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Praia Santa Barbara (Ribeira Grande) 79.8

#1904 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Azores · near Ponta Delgada

Works almost every day, no off season, real size comes through.

Works all yearBig waveIntermediate
Surf score79.8 /100
Surfable days95% of the year
Clean days24% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell43% period 11 s+
Typical size1.7 m 5.5 ft median
Water19°C a 3/2 wetsuit

Best time to surf Praia Santa Barbara (Ribeira Grande)

The best time to surf Praia Santa Barbara (Ribeira Grande) is January, March, November. The season runs Jan to Jan. In November the water sits around 19°C, so pack a 3/2 wetsuit, and the typical wave is 2.3 m. The nearest airport is PDL (16 km) and the nearest town is Ponta Delgada (13 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan99%45%2.1 m16°C3/2
Feb96%24%2.5 m16°C4/3
Mar94%45%2.2 m16°C4/3
Apr92%25%2.0 m16°C4/3
May95%15%1.4 m17°C3/2
Jun91%8%1.2 m20°C2mm
Jul94%2%1.0 m22°C2mm
Aug94%3%1.0 m24°Cvest
Sep99%14%1.4 m23°Cvest
Oct95%30%2.0 m22°Cvest
Nov95%52%2.3 m19°C3/2
Dec93%38%2.5 m17°C3/2

Why 79.8

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
14.2
Groundswell 12%
8.4
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
5.0
Water comfort 10%
4.2
Access 10%
9.9

The detail

Faces 340° with 33% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 56% of days. Mean peak period 10.9 s. Days over 3 m: 14%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 26%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 37.819, -25.544 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Areias🇵🇹 Portugal · score 80.0Praia Santana🇵🇹 Portugal · score 80.6Rabo de Peixe🇵🇹 Portugal · score 81.6Santa Iria🇵🇹 Portugal · score 81.1
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