Baía da Barca

Barca Bay is the surfing reference on the island of Pico: no other wave on the island works with such regularity, and it is precisely for this reason that it tends to be the most crowded. It is a reef break over rocky bottom that breaks both ways, with left and right-hand waves forming within the bay, normally between 1 and 3 metres.

To catch the best conditions, look for swell from NW, N or NE combined with wind from the S, and enter the water at mid-tide with the tide coming in. In this window, the wave gains the consistency and quality that make the spot famous.

It is easily accessible by car, but entering and exiting the water require attention: access is via rocks at the western or eastern ends of the bay. Because of the rocky bottom and the type of access, it is a wave better suited for intermediate and experienced surfers.