Porto da Cruz, Machico

It’s a place where you can find really good wine, ‘vinho seco americano’, a local dry red wine made of ‘americana’, which is a type of grape. There is an old sugar cane factory, since 1927 and it’s still working in the same way. If you follow the steam, you’ll find this 26 m/85 ft height tower. Penha d’ Aguia is an imperial rock that separates Porto da Cruz from Faial, a civil parish in the municipality of Santana, in Madeira. The view from up there, makes you feel like a bird.

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But, if you try to find more adventure, then take your body-board and feel the adrenaline while you are flirting with the reef-rocky waves. The conditions of Porto da Cruz beach, are appropriate for all kind of body-boarders. The north and south is the best wind direction, and for swell the north direction. The swell size starts working at less than 1 m (3 ft) and holds up to 2.5 m+ (8 ft+).

In detail, in autumn the wind blows onshore at 60% and the waves swell size is from 1.3 to 3 m (4-10 ft). In spring, we have the same swell size as in autumn and the wind blows onshore at 62%. In winter, the wind blows onshore at 47% and the waves are from 2 to 3 m (6.5-10 ft) most of the time. In summer the waves swell size is from 1.3 to 2 m (4-6.5 ft) and the wind blows onshore at 80%.

There is a body-board school, in case you need an expert at your disposal. There are other activities in this nice village. If you visit this place in September, you’ll have fun in Festa do Vinho, a celebration with lot of good wine. There are also comfortable accommodations, in case you need a bed, after drinking lots of wine.