Surf in Madeira, at the right spot for the day
We read the swell and the wind with you, drive you to the beach that works that day, and wait while you're in the water. Lessons are given by an authorised surf school.
€160 per car for 1 to 4 people, €220 for 5 or 6, for a lesson day of about 5 hours. The lesson is paid to the school.
- Up to 6 surfers in one car
- 28 km Funchal to Porto da Cruz
- Schools teach the lessons
Your driver speaks EnglishPortuguêsРусский
Surf day prices, per car
| Route | Time | Price per car, 1–4 people | Price per car, 5–6 people | Status | Book |
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| Surf lesson day at Porto da Cruz Private tour | 5 h | €160 | €220 | On request | Book: Surf lesson day at Porto da Cruz |
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Private tour
Surf lesson day at Porto da Cruz
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| Your own route, full day Your own route | 8 h | €220night €253 | €280night €322 | On request | Book: Your own route, full day |
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Your own route
Your own route, full day
All details
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| Windsurf or wingfoilAsk us | Ask | On request | Ask: Windsurf or wingfoil | ||
The school's lesson, board and wetsuit are paid to the school: a group lesson costs about €50 to €75 a person, a private one €100 to €150. Pickup is included in Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico, Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava.
Prices checked on 25 September 2026. Every price is per car, in euro, for the whole group.
Where the waves are
The north coast takes the Atlantic swell, and the south coast is often flat. Winter brings the big north-west swells for experts, spring and autumn suit most surfers, and summer waves are small and good for beginners.
Porto da Cruz, Alagoa and Maiata. Black-sand beach breaks for beginners and intermediates, 28 km from Funchal, best at low to mid tide. The surf schools meet at the Alagoa car park, all year.
Machico, São Roque beach. A beach break for beginners and intermediates, 21 km from Funchal, best in a north-east swell. Busy at weekends.
Seixal. A sheltered black-sand beach on the north coast, 41 km out, one of the gentlest places to learn. It pairs with the Porto Moniz pools.
São Vicente. A reef peak for intermediate and advanced surfers, at low tide. Watch for sea urchins.
Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar. Right-hand point breaks over rock, for experts only, best in a winter north-west swell.
Windsurf and wing. Funchal, Caniço, Santa Cruz, Machico and Caniçal are the windsurf spots. Wingfoil launches from harbours; kitesurfing is hard on the island's small, rocky beaches.
How a lesson day runs
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Before the lesson
Pickup at your hotel
At a hotel your driver waits at the main entrance, and for a holiday rental in a narrow street we send a map pin the evening before for the nearest point where the car can stop.
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About 40 min
Porto da Cruz or Machico
Your driver drops you at the school's meeting point by the beach.
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2 to 2.5 hours
The lesson
With an authorised surf school, board and wetsuit included. Your driver waits nearby with your bags.
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After the lesson
Lunch in Porto da Cruz Optional
The rum distillery by the beach, Engenhos do Norte, is a short walk away.
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About 5 hours after pickup
Back at your hotel
Fresh water to rinse, and covers on the seats.
The rules in the water
- Only authorised schools teach. Lessons run with coaches accredited by the Portuguese Surf Federation, inside the marked corridors at Alagoa, Maiata, São Roque, Seixal and Baía dos Juncos, and one coach takes at most 6 students. Your driver drives and doesn't teach.
- Daylight only. Surfing is allowed from sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset.
- Warnings. On an orange rough-sea warning nobody surfs. We move your date or you choose another tour.
- Flags. A red flag means nobody goes in; surfers keep out of the areas marked for bathers.
- Insurance. The school runs the lesson under its own mandatory insurance. We recommend travel insurance that covers the activities you book with us.
Surf questions
Is Madeira good for beginners?
Yes, at the sheltered beach breaks: Porto da Cruz, Machico and Seixal, with an authorised surf school. The famous point breaks at Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar are for experts only.
What does a surf lesson cost in Madeira?
About €50 to €75 a person in a group and €100 to €150 private, board and wetsuit included, paid to the school. Our car for the lesson day is €160 for 1 to 4 people.
When is the best season?
Winter for big north-west swells and experts, spring and autumn for most surfers, and summer for beginners, when the waves are small.
Can we windsurf too?
Yes, on a windy day at Funchal, Caniço, Machico or Caniçal. Tell us your level and we find a school or rental that fits.
Tell us your level and your dates.
We reply within 60 minutes, 07:00–22:00 with the spot, the pickup time and the price for the car. Booking is on request, and we confirm your date in that reply.
Surf lesson day at Porto da Cruz €160 per car for 1 to 4 people, €220 for 5 or 6