Surf spot guide · São Jorge - Azores, Portugal
Hollow righthand point break over boulders at the lagoon entrance of Faja da Caldeira do Santo Cristo, reachable only by a 40-minute hike.
Direita do Passe is a righthand point break peeling along the boulder shore in front of the lagoon opening at Faja da Caldeira do Santo Cristo, one of the most remote surf zones in the Azores. The wave is a predictable, medium-paced peeler that walls up best on NE swells, with hollow and steep sections delivering short barrels when a couple of rocks catch the swell at size. The inside section loses height and slows noticeably, giving beginners a gentler ride despite ever-present rip currents. On bigger swells the wave handles well and can run 200 to 500 metres. The full swell window spans NW through E, giving the spot solid exposure to North Atlantic groundswells throughout autumn and winter. A south-westerly offshore is needed for clean faces. Getting here means a 40-minute walk from the car park at Cubres. No facilities on site but free parking at the trailhead.
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Rarely crowded. The 40-minute hike filters out casual surfers; expect only dedicated locals and travellers who have specifically made the trip to the Faja da Caldeira do Santo Cristo.
Remote hike-in righthand with hollow sections and a beginner-friendly inside
São Jorge - Azores
Intense boulder-break peak at the NW tip of Faja dos Sto Cristo - fast, hollow rights to 200m and a shorter left, from knee-high to XXL.
São Jorge - Azores
Boulder-bottom left-hander on the outer edge of Faja da Caldeira do Santo Cristo, linking long walls across a wide W-N swell window.
São Jorge - Azores
Remote left pointbreak over a boulder bottom on Sao Jorge, with rides of 500m-plus down the side of Faja da Caldeira do Santo Cristo.
+4 MORE →Time the walk to arrive at mid-to-high tide when the inside section is most forgiving for learners
bring everything you need as there are no facilities at the faja
target NE groundswells of 1 to 2 metres for the most consistent walls
a SW wind is ideal to keep faces clean
respect the rip current lines running along the boulders and scout an exit before paddling out
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
40-minute walk on an uneven trail from the free car park at Cubres. No road access to the faja itself. No lifeguard, restrooms, showers, surf school or surf shop at the break.
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