Black graphic design featuring a smiling skull with sunglasses, surrounded by curved text reading 'sometimes I surf, sometimes I paddle'.
Text reading 'Tropical Madeira' in white script font on a transparent background.

Women’s Surf Retreats:
Tropical Madeira

Check-in

To help us prepare everything for your arrival, we’ll need a bit more information from you. Please use the link below to fill in a quick online check-in form: https://www.saltychicas.com/checkin

If you have any dietary requirements, allergies, or food intolerances, please let us know in the check-in form so we can accommodate your needs. We’re happy to provide vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or other options.

Arrival in Madeira

You’ll be flying into: Madeira Airport (FNC) https://maps.app.goo.gl/zA7gM5712ZNFY9bv9

The airport is small and easy to navigate.

Accommodation

📍 Apartments location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tE6csHZkeMmFu4177?g_st=ic

Trav.Rego, 9000-660 Funchal, Portugal

Once you arrive, you can settle in, unpack, and get ready to meet the rest of the group.

Airport to Accommodation

Once you arrive at the airport, you have a few options to get to the accommodation:

🚍 Option 1: AEROBUS (cheapest option)

The AEROBUS runs directly from Madeira Airport to Funchal. The bus stop is just outside the Arrivals terminal.

  • Get off at MERCADO - location here. The best is to tell the driver or track it on the map.

  • From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the accommodation

  • Cost: €5 - 6 (cash).

  • Journey time: around 30–40 minutes.

  • Good option if you’re travelling light and want the most affordable way to get there.

🚗 Option 2: Bolt / taxi (easy and convenient)

You can order a Bolt or get a taxi directly from the airport.

  • Drops you directly at the accommodation - location here.

  • Cost: usually around €15–25 (depending on demand and time of day).

  • Journey time: around 20–25 minutes.

  • Probably the easiest option if you have surf bags, luggage, or are arriving after a long journey.

Program

Surf lessons will begin the day after your arrival. Please remember that surfing depends on nature — wave conditions, tides, and weather can influence the schedule. We’ll always choose the best conditions for the group.

Click here to see the FULL PROGRAM

What to Pack

Madeira has a beautiful mild climate, but evenings can feel cooler.

We recommend bringing:

  • Summer clothes — the daytime temperature is around 25°C, so bring your favourite summer outfits

  • At least one sweatshirt/sweater, jacket and a pair of long pants for the evenings

  • Good walking shoes, they can be ordinary sports shoes, as long as they are comfortable ;)

  • Jacket (thin, rainproof, protecting against the wind)

  • Sports clothes "for walking" and for yoga classes

  • Sunglasses

  • Cap

  • Flip-flops

  • Towel

  • Swimsuit - maybe even more than one!

  • Sunscreen SPF 50+ waterproof

  • If you have long hair, be sure to take hair bands - important for surfing!

  • Basic medicines and cosmetics

  • Electronic equipment + chargers

  • Passport / ID

  • Cash in EUR

  • Documents for your travel insurance policy

About Madeira

Madeira is a beautiful Portuguese island known for its stunning coastline, mountains, nature, and ocean adventures.

You can expect:

  • ☀️ Warm and sunny weather (around 24–28°C)

  • 🌊 Comfortable ocean temperatures (around 22–24°C)

  • 🌙 Cooler evenings, especially in the mountains

The island has a relaxed atmosphere and is perfect for surfing, exploring, hiking, and enjoying time outdoors.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend having travel insurance before coming.

Please make sure your insurance covers:

  • Medical expenses.

  • Travel delays or cancellations.

  • Lost luggage.

  • Surfing or water activities.

Some standard travel insurance policies do not automatically cover surfing, so please check your policy before arrival.

Money Information

  • Madeira uses the Euro (€).

  • Cards are accepted in most places.

  • It is useful to have some cash for smaller cafés, buses, or local shops.

Communication

Before the retreat, we’ll create a WhatsApp group where we’ll share:

  • Final updates and arrival information.

  • Shared photos, music, tip and tricks and more :)

We can’t wait to welcome you to Madeira and share this experience with you!

See you soon 💜

Your SALTY CHICAS team.

A woman in a colorful wetsuit leaning on a concrete barrier by the ocean, smiling with blue face paint under her eyes, with a grassy hillside and partly cloudy sky in the background.
People surfing in the ocean at sunset with colorful clouds in the sky.
Two women practicing yoga on black sand beach with mountains in the background, one in a blue and purple jumpsuit in a pose on hands and knees, the other sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, wearing a surfing club shirt.
A bedroom with a bed, white sheets, decorative pillows, two nightstands with lamps, a window with sheer curtains, and a wooden floor.
Cliffside view of a coastline with blue ocean water, a large rock in the water, and orange flowers in the foreground.
A young woman surfing on a wave in the ocean, wearing a wetsuit and a colorful rash guard, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Multiple surfboards lying on a rocky black sand beach near a rocky cliff with ocean waves crashing, under a clear blue sky.
A woman surfing on a small wave in the ocean, wearing a wetsuit and balancing on a light blue surfboard.
A person surfing on a small wave near a rocky and forested coastline.
Two women skateboarding outdoors on a paved area, smiling and enjoying the day, with palm trees and mountains in the background.
Rooftop terrace with chairs, benches, and a small table under clear blue sky, view of buildings with red-tiled roofs in the background.
Group of six women posing with a surfboard on a rocky beach, some giving thumbs up and making hand signs, with a hillside in the background.
Group of women practicing yoga outdoors on mats, with hands raised and eyes closed, near a concrete wall and plants.
A person with outstretched arms standing on a wet road at sunset, with tall trees on one side and a clear sky in the background.
A hotel room with three single beds, each with white sheets, gray or mustard pillows, and striped blankets in mustard and dark blue. There are two bedside lamps on a white nightstand, a large window with sheer curtains, and a clothes rack and mirror
A woman wearing a green sports bra, gray sweatpants, blue flip-flops, sunglasses, and a beige cap rides a skateboard along the beach promenade, holding a surfboard under her arm and smiling. Palm trees and a cliff are visible in the background.
Two young women in wetsuits carrying surfboards standing on stairs next to a palm tree, smiling, with a garden and tennis court in the background.
A young woman with long blonde hair and face paint standing on a beach, smiling happily near the ocean with cliffs in the background.
Living room with two beige sofas with pink and beige pillows, a woven ottoman, a rattan side table, a striped area rug, a small white desk with a modern black lamp, wooden flooring, large window with beige curtains, and a view of nearby buildings.