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You'll join a friendly group surf lesson on Madeira's north-east coast, learning to ride Atlantic waves with patient coaching and all the kit you need for the session. Whether you are standing up for the first time or building confidence in the water, your instructor keeps the pace right for the group on the day.
Your session starts on the beach with a safety briefing, warm-up and pop-up practice on the sand. Once you are geared up in your wetsuit with your board and leash, your instructor takes you into the Atlantic for about 1.5 hours of coached water time. You will focus on catching whitewater waves, building paddling confidence, and standing up with your coach close by to guide you through each attempt.
In the water, your instructor stays in the whitewater zone with you, calling you into waves and giving you tips between sets. Sessions feel social and encouraging rather than rushed, with time to practise your stance, learn how to read the break, and celebrate your first rides back to the beach. We adapt the coaching to whoever is in the group that day, so complete beginners and improvers can share the same session comfortably.
Lessons run on Madeira's open Atlantic coastline around Porto da Cruz and Machico, where volcanic cliffs meet rolling ocean swells. If you are making your own way to us, we meet at Praia da Alagoa in Porto da Cruz, a sheltered beach with an epic backdrop and easy access from the village. When conditions are better elsewhere, we may move the group a short distance to a nearby break such as Praia de São Roque in Machico.
If you are joining us with transport included, we pick you up at Jardim de Santa Luzia in Funchal and drive you to whichever surf spot is working best for your level that day. The north-east coast offers consistent whitewater for learning, with sheltered bays that let you build skills without facing heavy shore break on your first sessions.
This activity suits anyone keen to try surfing or improve their basics in a group setting. You should be comfortable spending time in the sea and able to swim a short distance without support, so you can relax and focus on the waves rather than worrying about where your feet are.
No prior surfing experience is needed. Your coach explains everything on the beach before you paddle out, and the lesson pace stays relaxed enough for first-timers while still giving improvers room to push their technique.
We keep groups deliberately small so you get real coaching time in the water, not just a wave count at the back of a crowded lineup. Our instructors know Madeira's breaks well and choose the beach based on the day's conditions, so you surf where it is safest and most fun for your level.
All the core kit is included, from your board and wetsuit to the land coaching that builds your confidence before you paddle out. You arrive, get geared up, and spend your time in the Atlantic learning with people who share the stoke of catching that first ride.
About the centre
Porto da Cruz
Operated by Surf Club de Madeira, a partner of adventuro.