Ponta Delgada (Madeira)

São Vicente · Madeira · Portugal

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Ponta Delgada is a small village on Madeira's north coast with a long, powerful left over flat rock. It runs for more than 200 m and can reach several metres. In the 1990s it was seen as the island's best big wave. A seawall and a sea pool built in 2003–04 damaged it, and it now only works at low tide in a swell above 2 m.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Lefts
Crowd
Some company
Season
winter, autumn
Boards
A shortboard or step-up.

When it works

✓ A north-west swell of 2–3.5 m at low tide, with a south to south-west wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Mid to high tide since the seawall was built, and swells under 2 m.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • currents

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

Less experienced surfers can ride the inside sections. Wear booties for the sea urchins. Wannasurf also mentions a right on the same reef.

Getting there

Park in the village and walk down to the seafront.

History

Surfmarket says this left helped put Madeira on the international surf map in the 1990s, before works in 2003–04 hurt it.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly consistent in winter, but since the works it needs over 2 m of swell and low tide.
Crowd and vibe
Usually 10–20 surfers or fewer, busier at weekends. It is often possible to surf good waves with few people.
Camping and vans
The nearest campsite is the Parque de Campismo do Porto Moniz in the Ribeira da Janela valley, about 18 km west; it reopened in 2026 after repairs. Nearest campsite about 18 km away.
Facilities
Cafés and a sea pool in the village.
Water quality
Ponta Delgada was rated excellent in the EU bathing-water assessment (EEA data from APA and the regional government) for the last three seasons.

Ideal conditions

Swell
NW–N best, WNW–NNE works
Size
2–3.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.6 m, holds to 4.5 m
Period
11 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore SSE–WSW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
low best, avoid high
Faces
NNE (20°)

Live cam

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Madeira · All spots

Sources