Cacimba do Padre - surf spot statistics

Cacimba do Padre in Brazil is a powerful beach break known for its heavy, barreling waves, best suited for advanced surfers. The spot receives consistent swell year-round, but the best conditions are typically found from January through April. During these months, ground swells dominate (55-63% of the time), providing cleaner, more organized waves with mean swell sizes around 1.8-1.9m. Wind conditions are also relatively better in this period, with good winds occurring 27-38% of the time—though onshore winds still prevail, particularly in January and February. March stands out as the most favorable month, offering a solid combination of ground swell dominance (63%) and the highest chance of favorable winds (38%). From May onward, wind swell becomes more prominent, peaking from June to September (64-74% wind swell), which can lead to less predictable wave quality. Swell size increases slightly during these months (2.0-2.1m), but bad wind conditions become significantly more frequent, reaching 84-90% from June to December. The worst wind conditions occur from August to November, with good wind days dropping to just 9-11%. While the waves remain surfable, the strong onshore winds and mixed swells make consistency and quality harder to rely on. December sees a slight improvement with ground swells returning to 58%, but wind conditions remain poor (87% bad). Overall, the ideal window for surfing Cacimba do Padre is early in the year, especially March, when swell direction, size, and wind align most favorably.

April at Cacimba do Padre brings solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.9m and a strong period of 11.1s, indicating powerful, well-organized waves. The dominant swell directions are from the E, ESE, and NNW, with the highest frequency of rideable waves (1.5m+) coming from ESE (13.2% at 1.5-2m, 10.4% at 2-2.5m). This suggests consistent groundswells, often producing hollow, barreling waves—ideal for experienced surfers. However, wind conditions are a mixed bag: ESE winds prevail but are often too strong (20-30kph in 26.7% of cases), leading to choppy surfaces. Only 33% of the time are winds light or offshore, making those days premium for clean faces. Expect larger swells (2m+) about 25% of the month, mostly from ESE and NNW, offering punchy, steep takeoffs. The spot handles size well, but wind-affected days will challenge wave quality. Advanced surfers should target early sessions when winds are lighter.