Surf season
When to surf Praia de Santa Bárbara
Azores, Portugal
A punchy beach break.
Sep–Feb
Best months
When it is most consistent
3–4 ft
Typical face
Median day in season
55%
Surfable days
In season
PDL
Nearest airport
Where we price the trip from
Month by month
Median conditions per calendar month, from years of hindcast at this break. The bar is how good the month is relative to this spot's own best month, so a fickle beach break is measured against itself and not against Pipeline.
| Month | Relative quality | Typical face | Surfable days | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 ft | 54% | Peak | |
| Feb | 4 ft | 58% | Peak | |
| Mar | 4 ft | 45% | Shoulder | |
| Apr | 4 ft | 49% | Shoulder | |
| May | 3 ft | 49% | Shoulder | |
| Jun | 2 ft | 43% | Shoulder | |
| Jul | 2 ft | 39% | Shoulder | |
| Aug | 2 ft | 38% | Shoulder | |
| Sep | 3 ft | 51% | Peak | |
| Oct | 3 ft | 55% | Peak | |
| Nov | 4 ft | 62% | Peak | |
| Dec | 4 ft | 52% | Peak |
What it is like
- What makes it work
- Black-sand QS venue on São Miguel's north shore; the Azores' most consistent beach break.
- Sweet spot
- 4 ft faces
- Tide
- Best on a mid tide
- Nearest airport
- PDL
Getting there
Out of NYC we have seen round trips from $760 in season. Fares move, so the app watches them and tells you when one lines up with real swell here.
Other breaks in Portugal
We watch Praia de Santa Bárbara so you do not have to
BarrelFare checks the surf forecast and live airfare together, and tells you when a cheap flight lands on a good swell here.
Get the appMonths above are medians from years of hindcast, not a forecast. A median tells you when to plan a trip. It does not promise waves on a given day.