Surfing Terceira

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-5 ft · Crowd 2/5

Small-mod swell, high tide

Praia da Vitória is the long town beach on Terceira's east coast and the easiest wave on the island. It's an open beach break with plenty of room.

Most of Terceira's other spots break over sharp volcanic reef, so the sand here is much more forgiving and a good place to start. The banks change, so check a few sections before paddling out. Small to medium swells are easiest.

It's the place to learn on Terceira, with surf schools and an easy beach. The town has restaurants, places to stay and a long promenade, and the airport is a few minutes away.

Right Reef · Best Oct-Apr · 4-15 ft · Crowd 1/5

Big W-N swell

Santa Catarina is an offshore reef on Terceira that bends and focuses the swell into thick, fast, hollow rights. It's one of the heaviest waves in the Azores.

It only works on a solid swell. The takeoff zone is small, the rocks around it are very sharp and it's a long way from help. A small crew of local surfers rides it. It's for experts only, and you should watch it with someone who knows it before thinking about paddling out.

On other days, the beach at Praia da Vitória is where most people surf on Terceira.

Right Reef · Best Oct-Apr · 4-14 ft · Crowd 1/5

N swell, S offshore wind, high tide

Vila Nova is a reef off the village of the same name on the north coast of Terceira. On a north swell with a south wind, which is offshore here, it throws thick, fast rights, and it's usually bigger than it looks from the shore.

It's one of several heavy reefs on this side of the island, all of them for experienced surfers. The local crew is small and knows the wave well, so watch first and wait your turn.

Praia da Vitória, on the east coast, is the easier option on most days.

Left Point · Best Oct-Apr · 3-10 ft · Crowd 1/5

Well-aligned NW-N swell

Quatro Ribeiras is a long left point on the north coast of Terceira, in the Azores, breaking over reef next to deep water. It needs a well-aligned north-west to north swell, and when it lines up it runs fast and hard.

It's a powerful wave for advanced surfers, with few people around.

It only lines up on a well-aligned north-west or north swell, a few times each winter. The rocks and deep water make it a serious wave. On smaller days, Porto Martins and Praia da Vitória are the places to surf.

Left & Right Point · Best Oct-Apr · 2-7 ft · Crowd 1/5

N-NE swell, W offshore wind, high tide

Porto Martins is a small village on the east coast of Terceira, in the Azores, with a sheltered point in front of it that has lefts and rights over reef. It's fairly consistent and much easier than the heavy reefs elsewhere on the island.

It works on a north to north-east swell around high tide, with a west wind offshore, and suits intermediate surfers. The village is quiet, away from the visitors in Angra do Heroísmo.

The village has a natural swimming pool in the rocks, and Praia da Vitória is a few minutes north.