Surf spot

Martinhal

Forecast conditions and map view for Martinhal in Portugal, Algarve. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Portugal, Algarve
Coordinates: 37.0194, -8.9256

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	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.8	1	1.1	1	1.2	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	0.9	1	0.9	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.4	0.5	0.9	1.3	1.7	1	1.1	1.8	1.9	2.1	2.1	2.1	2.1	2.1	2	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.7
Wave direction	NNW	NNW	NNW	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	SE	NW	NNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW
Wave period (s)	5.2	5	4.6	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.1	5.2	5.2	5.5	5.4	5.7	6	5.4	5.3	5.3	8.2	8.2	8	7.9	7.5	5	7.7	8.4	7.5	7	7.5	7.3	8.2	7.8	8	7.5	7	7	6.9	7.2	8.9	9.1	8	7.7	7.5	7.5	7.4	7.6	7.7	7.8	7.8	7.7	7.5	7.3	7.5	7.3	7.1	7.2	7.2	6.8
Wave energy (kJ)	26	22	18	29	36	38	32	27	32	37	56	72	78	81	72	62	133	138	133	120	94	49	92	58	73	65	58	40	31	46	40	20	28	76	151	282	148	205	415	441	506	493	474	500	513	503	449	401	360	345	321	301	285	255	246	276
Wind speed (km/h)	10.3	5	3.6	1.8	1.5	4.7	5.5	8.4	6.8	18.9	15.3	14.5	8.3	6.7	10.3	11.7	8.9	12.6	9.5	4.7	3.4	11.8	14.4	12.4	11.3	12.8	11.5	13.8	25.9	31.3	32.9	33.6	36.9	37.1	37.1	37.8	36.7	33.8	28.7	29.8	29.3	24.1	15.5	15.8	23	28.8	18.9	18.4	10.2	6.5	5.8	3.3	4.7	7.9	19.1	16
Wind direction	NNECross-off	NNECross-off	EGlassy	NEGlassy	NEGlassy	WSWGlassy	NOffshore	NNECross-off	ENECross	ESECross-on	ECross-on	ECross-on	ECross-on	ENECross	NECross-off	NNECross-off	NECross-off	ECross-on	ECross	NGlassy	NNWGlassy	NWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWBlown out	NNWBlown out	NNWBlown out	NNWBlown out	NNWBlown out	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NCross-off	NECross-off	ENECross	EGlassy	ESEGlassy	WNWCross-off	NNWOffshore	NOffshore

Martinhal is a popular surf spot in the Algarve, near Sagres in Portugal’s southwestern corner. It’s a sheltered bay with a sandy beach and a scenic setting, making it a good-looking and fairly user-friendly wave compared with some of the more exposed Atlantic breaks nearby.

What it’s like

Wave type: Mostly a beach break, with waves breaking over sand.
Conditions: Works best with the right swell and wind direction; can be quite inconsistent, but when it’s on, it offers fun and manageable waves.
Skill level: Often suitable for beginners to intermediates, especially on smaller days. Bigger swells can make it more challenging.
Shelter: The bay can offer a bit more protection than fully open-ocean spots, depending on the swell angle.

Best for

Surf lessons and first-time surfers
Longboarding or relaxed session surfing on smaller days
Intermediate surfers looking for a mellow, scenic wave

Things to know

Crowds: Can get busy, especially in peak season and when conditions are good.
Sandbars: Because it’s a beach break, the peaks can shift with tides and sand movement.
Hazards: Watch for rip currents and changing conditions, especially when the swell picks up.

Setting

Martinhal sits in a beautiful area near Sagres, with cliffs and open Atlantic scenery typical of the Algarve’s west coast. It’s a great place to combine surfing with a beach day and nearby surf culture.