and surf shops.
Parking info
Free private parking on-site within the fenced Mar Azul complex. Access through keyed gate entry system. Ample spaces for cars, with additional areas suitable for minibuses and coaches bringing surf groups or school parties.
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Please contact the hostel directly for any questions or concerns - we will be happy to help.
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