Mareta - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The heart of the North Atlantic storm track delivers its most powerful offerings to Mareta during these six months. Average swell heights consistently top 2.0m – peaking near 2.4m in December and January – with dominant long-period energy (12-13s) pushing in from the NW and NNW. While those westerly quadrants are not the direct south swells the beach loves, the sheer size and period often wrap nicely into the south-facing bay, creating punchy, rippable waves in the 1.5-2.5m range. Offshore wind from N, NNE, NW and NNW blows a respectable 25-33% of the time, especially in October (33%) and November (28%), cleaning up the faces. Low-pressure systems rolling off the US East Coast re-intensify near the Azores, sending serial swells to the Algarve. When a south swell aligns with a light northerly wind – that’s the magic window for peak Mareta.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These transitional months offer a balanced mix. April sees average swell still at 1.9m with an 11.1s period, though NW-NNW flows dominate the swell window. Wind is ideal 24% of the time, and the combo of solid background swell and occasional spring southerly lows can fire up the spot. September is the standout fair month: average swell is only 1.5m, but the average period jumps to 10.4s, and a peak 35% of the time the wind swings offshore – the highest all year. The ocean is still warm, and the autumnal ramp-up begins, offering clean, mid-range waves that are perfect for groveling and carving.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer settles in with a vengeance. From May through August, average swell heights linger around 1.4-1.6m and period drops to 8-10s – a mix of short-period windswell and small NW background pulses. The dominant wind pattern becomes strong NNW trades (often over 20-30kph), which blow offshore but the swell is too small and weak to produce quality waves. Mareta becomes a micro-swell spot, with the majority of waves falling into the 0.5-1.5m range – fun-size at best, often groveling. Wind ideal percentages hover between 20-25%, and when the rare south swell makes an appearance, it’s often accompanied by onshore southerly winds. Patience and a log are the summer tools.

July: Peak Summer Doldrums

July is the nadir of swell at Mareta. Average height is 1.4m and period drops to 8.2s – mostly short-period windswell generated by local sea breeze or the persistent northerly wind. NW (43.9%) and NNW (46.5%) combine for over 90% of the swell, with heights concentrated in the 1-1.5m range. The wind pattern is extreme: NNW blows 53.0% of the time, with 25.7% in the 30-40kph range. That’s a strong, constant offshore wind, but with such small, weak swell, it often over-grooms the surface, making the waves choppy and sectiony. Only 20% of the time are winds ideal (though that number might be artificially low because it includes only N, NNE, NW, NNW – but NNW is already counted). The truth is most July days are blown-out small waves. South swell is a ghost (0.0% from S, SSW, SW). This is the month for a siesta, not a surf mission.