Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Also within 20 km of São Vicente
- São Vicente Surf spot · 0.7 km from São Vicente
- Faja da Areia Surf spot · 2.3 km from São Vicente
- Contreira Surf spot · 9.7 km from São Vicente
- Ribeira da Janela Surf spot · 11.2 km from São Vicente
- Porto Moniz Surf spot · 13.3 km from São Vicente
- Madalena do mar Surf spot · 14 km from São Vicente
- Achadas da Cruz Surf spot · 16.2 km from São Vicente
- Cabo Girão Surf spot · 16.9 km from São Vicente
Watch this spot We email you when Ponta Delgada is worth the trip.
About Ponta Delgada
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (3°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (183°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 100 m out (1 in 9). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 18°C in March, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 24°C in September, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually June and July, with about 3 good days in 7; in February and March, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is São Vicente, 6.2 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 23°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 17 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to FNC, changing at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). About 4 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → FNC · Skyscanner from about £385 returnAdGetting there. 45 min from the airport to Ponta Delgada.
Accommodation.
Stay in São VicenteAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in São Vicente (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
São Vicente 11 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 20 places to stay · where Ponta Delgada stays
Places to stay in São Vicente · Booking.com AdFaial 22 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 5 places to stay
Places to stay in Faial · Booking.com AdPorto da Cruz 27 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 6 places to stay
Places to stay in Porto da Cruz · Booking.com AdPorto Moniz 32 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 16 places to stay
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Places to stay in Funchal · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in São Vicente · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in São Vicente · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Ponta Delgada on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 34, poor | 4 ft10 shollow | 302kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 6 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft8 shollow | 883kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 15°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 23, poor | 5 ft7 shollow | 245kJ | wind from the north-east, 4 knots | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 43, fair | 4 ft6 shollow | 74kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots | 15°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 48, good | 5 ft9 shollow | 326kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 34, poor | 5 ft9 shollow | 413kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 16°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 33, poor | 5 ft8 shollow | 368kJ | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 16°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 46, fair | 5 ft10 shollow | 396kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 62, good | 4 ft10 shollow | 308kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 57, good | 4 ft10 shollow | 299kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 17°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to FNC, changing at LIS, then 45 min by road. About 17h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Ponta Delgada
Best 19:00 to 22:00 local time: 5 ft at 7 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Ponta Delgada
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 6 kn (10 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Faja da Areia
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 5 ft at 9 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Ponta Delgada
Best 19:00 to 22:00 local time: 5 ft at 9 s, wind 5 kn (9 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Ponta Delgada
Best 19:00 to 22:00 local time: 5 ft at 8 s, wind 5 kn (9 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to FNC, changing at LIS, then 45 min by road. About 17h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near São Vicente each day: Faja da Areia, Ponta Delgada, São Vicente.
Rough cost
About £840–£1,595 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to FNC, estimated from distance and season, changing at LIS, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £385–£805 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £40–£65 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £160–£265 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £150–£280 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£115 |
| Total | £840–£1,595 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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