Monte Verde

Ribeira Grande · Azores · Portugal

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Monte Verde is the black-sand town beach of Ribeira Grande, east of Santa Bárbara. Surfmarket splits it into four zones: long rights by the rock pools at the east end, fun peaks in front of the car park, sandbank peaks in the middle, and long lefts at Espinafres on the west side. Surf Atlas says the right by the pools turns into a barrel for experts on big north-west swells.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring, summer
Boards
Any board: a foam board or longboard in small surf, a shortboard when the banks are good.

When it works

✓ A north to north-west swell of 1–2 m with a south or south-east wind, around mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore north winds, and winter storms that move the sandbanks around.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents
  • rocks

Best months

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

Local tips

Pick the zone for your level: the middle and car-park peaks are the friendliest, the right by the pools gets heavy when it is big. Watch for currents in winter.

Getting there

In Ribeira Grande town, reached by road; parking right behind the beach.

Travel notes

How often it works
Waves through most of the year; the sandbanks are best outside the winter storms.
Crowd and vibe
More than 40 surfers on good days, according to Surfmarket. Busy but relaxed.
Camping and vans
We found no listed campsite close to this spot; ask the tourist office in Ponta Delgada or the parish council (junta de freguesia) about camping parks before you go.
Facilities
Parking and showers; cafés and shops in Ribeira Grande. Kite and windsurfers use it in north-east or north-west winds.
Water quality
Poças da Ribeira Grande, the monitored bathing site at the east end of the beach, was rated excellent in the EU bathing-water assessment for the last three seasons (EEA data from the Azores regional government).

Ideal conditions

Swell
NNW–NNE best, WNW–ENE works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore SSE–SSW; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
NNW (340°)

Live cam

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

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Azores · All spots

Sources