Incredibly green scenery, vibrant blue and green volcanic crater lakes
Incredibly green scenery, vibrant blue and green volcanic crater lakes

Azores Surf Camp

26 Apr - 3 May 2024 27 Sep - 4 Oct 2024

Overview

Surf on a secluded pirate island, discover unknown surf spots! Experience an unlikely mix of Iceland, Hawaii and New Zealand in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

DURATION

8 days / 7 nights*

DIFFICULTY

Easy - from total beginners to advanced surfers

MEETING POINT

São Miguel Island Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL)

LOCATION

Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island, Azores

ACCOMMODATION

Private atlantic villa, super cozy rooms with 2-4 beds

PRICE

€ 1 090

*The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at São Miguel Island Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) until the flight home from the same airport.

Description

Azores makes the ideal backdrop for the perfect Instagram post with its volcanic landscapes, fantastically green mountains, and deep blue Atlantic ocean. Nevertheless, it’s still not the kind of place where you’re overwhelmed by tourists and never catch a glimpse of a local.

It’s a surf paradise and a sublime blend of Iceland, Hawaii, and New Zealand. Because Azores isn’t yet on the world map when it comes to surfing and because the locals don’t really surf, we’re often the only ones hitting the waves. In the other half of each day, we’ll hike in the Jurassic Park-esque wilderness, bathe in thermal volcanic lakes, or grill a mouth-watering steak.

Azores is the kind of place where plan B is just as good as plan A.

Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map
Azores map

Surf Spots of São Miguel

Moisteros

A righthand pointbreak on the north side and a left on the south side of the bay. Off the northern headland of Praia dos Mosteiros there is another cruisey righthander.

BEST TIDE

Mid to high tide

SEABED

Uneven Reef

WIND DIRECTION

South Easterly

CHARACTER

Left-hand and Right-hand Pointbreaks

SWELL DIRECTION

SW-W

SWELL RANGE

4-10 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

RABO DE PEIXE

Vertical take-offs, powerful pockets and fast sections can change into easier drops and cutback shoulders.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Boulders

WIND DIRECTION

Southerly

CHARACTER

Left-hand Pointbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

W-NE

SWELL RANGE

6-15 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

SANTA BARBARA

Fast, hollow and bowly beachbreaks. The outer reef is part of an extinct volcano crater rim, causing wedging peaks to come in from different directions.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Sand

WIND DIRECTION

Southerly

CHARACTER

Peaky beachbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

SW-E

SWELL RANGE

2-12 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

SANTA CLARA

Heavy righthand reef off the southern tip of Ponta Delgada. Critical take-offs and high speed barrel sections are part of the challenge for experts only.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven reef

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Right-hand break over submerged reef

SWELL DIRECTION

SE-W

SWELL RANGE

10-30 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

SANTA IRIA

North-facing beachbreak in the Azores. Quality, black sand beachbreak that picks up a huge range of swells.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven Reef

WIND DIRECTION

Southerly

CHARACTER

Left-hand pointbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

W-NE

SWELL RANGE

2-20 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

MONTE VERDE

The only north-facing beachbreak in the Azores. Quality, black sand beachbreak that picks up a huge range of swells.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Sand

WIND DIRECTION

South Easterly

CHARACTER

Peaky beachbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

SW-E

SWELL RANGE

1-10 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

POPULO

Extremely flexible city beachbreak with a massive swell window and many moods.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven reef and sand

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Peaky beachbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

NE-W

SWELL RANGE

1-18 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

SANTA CRUZ

Rocky left in the middle of town that needs a strong, clean S-SW swell. Short, fast and tubular ride over shallow reef.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven reef

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Left-hand break over submerged reef

SWELL DIRECTION

SE-W

SWELL RANGE

3-12 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

AGUA DE ALTO

Another south-facing beachbreak and the second option if Populo is too crowded. Good beginners spot with lots of peaks and plenty of room.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Sand

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Peaky beachbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

NE-W

SWELL RANGE

2-8 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

RIBEIRA QUENTE

Heavy left peeling down side of large jetty construction.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven Reef

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Left off a Pier. Groyne or Jetty

SWELL DIRECTION

NE-W

SWELL RANGE

3-15 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

PONTA GARCA

East of the town of Ponta Garca is a stretch of rocky beaches below cliffs. It's a good place for learners who aren't afraid of a few rocks.

BEST TIDE

All tides

SEABED

Uneven Reef and Sand

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Peaky Beachbreak

SWELL DIRECTION

NE-W

SWELL RANGE

2-10 ft

Surf Spots of São Miguel

VILA FRANCA

Reef peak in the shadow of Ilheu da Vila, but still picks up swell from many directions. Punchy and sucky, with good length of ride.

BEST TIDE

Mid to high tide

SEABED

Uneven reef

WIND DIRECTION

Northerly

CHARACTER

Submerges reef with peaky waves

SWELL DIRECTION

NE-W

SWELL RANGE

3-12 ft

Details

AZORES - SURF BREAK
26 Apr - 3 May 2024 27 Sep - 4 Oct 2024

The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at São Miguel Island Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) until the flight home from the same airport. The flight there and back might take an extra day, depending on where you are travelling from.

€ 1 090

Included in the price

  • 7 nights accommodation with breakfast
  • Daily surf lessons and surf guiding
  • Surfboard and wetsuit rental
  • All transportation and organised activities
  • Airport transfer from and to Ponta Delgada
  • GoBeyond tour guide

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • For an additional fee of € 50, the GoBeyond team can handle your flight tickets and insurance

Further expenses

  • Plane tickets to and from the meeting point – São Miguel Island Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Lunches & dinners

Accommodation

Private atlantic villa in the heart of a small fishing village by the ocean with super cozy and stylish rooms with 2-4 beds.

Surf package

Surf will be instructed by Sergio, our professional local surf coach. Often we are the only surfers in the water, which makes learning much safer and more enjoyable. As we stay on a relatively small island, where basically everything is reachable within a 40 min ride, we can always choose the most suitable spot based on the swell and wind direction, tidal movements and the skill of the group.

Weather

Subtropical oceanic climate 18-25 °C, water temperature 17-23°C. Lots of sunshine with a possibility of rain and windy weather. Mostly shorts and T-shirts but carry a jacket with you.

Group

Maximum of 24 people usually mixed nationalities. Solo travelers, group of friends and couples with varying surfing skills and experience.

Photo & Video

All the photos and videos you see are from our previous camps. We produce high-quality content of all our camps, which you will receive after returning home to remember all the amazing memories.

Personal expenses

Depending on spending habits your budget for the trip should range from 250-500 EUR. For reference, a meal is between 5-25 EUR, entry to thermal bath 8 EUR.

Meals

Fresh and hearty buffet breakfast. Lunches by the sea and gourmet dinners at the best venues of the island, like the local steak house and organic farm restaurant. On some nights we will have a BBQ party on the terrace of our villa.

Surf conditions

Excellent beach breaks and performance quality point breaks, both for beginners and advanced surfers. Due to the location of the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, a great swell is always guaranteed and our local surf guide Sergio will make sure you will be able to enjoy every minute of it. Taking every relevant aspect of the weather into consideration he figures out every morning which is the best spot on the island to ride the waves.

Local transportation

Comfortable minivans for transfers from airport, daily surf sessions and to all sights hiking trips and recreational activities.

Activities & sights

When not on the surfboards we will hike to some amazing peaks and bathe in volcanic thermal lakes, or explore stunning sights. As this wouldn’t be enough already in the rest of our free time we will explore pineapple and tea plantations while tasting some amazing local cuisine.

Travel insurance

You will need an insurance that covers surfing accidents. You can contact us and we are happy to recommend the most suitable one.

Program

DAY 1 - Arrival

Short transfer to the accommodation with our minivans. Welcome get-together at our villa with local wines, cheeses, olives and cuts, while we talk through the rough schedule of the upcoming week.

DAY 2 - First dip

Hearty buffet breakfast at the Volcanic Charming House followed by the first surf theory lesson in the surf school. Everyone gets their board and wetsuit and we form smaller groups based on surfing skills. First surf session on an easy beach break. After a quick lunch we’ll head for a small hike to Lagoa do Fogo and a nice waterfall Salto do Cabrito. Local seafood dinner in Ribeira Grande.

DAY 3 - TEA & BBQ

We’ll head to our 2nd surf session after breakfast. During the afternoon we’ll visit a tea plantation and do some hiking through the bushes. Along the way we’ll admire the most amazing Atlantic view from Santa Iria lookout point. For dinner, we’ll taste the best steaks of Portugal.

DAY 4 - HOT SPRINGS

Our 3rd surf lesson will be video recorded. After the surf we will head to a thermal baths in Jurassic Park-like scenery and relax under warm waterfalls. Being re-energized in the pools we’ll throw a barbeque party in the garden of our villa. As a warm up of the party we’ll analyze the surf footage. Correcting our mistakes together will have a huge positive effect on our surfing progression in the following days.

DAY 5 - Amazing views

Rise and shine! Starting the morning with a surf session at Santa Barbara, followed by breakfast and a hiking trip to Sete Cidades and Monte Palace. For lunch we’ll try the local specialities, next to the volcanic lakes, followed by a visit to a natural volcanic pool of Feteiras. At dinner we’ll sit around one huge table at the island’s most unique family run farm-to-table restaurant.

DAY 6 - Botanical garden bath

After breakfast we’ll go to the beach for our next surf lesson. As a lunch we’ll try the local speciality: Cozido de Furnas cooked by volcanic steam. After the heavy lunch we’ll do a pleasant walk in on of the nicest botanical gardens of Europe, where we’ll be able to dip in another thermal pool. We’ll end the intensive day with a nice community dinner together based on fresh seafood and vegetables.

DAY 7 - FAREWELL SURF

As the whole group has gained significant surf experiences by then, we’ll visit a new, more advanced surf spot.While the brave ones try their skills on the waves, the others will set up a grill station on the beach and prepare lunch while enjoying the view and having some beers. We’ll take the good vibes home for the farewell evening.

DAY 8 - LISBON OR ALGARVE AND GOODBYE

After an early flight the lucky ones will have the opportunity for a quick sightseeing in Lisbon. Or if you wish to extend your surfing holiday, you can head straight to Algarve with us, where we’ll start a surfing retreat on the same day. However, we’ll say goodbye to each other with new friendships and everlasting memories.

The program is subject to change at any times. The final itinerary depends on current weather conditions, swell, tidal movements, the group’s surfing skills and stamina.

Application

1

ENQUIRY
Call us, email us or use the form below

2

AVAILABILITY CONFIRMATION
We will get back to you within 48h

3

BOOKING
Secure your spot with a deposit & travel contract

4

PLANE TICKETS & VISA ARRANGEMENT IF NEEDED
Typically 1-2 months before departure

5

SECOND INSTALMENT
30 days before departure

6

GoBeyond ADVENTURE STARTS
We greet you at the meeting point

Get in touch with us

Phone: +43 660 552 2466 | Email: hello@gobeyond.travel

    GoBeyond needs your contact information to process your request. We will treat your personal data with respect. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out our Privacy Policy.

    Azores Surf Camp
    Play/pause

    Q&A

    Obviously yes, at least half of the group always consists of beginners. We have found perfect conditions for beginners each year, and with the help of the professional instructors, you will be able to learn the basics very effectively.

    Subtropical oceanic climate 18-25 °C, water temperature 17-23°C. Lots of sunshine with a possibility of rain and windy weather. Mostly shorts and T-shirts but also bring some warm clothes, long pants and shoes for hiking and a raincoat or jacket.

    A BTS tour guide and professional local instructors with many years of experience.

    The Azores is every surfers paradise 360 degree swell window with more than a dozen of amazing surf spots with often empty lineups. Our surf guide Sergio will take us to the ideal spots with the best conditions every day. His main job is coaching professional surfers so we are sure he can help with improvement regardless of your level.

    When not on the surfboards we will hike to some amazing peaks and bathe in volcanic thermal lakes, or explore stunning sights. As this wouldn't be enough already in the rest of our free time we will explore pineapple and tea plantations while tasting some amazing local cuisine.

    Private atlantic villa in the heart of a small fishing village by the ocean with super cozy and stylish rooms with 2-4 beds.

    Not at all. There are always people who come alone, so you can be sure that you’ll make new friends!

    It really depends on spending habits. We recommend a budget range of 250-500 EUR. For reference, a meal is between 5-25 EUR, entry to thermal baths is approx. 8 EUR. Azores is tax free so local foods and souvenirs are cheaper than western european prices.

    The local currency is euro. There are plenty of exchange offices at the airport and also several ATMS close to our accommodation or in Ponta Delgada. You can pay by card almost everywhere we go.

    Azores is a part of Portugal so most nationalities don’t need a Visa.

    Delicious local cuisine with fresh and healthy ingredients, local steaks, tea, wine and cheese.

    Check more surf trips

    The natural and cultural scenery of a destination are just as important to us as quality and uncrowded waves. Even when scoring two sessions a day, we still have enough time to explore the surrounding area.

    And we are not afraid to #gobeyond when it comes to having a rad time - even if it means taking that third transfer with a propeller plane or paddling in chilly water.

    Whether you’re a rookie or a pro, feel free to join one of our surf camps.

    See all

    I'm
    interested