Ponta Ruiva

Vila do Bispo · Algarve · Portugal

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Ponta Ruiva (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/ponta-ruiva.

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Ponta Ruiva is a remote cove north of Sagres, reached by a long, rough dirt track. The cove opens to the north-west beside a rocky point, and waves break over flat rock and sand, with a long left as the main attraction. It is one of the quietest spots on this coast.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard.

When it works

✓ A 1.5–3 m west to north-west swell with an east to south-east wind; it works on all tides.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore winds, and small swells.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • localism

Best months

September, October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

The track is very bad; a high car helps and a low rental car may not make it. Respect the few locals.

Getting there

From the road to Beliche, turn right onto a sandy track and follow it for a long way; ask locals if unsure.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly consistent, with its best season in autumn.
Crowd and vibe
Empty on weekdays, a few surfers at weekends. Guides mention some localism.
Camping and vans
Orbitur Sagres is about 5 km away by road. The west coast and the Sagres area lie in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, where motorhome overnight parking is banned outside campsites and authorised areas.
Facilities
None.
Water quality
Not an official bathing-water site, so there is no rating.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NW best, WSW–NNW works
Size
1.5–3 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 4 m
Period
10 s minimum, best from 13 s
Wind
Offshore E–SSE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
WNW (300°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Algarve · All spots

Sources