Surfing in the Azores brings on some heavy, slabbu bombs out in the Atlantic, but there are also volcanic reefs and point breaks galore, along with black-sand beaches that can be okay for learners. We actually think there’s some scope for this as an off-beat beginner location in Portugal, especially with more and more surf camps popping up on the islands. Surf or not, though, it promises to be a real adventure!
An introduction to surfing in the Azores
The Azores are a part of Portugal that don’t really get noticed by surfers.
But then why would you jet across more than 840 miles of ocean to score waves when you’ve got the likes of Peniche and Ericeira right on the doorstep? Answer: To get the water to yourself. Crowds in these parts are nothing like they are back on the mainland. Plus, the waves are pretty nice when you catch em’ right.
The spots most people chase are the slabby point and reef breaks that beckon largely on the northern side of the various islands. They’re fired up with strong winter N-NW swell systems off the upper Atlantic and are kept regular thanks to the long volcanic reef shelves that fringe Terceira and Sao Miguel especially. These are not to be sniffed at – we’re talking pounding bombs with big rips for the most part.
Punctuating those are a couple of upcoming beach breaks that are suited to beginners, with a handful of very nice surf schools to match, although summer in the Azores is probably better if you’re a learner surfer.
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!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Portugal
Azores surf at glance
The good…
- Loads of swell, all seasons
- The slabs. The epic slabs
- Breaks that aren’t busy
The bad…
- Localism is getting worse every year
- Hard-to-access breaks for the most part
- It rains a lot
What’s in this guide to surfing in the Azores?
Where are the Azores?
Far away. That’s where!
Yep, the Azores are isolated just under 900 miles from the European coastline and more than 2,600 miles from the Eastern Seaboard of the USA.
The islands themselves cover over 300 miles of the ocean, going from Sao Pedro in the southeast to Corvo in the northwest.
The good news is that the archipelago nation is now fantastically well linked to Europe, especially Portugal itself. These days, you can hop on low-cost flights from London and be there in just over four hours. There are also many more connections from Lisbon and Porto. More on how to get there just below…
How to get to the Azores?
You gotta’ fly. Simple as that.
There are three main airports here. Each of them is served by a growing mix of flights from Europe and North America. The most popular and the busiest one is in the city of Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. Almost all the low-cost connections from Europe go there – easyJet and Ryanair among them. That means it’s likely to be the cheapest place to jet over to.
Horta Airport on the island of Faial also has some international links, though it’s not the best for surfers becuase it lacks consistent swell and good wave setups. Much more of interest is the airport in Lajes Airport in Terceira. It’s got relatively new low-cost links to Porto and Lisbon, plus connections to Boston and Toronto.
We think Skyscanner offers the best comparison for the various airlines and arrival points for air travel to the Azores. Search away below…
Should I rent a car to surf in the Azores?
Yes.
A car is pretty much neccessary on these islands, whichever you pick. It’s just that the swells change so much and the winds shift this way and that so often, that you’ll need to move around to get the right conditions on given days.
More than that, there’s adventure to be had in these parts and you won’t be able to have it unless you have your own ride. It’s a joy to drive between the lush mountains of Sao Miguel and along the sheer-cut cliffs of Terceira on the hunt for your next point break or whatever. It’s something public transport wouldn’t be able to offer.
The only times when we wouldn’t reccomend renting is if you’re a complete beginner and just want to do one or two hours of surfing. That’s better done with planned lessons and excurions. A car also isn’t neccessary if you’re booked into a surf camp in the Azores (more on those below).
We use CarRentals.com for all our hires in Europe. It’s the cheapest we’ve found and they have pretty generous cancellation options for most companies. You can search below…
Azores surf spots
There are nine separate islands in the Azores. As you can imagine, that means LOADS of surf breaks. For the purpose of this guide, we’ve separated the whole lot into their various islands and prepped individual guides to the places that we think really deserve it. Let’s begin…
Sao Miguel
We’d say that Sao Miguel has the most consistent and high-quality breaks of any in the Azores chain. There are surfers who’d surely disagree with that – most notably the local rippers of Sao Jorge. However, we think it’s fair, mainly because you get a good variety here. There are frothing points over black-rock reefs, but there are also open beach breaks that provide ample space for beginners. It’s not for nothing that this is the home of the best-rated surf camps in the Azores.
We’ve actually got a complete standalone guide to the breaks on Sao Miguel but here’s a brief overview to whet the appetite:
- Mosteiros – Famous for its massive sea stacks, the bay at Mosteiros has a heavy right point at its north end but also a few peaks over a cobblestone-sand mix for improvers. On head-high swells with a E offshore, the A-frames in the center of the bay here can be divine!
- Rabo de Peixe – The shape of the cliffs here makes Rabo de Peixe to like a sort of mini Uluwat, only WAY colder. Oh yea, and then there are the closeouts, the favorite of this left point that really needs NE in the swell direction to work okay.
- Areais de Santa Bárbara – Also known as Santa Barbara, this is one of the most popular beaches on the whole of Sao Miguel. It gets heavy beach break sets in the winter months on head-on N swells but the can spread out to offer peak after peak after peak that’s good for all levels. The best spots are spinning barrels that now have international comp pedigree.
- Monte Verde – Lovely A-frames over the sandbanks form here. They’re like Hossegor when they fire off and properly beef up in winter.
We have a complete guide to surfing in Sao Miguel. Check it our right here.
Terceira island
Bean-shaped Terceira is one of the northernmost of the central group of Azores. That should pique the interest of surfers, since it means you get steady streams of uninterrupted swell from the top of the Atlantic Ocean. On the whole, the place is set up for the chargers. It’s known for its heavy slabs and sucky tube spots, most of which break over unforgiving reefs.
Quatro Ribeiras
Quatro Ribeiras is a gnarly A-frame off the rocks directly north on the island. It hoovers up swell and needs all it can get to start working. When that happens, it’s a real beast to behold, spitting out drop ins onto a long left shoulder that’s hollow and mean.
Vila Nova
An out-at-sea reef a stone’s throw from the shore acts like a mini Nazare to channel the N swells and spit out bombs at Vila Nova. The left is basically unmanageable but te right can be good, especially if there’s lots of W int eh swell compass.
Praia da Vitoria
The Praia da Vitoria bay is probably better known as a world-class kitesurfing destination but it’s got two waves that come into their own as the summer trades drop out and the big NW winter swells kick in. Both are left hand wedges that start on the piers of the harbor. They’re rippable and fun but almost always crowded. The reason for that? The access is some of the easiest you’ll get anywhere in the Azores.
Santa Catarina
This is the star of the show on Terceira. It’s a wave that we think gets hardly anywhere near enough the plaudits it deserves. Enough to rival Hawaii’s Pipe or Lanza’s La Santa on its day, it’s a freakishly quick drop into an instant barrel that you’ll skim across some of the shallowest reef you’ve ever seen. It’s not for nothing that the line up is usually 50/50 split between tray riders and surfers. Experts only here.
Sao Jorge island
Sao Jorge island is a pretty amazing island to look at. Long and thin, it’s beset by huge, almost sheer-cut cliffs on its southern and northern coasts. The latter is the region that hosts the surf breaks, which can often be tricky prospects – you try finding the nearest fishing cove to paddle out at for some of these! A long north coast does mean some excellent exposure to those consistent winter N swells, though, making this one of the most reliable destinations in the region.
Faja dos Cubres
Faja dos Cubres is a great left wave that hollows out super fast to offer sometimes immediate barrel sections. The take-off is not beginner friendly. You’ll need to prowl the point on pretty shallow rocks. Low tide peels it back further to give a better wave but it can be unbearably shallow. We prefer waiting for a mid push, although the window is admittedly small.
Faja do Belo
A solid Sao Jorge left that wouldn’t look out of place in the Ments were it 30 degrees and there were coconut palms on the shoreline, Faja do Belo is fantastic when it works. For that to happen you need lots of action in the N swell channel and a decent SW offshore won’t hurt. This is a hard, sectiony wave that often hollows out to give some of the best tubes in this corner of the Azores.
Direita do Passe
There are loads of small lefts and much-longer rights that form up on the rock reefs at Direita do Passe. On direct northwest swells they will close but wrap-around northeast swells can work wonders, with peeling shoulders coming off the cobblestone-rock point for over 100 meters or more. Don’t both if the tide is full, let it drop. Better yet, catch it on the push for the best power.
Ermida de Santo Cristo
We’d actually rate Ermida de Santo Cristo as one of the most beginner-friendly locations on Sao Jorge island. You’ll need to be comfortable surfing points on cobblestone, but the shape of the land here means that the N swells curve neatly into long lefts that are fun on mid-sized days. When it’s bigger, it’s much harder, and you’ll need to paddle hard to avoid shifting away from the take-off zone and around the headland to Direita do Passe.
Vimes
The most consistent surf spot on the southern shore of Sao Jorge is surely Vimes. It works on good S swells, which can sometimes creep up this way when the Azores high shifts westward to Bermuda for the summer. As that happens, nice left wedges can shape up on the cobbles to give excellent intermediate performance rides.
The best stays for surfers in the Azores
What you want when it comes to booking your trip to go surfing in the Azores is a hotel that gets you nice and close to the main beaches on the north coast of one of the better surf islands. We won’t beat around the bush – you’re likely to need your own wheels to reach the breaks anyhow. There aren’t many stays within walking distance of the swell. These are some of the top accommodation choices that we can pick out…
- Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort – This awesome hotel is perched on the cliffs just above arguably the finest break on Sao Miguel – Santa Barbara, which is where WSL comps have recently been held. You should have barrels fizzing on the reefs below, while you enjoy a jaw-dropping infinity pool and rooms of sheer class – think polished concrete and Scandi-sleek design.
- Caldeira Guesthouse – A stay at the Caldeira Guesthouse is an truly fantastic experience. The lodge is built like a Scottish bothy. It sits beneath the verdant cliffs on a bed of cobblestone, literally steps from the best breaks on Sao Jorge (one big right and one set of hotdogging lefts). They offer on-site board rentals and cheap dorm rooms. There’s even a dog to welcome you back after a session.
- Surf & Guest Lorena’s House – Surf & Guest Lorena´s House also sits on the shore by Santa Barbara in Sao Miguel. More affordable than the eco resort, it’s a down-to-earth surfer’s stay with just a few rooms. The main plus is the warm local welcome but we can’t overstate how good the walking access to the waves is – it’s a 6-min stroll down the road.
Surf camps in the Azores
Right now, there’s just one camp that we know of offering package surf trips to the Azores. But that one camp is fricken awesome. Cue Azores Bagus. They have a homey villa with its own leafy garden and on-site cafe less than 10 minutes from the airport in Ponta Delgada.
Thier flagship offering is an 8-Day Atlantic Surfcamp Experience that we’d say is one of the finest alternatives to a mainland Portuguese trip. It’s got 5x surf lessons that last at least 2 hours each, all under the guidance of ISA-qualified instructors. They include transfers to and from the breaks each day, which is fantastic because it means there’s no need to rent your own car. And they can cater to all levels, from total beginner to advanced.
On top of all that, they de-hassle the whole shebang by picking you up at the airport when you arrive and then dropping you off at the end. Breakfast and beds are also included.
For info on more surf camps in Portugal check out this guide to what we think are the hottest places offering surf packages in the whole country and the Azores right now. Or you can just search below for surf camps all over Europe and beyond…
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Want more [yoast_kw] camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…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: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): 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 Azores?
Really it’s those north-channel swells that make the Azores such a doozy for surfers. They turn on in earnest in the winter months between November and March.
However, most locals will tell you that the shoulder seasons of fall and spring are the best times, because too much swell can often be a worse problem than no swell in these parts, if – like us – you’re not into chasing nuclear warheads, that is.
The summer still has waves. The peak travel season, it’s a little busier on the beaches but there can be rare hits of S swell as the Azores High moves off. That will power up the few south-coast breaks of Terceira and Sao Jorge, while converting the bigger waves of the north into more beginner-friendly prospects.
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!
