Paul do Mar

Paul do Mar is a traditional fishing village on the south-west coast of Madeira, sunny and warm for most of the year. Until the middle of the 20th century it could only be reached by boat. Today a seafront road runs along the village, and the main line-up sits off its southern end.

The wave

A right-hand reef break that, on a solid swell, throws hollow, almost perfectly cylindrical waves. It needs size to work, roughly 2 to 3 metres, and is quite reliable in the right season. At the north end of the village a separate point, Ponta Paul, only wakes up on much bigger swells.

Who it is for

Advanced and expert surfers only. The reef is shallow and rocky, getting in and out over the rocks is hard, and there are no lifeguards. Even when it is good it is rarely crowded, which also means nobody is watching.

When

NW swell with a NE wind, which blows offshore here. Mid to high tide is usually the window. Autumn and winter bring the swell. Jardim do Mar, a few kilometres along the coast, is the other classic right in the area.