Praia da Armação

A working fishing beach in the south of the island and the gateway to the walk down to Matadeiro. Armação takes the S/SE winter groundswell that lights up the rest of the south coast and handles a wider range of wind than most of the island, holding shape on SW through NW. It is a straightforward, honest beach break rather than a marquee wave — which is much of its appeal, since it stays surfable and comparatively uncrowded on days when Joaquina and Campeche are chaotic. The adjacent Caldeirão at the northern end is a different proposition entirely: heavy peaks that are advanced-only when it is big.