Surf spot

Praia Santa Barbara (Ribeira Grande)

Forecast conditions and map view for Praia Santa Barbara (Ribeira Grande) in Azores, Eastern group. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Azores, Eastern group
Coordinates: 37.8188, -25.5443

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6
Wave direction	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	W	W	W	NNE	ESE	NNE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	ESE	ESE
Wave period (s)	7.1	7.4	7.4	7.3	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.1	7.4	7	6.8	6.7	6.5	6.5	6.4	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.2	6.1	6.1	6.1	6	6	6	6.2	6.5	6.7	7	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.3	7.3	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.5	5.3	5.6	4.5	4.6	4.5	4.7	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4.9	4.8	4.8
Wave energy (kJ)	49	42	37	38	39	35	35	35	36	30	40	41	39	37	34	31	29	28	28	25	25	23	20	18	16	18	19	23	26	33	37	42	42	42	41	42	26	25	22	22	20	27	23	24	23	24	29	26	26	25	25	24	22	21	19	17
Wind speed (km/h)	6	6.8	5.8	7.6	9.4	9.4	6.3	0.8	4	4.7	2.9	0.8	3.2	3.1	3.4	2.2	2.9	2.4	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.1	3.5	4.3	2.4	2.3	3.3	4.8	5	7.4	11.4	9.7	7.1	7.1	7.7	9.5	14	14	13.8	9.3	10.8	11	11.5	12.8	14.3	12.9	11.6	8.1	6.6	7.5	8.2	9	7.4	12	6.9	7.5
Wind direction	SSECross-off	SSECross-off	SCross-off	SSEOffshore	SCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SSEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SGlassy	SGlassy	SSEGlassy	NNEGlassy	NEGlassy	ENEGlassy	EGlassy	SGlassy	SSEGlassy	NEGlassy	ENEGlassy	NNEGlassy	NNWGlassy	NNEGlassy	NEGlassy	ENEGlassy	ENEGlassy	NGlassy	ENEGlassy	NNECross	NNECross	NNECross	NECross	NECross	NECross	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross	NECross	NECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross	NECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross	NECross	NECross

Praia de Santa Bárbara, on the north coast of Ribeira Grande on São Miguel in the Azores, is one of the best-known surf beaches in the archipelago. It’s an exposed Atlantic beach break with a long stretch of dark volcanic sand, powerful waves, and a rugged backdrop that gives it a dramatic feel.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly a beach break
Exposure: Very open to north and northwest Atlantic swell
Power: Can be strong, fast, and hollow when conditions line up
Consistency: One of the more reliable surf spots in the Azores, especially in autumn and winter
Crowd level: Can get busy because it’s a flagship spot and easy to access

Best conditions

Swell: North to northwest swell
Wind: Light southerly or offshore winds are generally best
Tide: Works across a range of tides, but performance can change a lot depending on sand movement
Season: Best and most consistent from fall through spring, when Atlantic storms are active

What it’s good for

Experienced surfers will find the most out of the spot when it’s solid and well-shaped
On smaller days it can be fun for intermediate surfers
When it’s big, the wave can become heavy and demanding

Hazards / things to know

Strong currents and shifting sandbars
Can become very powerful quickly
Exposure means weather can change fast
Use caution in bigger swell or if you’re unfamiliar with the break

Overall vibe

Praia Santa Bárbara is a classic Azores surf beach: scenic, raw, and often powerful. It’s a great place to see the island’s Atlantic energy at work, and it’s usually one of the first names mentioned when talking about surfing in São Miguel.