Surf and Stay Week in Porto da Cruz, Madeira

Calhau Surf School was founded in the summer of 2010 and was the first surf school to operate on Madeira. It's based in Porto da Cruz, a small town on the north-east coast of the island, and runs lessons, board rentals and surf-and-stay packages with local hotel partners. The team is made up of local and international surfers who are certified surf instructors and qualified Water Safety Specialists.

The teaching follows a set structure. Every lesson begins with a safety check covering water safety, ocean awareness, basic paddling and positioning on the board. Then instructors cover wave reading — the factors that decide where and when to paddle. After a short warm-up, you're in the water practising pop-ups and riding waves, with the instructor beside you. At the end of the session, Rodolfo takes photos of everyone surfing, and the group reviews them together, going through the good and bad points so you leave with something concrete to work on.

Groups are small. Several reviewers note one instructor for every three to five surfers, and one guest described getting what amounted to a private lesson because there were only three or four people per instructor. The school picks the beach each day based on conditions and the skill level of the group, so you may surf different breaks through the week.

Rodolfo and his wife Paula run the operation. Guests mention that they're quick to reply on WhatsApp, and that if the standard packages don't fit — say you want four or seven days of surfing instead of five — they'll put together a custom package. Beach towels are available to borrow if you don't want to pack one.

Porto da Cruz sits on Madeira's north-east coast, with the beach and the hotel in walking distance of each other. On rest days there are hikes nearby, including Ponta de São Lourenço, and the area is good for trail running. If the morning is clear, guests recommend getting up early for sunrise over the ocean.

What's included

- Accommodation at Hotel Vila Bela, Porto da Cruz (room type depends on package) - Daily surf lessons with certified instructors - Safety check and ocean awareness briefing - Wave reading and technique instruction - Warm-up before each session - In-water coaching during lessons - Photo session during lessons - Post-lesson photo review with feedback - Access to high-quality photos of your surfing - Use of surfboard and equipment during lessons - Beach towels available to borrow

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Meals (unless specified in your package — confirm at booking) - Personal expenses - Optional board rental outside lesson times - Optional activities on rest days