The Sao Miguel surf is arguably the best in the whole of the Azores. It’s certainly the island with the biggest variety of spots. A lot of the focus is on the north beaches, which get great swell coverage from the top of the Atlantic and work all year round. They are also some rare sand-bottomed breaks for the Azores islands.
An introduction to surfing in Sao Miguel
We think it’s fair to say this: Sao Miguel is the highlight of the Azores when it comes to surfing. That’s not to say other islands aren’t great. They are – Sao Jorge and Terceira are especially wonderful when the winter N channels get pumping. But the largest and most accessible member of the group (that’s Sao Miguel) manages an altogether different level of consistency and variety.
A lot of that is thanks to the presence of two well-exposed coastlines. The south around Ponta Delgada hoovers up any stray summer sets out of the roaring 40s. The north will feel the brunt of the winter swell and really let you know about it with XXL breaks and slabby barrels rumbling from Santa Barbara all the way along to Mosteiros.
Surprisingly, Sao Miguel surf remains somewhat off the radar. Unlike, say, Madeira before it, the isle still has breaks that you’ll need to navigate empty farm fields filled with horses and misty laurel forests to reach. It’s definitely still one for the surf pioneers out there looking to conquer spots that aren’t on the map.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Sao Miguel at a glance
Wave type: Some rare Azores beach breaks, point breaks // Level: Best for intermediates and up // Season: Winter is best but the island works all year.
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Sao Miguel surf?
Where is Sao Miguel?
Sao Miguel is the largest isle in te whole of the Azores archipelago. It’s a part of the southeastern sub-group of islands, so sits closer to mainland Europe than the rest of the region, though the shores of Portugal proper are still a whopping 887 miles away from here! Don’t worry, though, Sao Miguel has its own airport (the João Paulo II Airport, PDL). You can now fly there direct from London Stansted, Lisbon, and Porto, along with a clutch of other European cities and even New York!
Sao Miguel surf spots
The amazing thing about Sao Miguel – and the Azores generally for that matter – is how the swell comes from all angles and hits all sorts of different breaks. You’ll find spots on the north side sucking swell down from the Arctic in the winter. But there are also beaches on the south close to Ponta Delgada that can work in the summer months with S swells.
Ribeira Quente
Slabby rides are on offer during big S swell pushes at Ribeira Quente, a point break that form over cobble and rock off a seawall on the south coast of the island. Wait for low tide to get it at its best. Performance wave in essence.
Vila Franca
Surf with a view of the amazing caldera isle of Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo in the distance here. You get one of the longest and mellowest lefts on the island. It’s a loggers dream but also fun for all levels, learners, and shortboarders when it’s a touch bigger. Wait for a full tide to see it at its best. We think it gets dumpy at low.
Agua de Alto
Come here if it’s crowded at Populo – and it WILL be crowded at Populo. Agua de Alto is just a touch down the coast but the crowds thin out and you still get waves on any S, E, SE or even NE swell directions. That means it’s a consistent number. The breaks are all-level friendly and form up in to cruisy and forgiving A-frame options in the summer, making it a top choice for learners and improvers alike.
Populo
The second and better of the two waves in Ponta Delgada, Populo is an all-level option that got fairly decent consistency (both S summer swells and big NW wrap arounds in winter can work). It’s usually got a crowd – the city is just steps away. Look to the west end of the bay where the right shoulders will form for the cream of the waves, which need heavy winter sets and a N offshore to be at their right-hand, hollowish best.
Milicias Beach
Given the proximity to Ponta Delgada – the biggest town in the Azores as a whole – it’s hardly surprising that there’s almost always a crowd here. The wave isn’t brilliant, but it’s decent on summer swell days with S and SW in the compass. Multiple peaks along a big arc of black sand. Locals aren’t mean since they’ve had to get used to surf schools and travelers fresh off the plane hungry to get in the water.
Mosteiros
The most westerly of all the surf points on Sao Miguel, Mosteiros has two main spots. There’s the right-hand point break that works on the beach at Mosteiros, just south of the town of the same name. That’s most consistent wave, especially with decent height in the NW swell quadrant. The take off is over shallow volcanic stone, but pull it off and you’ll be hotdogging in on near little shoulder along a black-sand beach.
The second spot here is inside the Mosteiros harbor. There’s a left and a right on either side, but the former is supremely fickly, needing very big S-SW swell pulses to come up in the summer months. That happens maybe three times in the year. The right is a longer, cruisier ride that’s relatively consistent and nice and long on big-period days.
Rabo de Peixe
A long and rippable right when it’s working, this harbor-wall take-off zone was once much better but was built over. It’s still good with W in the swell especially and tends never to be that busy. It’s a bit of a performance wave, offering multiple sections that barrel sometimes and others that are fat for whacking off the lip. You’ll need to be comfy surfing on shallow reef.
Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara Beach is now one of the mainstay beginner locations on the island, largely thanks to the fact that a) it’s a beach break and b) it’s super near to the town of Ribeira Grande. But it’s not really built for the learners. Yes there’s trickling whitewash and secondary swell, but the wrap-around rights are high-quality and often hollow. Big NW swell days with a S wind will be the best, offering occasional pits and fast, wedgy drop-ins.
Praia do Monte Verde
With just a touch more exposure to the dominant NW swells, Praia do Monte Verde manages to be Santa Barbara on acid come the midwinter. You can score bombs here when it’s 8-foot+ and big periods but the paddle is going to be mega and you’re looking at some hefty hold downs. The main point is the bit in front of the rock pools, which gives a Hossegor-esque barrel that fizzes right and opens into a bowly last section. Experts only really.
Santa Iria
It’s not easy to get down to the gaping bay at Santa Iria, but there is a path through the farm fields that will take you there. Just be ready to walk an hour or so. The reward is one of the best-protected and longest lefts on the island. A big hunk of a headland will temper the oncoming sets from the NW in the winter and turn into nice peeling shoulders that can go for 20-30-40 seconds. On bigger days, this one can fire off bombs but it’s usually fat and rippable even if the paddle gets gnarly.
Where to stay when surfing in Sao Miguel?
There’s still not loads in the way of surf infrastructure in Sao Miguel. The best way to plan a trip here is to pick a great hotel that at least gets you within good striking distance of either the north or south coasts, rent a car, and explore on your own.
Volcanic Charming House
The Volcanic Charming House is a unique B&B with a super-modern style and a downright gorgeous pool in the grounds. Located on the north shore near Ribeira Grande, it’s perfect for hitting beaches like Santa Barbara.
Pestana Bahia Praia Nature & Beach Resort
The Pestana Bahia Praia Nature & Beach Resort sits on the grassy slopes just above the Agua Alto surf spot (a fun, all-level break that works really well in the summer months (May-June). It’s a cracking hotel that’ll leave you feeling pampered – think two separate pools and suites with balconies overlooking the Atlantic.
Apartamentos 3 Praias
A series of spacious and clean apartments that can host up to four people await at Apartamentos 3 Praias. It’s right in Ponta Delgada, so great for exploring the cultural attractions of Sao Miguel, but also literally steps off of beginner-friendly Milicias Beach.
Surf camps in Sao Miguel?
There’s only one surf camp worthy of note in Sao Miguel if you ask us. It’s a corker, too…
- 8-Day Atlantic Surfcamp Experience on São Miguel Island – Run by experienced surf couple Gianni and Federica, this 8-day camp can be tailored to surfers between beginner and intermediate level. It’s based in a super-cool boutique hotel called Azores Bagus and includes five surf lessons, a surf photography session, equipment, and transport to the chosen surf break each day (the local knowledge really comes in handy there because this is such a changeable island!). Oh yea, and did we mention there’s a dog?
We’ve also got this guide for info on the best surf camps in the whole of Portugal.
Step-by-step guide to planning your sao miguel surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the sao miguel surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp. Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Rent a car. If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Sao Miguel?
Sao Miguel is a true all-year-round surf destination. Different sides of the island will tend to work better at different times of the year. Summer (May to August) can see pretty big S-SE sets roll up from the Southern Hemisphere, giving relatively manageable and fun waves to the beaches around Ponta Delgada. Winter will almost always be bigger and punchier. The swell reverts to the NW channel then, and can be so huge that it’s a simple no-go unless you’re Kai Lenny. The good news is that you can almost always chase a more protected spot on Sao Miguel thanks to the strangely shaped volcanic coast.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
