Madeira Surf Classes In Portugal

It was amazing!!! The staff were sooo friendly and more than willing to help with everything. We had loads of time to warm up and we had a lot of theory explained to us before we hit the waves for at least two hours! It was my boyfriend’s first time surfing and now he is obsessed with it! I would give 6 stars if I could. Thank you so much!

Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with our beginners’ surf lesson. The location was completely unsuitable for beginners. The beach was full of rocks and large stones, and after catching a wave you could easily end up landing on them. The water was also extremely crowded, with people constantly getting in each other’s way and sometimes even crashing into each other. From the moment we arrived, we did not feel particularly welcome. The instructors did not introduce themselves, and they were not friendly or approachable. There were also no proper safety instructions, which we found especially concerning given the rocky beach and the very busy conditions. After a short explanation on the beach, we were sent into the water quite quickly. At first, the instructors helped us get into position, but after you had attempted your first wave, you were basically left to figure things out yourself and make your own way back. There was very little guidance or supervision. There were 9 beginners in total, 5 of them decided to quit after about 10 minutes in the water, because it simply wasn’t working in those conditions. I eventually decided not to go into the water at all because I felt completely uncomfortable and unsafe. What was particularly disappointing was that none of the instructors came over to ask why I wasn’t participating or offered any help or reassurance. We also found the lesson quite expensive considering the level of instruction and supervision provided. We understand that my boyfriend and I had to be split up because he has a higher level of experience while I am a complete beginner, but we expected the beginners’ group to receive proper guidance and attention. What made the experience even worse was that the instructors were genuinely not very nice or welcoming. There was no sense of encouragement or making beginners feel comfortable. After so many people stopped participating, there was also no apology, explanation or acknowledgement from the instructors that the lesson clearly wasn’t going well. For a beginners’ surf lesson, we expected safety, proper guidance and instructors who would make you feel comfortable trying something new. Unfortunately, we experienced none of that. I would definitely not recommend this school to anyone who is a complete beginner.

My experience at this surf school was disappointing. At the start of the lesson, an instructor pushed each student around the circle to determine which foot was their front foot. This was not explained beforehand, and no consent was sought before making physical contact. I also felt there could have been more opportunities to check that students understood the instructions or had questions. While we were in the water, one instructor repeatedly shouted instructions, which made the experience more stressful than supportive. The water was extremely crowded, so a significant part of the lesson was spent trying to avoid colliding with other surfers or being hit by boards. The most concerning part of my experience was the conduct of one instructor. He told me I was ‘pretty’ while rubbing my cheek with his fingers. At end of the session, he approached me again to congratulate me, hugged me, and kissed me on the cheek. As a woman, this made me feel uncomfortable. I did not invite or welcome this physical contact. Overall, I did not feel relaxed or reassured in the water. The instructors are mostly men, and based on my experience, women looking for a strictly professional learning environment may want to be aware of this. I will not be returning to this school.

We took 3 surf lessons and everything from the instructors and the vibe during the surf was amazing. Highly recommend if in Madeira! :)

Such a great surf school! Such genuine teachers, its clear they really care about helping you out! They have a photographer and give you all the pics afterwards for free! We caught a ton of waves and the location was gorgeous. They even invited us to a local barbecue after. Most authentic, local experience ever!

Our three kids (9, 11, 13) had two surfing classes with Calhau surfing. Excellent experience! Filipe and other trainers took their time to patiently explain how to get started with the surfing! A downside? We might be in into a few surfing holidays in the future!

Everything was great until the day of the surf. I booked a surf for 7 people in advance, communicated with a very nice man. The day before the surf, I asked to reschedule due to the fatigue of our group from hiking and they also met me. I was pleasantly surprised by the service. But on the day of the surf, we met the photographer at the scheduled time (he was late), who said that the waves were too big and we needed to go to another beach. No problem, we went. There was no possibility to change clothes there, but that's nothing. The beach is completely made of pebbles. To say that we just beat our feet is an understatement. I broke my little finger when a wave pulled me into the ocean while trying to get into the water. Also about the waves: they were huge. Not a single person in our group had ever stood on a board and neither one could describe this experience as successful. Three of us went straight to shore after unsuccessfully trying to swim further to catch a wave - everyone was getting knocked over on the way. A huge bonus from the school was that one of the instructors offered to help swim in the shallows with him in turn. The girls spoke well of this act of his. When I was knocked over by a wave again, I noticed that there were only 2 fins on my board instead of 3. I told the instructor and he said that it was not a problem at all... Recalling the terrible rocky beach, I will say that no one helped anyone carry the surfboard to the top (I already had a broken finger by that time). When we all finally climbed the mountain, the quest began with where to change clothes... it was terribly inconvenient. And, as the cherry on the cake, the instructors packed their inverter, got in and went. Without coming up to us, without asking how we were, without supporting us with simple words, like "yes, the waves were big for the first time, but you guys are still great". No one even said goodbye! They just got on and left. And then we got a photo.... The only plus is that we had a good laugh at their quality. Sorry, but the experience was bad. Next time we will try another school on the island

I had an amazing 2 lessons with Filipe! He was super helpful, lots of tips and I felt like I learnt a lot! It is a beautiful location and the surfing was so fun! I will be back forsure!

It was my first experience with surfing. I highly recommend it — the instructors help with everything, explain things clearly, and stay with you in the water for the full two hours. A great experience.

I had an fantastic time with this team in both Machico and Porto da Cruz: both spots provide different waves and this was very useful to have different experiences. I have interacted with 3 different amazing instructors and I appreciated that they were chill, always caring and providing feedback during the session for progress. It happened that people from other schools or amateurs renting board for fun stand in the middle of our spot which became too crowded, they don't control their trajectory or are in the middle of your way increasing risk of collision. I truly appreciated that this problem was rapidly sorted by the instructor Augusto, who made sure that we could enjoy in a safe environment to surf relaxed and focused. A special thanks to the owner Rodolfo because we exchanged a lot, he took the time to reply all my questions about waves, conditions etc and encouraged me to go for larger waves. I could trust his advices and I am very grateful for this as otherwise I would have missed this opportunity. I had experience with another surf school and they would not discuss these details with you. In the end, to enjoy, you want to feel safe, with instructors demonstrating good knowledge of the spot and waves, attention for individuals and caring about your progress. I wish I could stay longer, I am very happy of this experience I can only recommend; as we say in my island, Oleti Calhau team!

Calhau Portugal Surf School is absolutely outstanding. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to truly improve their surfing. The lessons were incredible. The coaches are not only expert local surfers, they are also fun, supportive, and highly professional. They helped us correct old habits and build proper technique, which gave us the confidence to surf independently. What sets Calhau apart is the energy they bring. They live and breathe surfing, and that lifestyle shines through every session. Their passion rekindled my own love for the sport and inspired me to bring that spirit of flow and adventure into my personal and company culture. Thanks to them, we are now heading off on our first company surf trip. A complete turn of events and a joyful one. Their influence is infectious in the best possible way. Calhau Portugal Surf School has not only taught us how to surf better, they have given us a spark that will keep rolling like a clean Atlantic swell.

On their webpage it says that they offer transfer to and from Funchal for a larger group, I traveled alone and needed transfer but I didn't know if they were to pick up another group of people so I emailed them beforehand if it would be possible to get a transfer and gave them two options of days that would be possible for me. They told me when to book and so I did, assuming they had more people to pick up. Got sent the pickup location the day before and on the day of the man who picked me up (the owner of the surf school) seemed really annoyed that I booked the transfer because it was a long drive for him. Reminding me that they only do this for larger groups etc and I was alone. He made me feel that I was a burden even though I emailed him before booking and asked if it would be possible, and he himself said it would be possible and I paid extra for the transfer. He did ask me if I had a time where I needed to be back in Funchal which I didn't, and he took that as I could stay and wait for him for the return back. So he made me wait 2h after the surfing was done to drive me back. I didn't have a time to be back but that didn't mean that I wanted to wait around for 2h not knowing when I were to be driven back. He didn't give me a time of when he would drive me either so I couldn't even explore Porto da Cruz as I needed to sit and wait for him to be finished. The surf itself were too large waves for a beginner, in my opinion. The waves were described as great waves but I felt unsafe in the water and after been struggling with the waves for sometime and no one of the staff members noticed I went back up on the beach waiting for the lesson to be over. The only one helping me in the water while I was struggling were someone who did not work for them. When speaking with the staff members no one had noticed that I was struggling and I felt that no one would have noticed if anyone did not return back to the surface after being hit with a big wave. And they did brag themselves of having a ton of staff members in the water that would notice anything and help us out. That was not the case. Terrible experience all in all, would not recommend

My friend and I had such a fun time learning to surf. The team is amazing - they ensured we were safe and supported throughout the process. Very much recommend this surf school!

This was me and my friend’s very first time surfing and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. The entire team made it such a fun and welcoming experience. Rodolfo was incredible – so funny and reassuring, he really helped put our nerves at ease. A huge shoutout to the instructors Augusto, Jonathan, Alan and Orlando who were actively watching, offering tips, and genuinely helping us improve with every wave. And Braulio captured the best moments with amazing photos that we’ll always treasure! We 100% recommend this surf school – whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a good vibe, you’ll leave with a smile and unforgettable memories! 🏄‍♂️🌞📸

Amazing experience! Staff is very nice, attentive and helpful. I would recommend private lesson for the first timers as instructor will dedicate all his attention to you only and you learn way way faster

Great first surfing lesson and surfing spot! We had a lot of fun, big thanks to Jonathan and Mica!! I would definitely surf again and maybe see you in Sri Lanka! Thanks also to the rest of the team and for the amazing photo souvenirs of this experience!

My husband and I had a wonderful experience! The instructors are so warm and friendly! They definitely held to their promise that we would be standing up by the end of the lesson. The instruction was very clear and we felt safe the entire afternoon. The photos that were taken of us were also a nice touch-- I know we will appreciate having them forever. Would highly recommend adding a lesson to your vacation!

It was my first experience with surf. Not only amazing itself but aldo very useful for a beginner, for the instructors give you the best practical tips to avoid injuries and to manage the waves. I imediately craved to repeat the experience and the next time I took great advantages from their suggestions! The best teachers if you’re starting!

We had a great time with Calhau Surf School. Rodolfo and the Crew are fantastic, super positive, very caring especially about the children, always willing to help and offer hints to improve your surfing performance. Loads of great pictures offered to download after the course. Thank you Rodolfo & the Team for this awesome experience, I wish we could have stayed longer...

I had lots of fun in the water. Calhau Surfschool has a great team who cares about the quality of cIasses. I've been in different surfschools before and I can recommend. Rodolpho and Paula the owners of the school where really friendly and helpful making sure I found a good accomodation and had a great time while surfing. I've had classes by Augusto and Jonathan. Both very good instructors and also very talented surfers. Most of the time I was assigned to Augustos group. After each surfed wave he could tell straight away which adjustments and next steps each of us individually had to take in order to improve. Beside that: Nature Madeira Guesthouse great accomodation and Porto da Cruz a beautiful place.

We had never surfed before, but our first lesson at Calhau Surf School got us standing on the board during our honeymoon, so we signed up for two more. It was an amazing experience

Despite the good reviews, we didn't really have a great time here. The lesson felt overbooked and when we were in the water the instructors lost oversight and weren't clear enough on what we were supposed to be doing. It turned out that our instructor forgot the safety briefing (something we deduced later). Didn't really get any good feedback and in the end Jonathan even cursed us out for not listening (when we were just asking what we were supposed to be doing, because we didn't get the safety briefing). That really left a sour taste from the whole experience. After the lesson no debrief or whatever, just hand in your board and you could go. The positives are that we did get a lot of time in the water and had fun with the actual surfing. We just expected (a lot) more of the teaching experience. I would've rated this average had we not been treated rather rudely. There are a lot of surf schools in Porto da Cruz and I'd pick a different one looking back.

It was our first time surfing and it was great and fantastic! We stayed at Hotel Vila Bela for 5 days and had originally booked three surf lessons. After the first days were great because the team was fantastic and went out of their way to convey the joy of surfing and the skills, we booked another surf session and it was just perfect! The whole team around Rodolfo and Paula, Orlando, Jonathan, Filipe and Augusto gave the greatest support and you were in good hands and always welcome. Thank you Rodolfo and team for an unforgettable time!

Wonderful team for a happy moment! The instructors are cool and fun but they also always keep you safe and progressing with good advices (and patience!) The manager Paula, and Rodolfo the boss, are very generous and heartwarming! Beautiful team for a beautiful village !

I was here last year for a begin er lessions and came back again, it is always a great experience. Patient and super nice instructors ❤️

Good people and nice vibes. Instructors are friendly and provided good feedback during and after the session. Everything was well organised. Every session gives you plenty of time in the water to practise, also the school organises sessions on different beaches. There is an additional cost if you want to travel from Funchal, but it is a fair price and the school will organise the trips for you so no need to worry. I took 3 lessons and the overall experience was good.

Calhau Surf School was amazing! Very easy to book and excellent communication. Filipe and Augosto were super friendly and kind surf instructors. We had a lot of time in the water and the group was a perfect size so you had the chance to catch lots of waves. Thank you so much for a wonderful time on the water.

Amazing surfing school! Well organised, professional and friendly. Had a good first introduction to surfing thanks to them. I recommend the school for beginners as well as for more experienced ones. 🌊 Will come next year again!

The surf instructors were very laid-back and helpful; they analyzed exactly what mistakes you made and corrected you on them the next time. That way, you could only get better. Next time in Madeira, I will definitely book a few more hours. Communication with the boss is also very good; as soon as there were changes, he contacted us in time. Plus, photos are taken while surfing, so you have a souvenir. There was simply nothing missing; you just had to be there, and the surf school took care of the rest!

Very bad experience with this surf school. Guidance is uninterested and very limited. You are going surfing at a small beach with quite high waves, which break onto a rocky shore. Completely unsuitable for beginners. Our group was more than 20 people, and everyone is left to their own devices. I would not book with this surf school.

Super fun lesson, good explanations and super fun and nice guides. You have ample time to surf and it is highly recommended to take lessons here. Today we go again!

The preparation was clear and smooth, allowing us to spend a lot of time in the water! What a blissful experience as a first surfing session

Was a very nice experience nice people who gave you good tips and tried to give you good waves

I highly recommend this experience, with the boys of the Calhau school, in addition to the school there is a hotel and a guest house run by them all super cute and cozy, you can breathe the true spirit of surfing! The super friendly and helpful staff, I was here for a weekend of surfing and the team of super professional and kind instructors. If you want to perfect your surfing or just learn to surf this is the place

I had the pleasure of attending Calhau Surf School in Madeira for three days in a row at the advanced level, it was an unforgettable experience! The surf instructors are extremely professional and impart their knowledge with a warm manner that allows you to feel safe and in good hands. After extensive warming and a check-out for take-off, there was a detailed explanation of the swell, currents and behaviour in the water with the board right on the beach. Safety instructions were explained clearly and understandably so that you could concentrate fully on surfing. The main focus is “learning by doing”: I particularly liked that. In addition, photos are taken during the sessions, which is a wonderful way to capture the memories. It was really great fun, I look forward to coming back! Many thanks to the entire team of Calhau Surf School!

An experience of 10 with Calhau Surf School. The organization was impeccable and the monitors, João and António, are very nice, patient and with a huge knowledge of the sea and surfing. They convey very good vibes and make you enjoy and learn at the same time. Highly recommended!

We had a very nice surfing lesson as a couple. The teachers were clear I all their explanations and helped well on the water so you felt comfortable and could take enough golf. It was a fun experience to do as a couple.

We chose the 5 nights and 3 surf lessons package and it was a fantastic experience. The instructors are competent, patient and very helpful: they followed us step by step, making the lessons fun and at the same time effective. The accommodation was simple but cozy: all clean, well organized and with a staff always friendly and smiling, ready to help us at any time. The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial, perfect for those who want to live a few days immersed in the spirit of surfing and nature of Madeira. In general an experience that I absolutely recommend to those who want to learn or improve with surfing and at the same time enjoy a pleasant and carefree stay.

I had a private lesson and felt completely comfortable from the start. The coaches are incredibly friendly, positive, competent and empathetic – you immediately notice their experience and how well they know the spot. I was able to learn a lot, had real fun and am super happy about this experience. Highly recommended – I’m looking forward to next time! Thank you very much 🤍

Incredible experience. The instructors are fantastic and very helpful, thanks to them I have improved my technique. Highly recommended!

The surf school is highly recommended! The supervisors are excellently trained and will help you whether you are a bloody beginner or already advanced. We had booked the three day package and were very satisfied. The only thing to note is that the location of the beach where you surf can change if the swell does not allow it in Porta da Cruz. Surf days can also change accordingly, i.e. you have to be flexible and not assume that if you have booked three surf days, they will also take place on three consecutive days. A shuttle is offered and the operators stay in touch with you on WhatsApp to let you know what day, time and where the surf lessons are taking place. You are definitely 2h in the water and it is so much fun!

Training and session too great! An experience to live! Listening, dynamic and patient monitors. We loved it.

The carde was really pretty and the activity went great. On the other hand it is written in groups of up to 6 people and this was not the case we were at least 12 and when we surfed, other groups mixed with us. We chose a teacher in French but from beginning to end no one spoke French

Smiling staff, proactive, Clear explanations on the beach, rental equipment did the job, I recommend them;)

Great experience with professional and friendly instructors ... they showed patience and kindness with our two daughters who were able to enjoy a first slide safely! As a bonus beautiful photos taken and offered to download!! Really without any hesitation , try the experiment , at any age!

Perfect surf lessons! The spot is very beautiful, there are waves for beginner and intermediate. The team is great! There were 3 instructors in the water to advise us and help us ride the waves properly. The most was really Rodolfo who advises us and takes pictures throughout the course. Many thanks for this session I highly recommend.

We have registered our kids (7 and 10 years old, no previous experience) for a 2.5 hour surf course. They were - although the only children - immediately super involved in all explanations. The absolute hammer was the practice: The coaches were very attentive the whole time and made sure that it could not be dangerous for the little ones with the big boards. Thanks to the help and explanations, the children have also managed to stand several meters on the board and ride the wave! A great experience, we tell everyone involved (especially Mika, Paula and Rodolfo) THANK YOU!

This was sincerely a very nice experience. The guidance is super so everything goes safely and fun. The lesson was well structured and the explanation was clear. Individual tips are also given so you can adapt and do better. Afterwards I enjoyed the hospitality of the top managers and was then returned to Funchal where I stayed.

It was so much fun. All surf instructors were incredibly nice and put so much effort into imparting their knowledge. At the end of the course, everyone managed to surf a wave at least once. The value for money is great. Afterwards there was a link with lots of photos of us.