Cacimba do Padre - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (January - April)

Summer and early autumn deliver the most promising conditions at Cacimba do Padre. Average swell heights hover around 1.7m with periods of 11-12s, offering the longest, most powerful groundswell of the year. While the dominant easterly trade winds still blow, this is the window with the highest frequency of southerly offshore winds (S, SSW, SW), peaking at 48% ideal in April. When a cold front pushes through the South Atlantic, it flips the wind to a clean offshore direction and can also generate rare northwest swell that lights up the left-hand point. The combination of long-period energy and occasional glassy mornings makes this the prime time for quality surf. Despite the majority of swell coming from the east, the few days with north or northwest swell are world-class.

Fair Surf Season (May & December)

May and December serve as transitional months. May sees a dramatic shift to SSE and SE swell as the trade wind regime strengthens, with average periods dropping to 10.6s. Ideal wind drops to 34%, but there are still sporadic windows when the trades ease and southerly breezes appear. December marks the beginning of the recovery: periods climb back above 11s, and a small but significant increase in north-NNW swell (2% of total) offers a glimmer of hope. Surfable days exist, but consistency is low.

Low Surf Season (June - November)

Winter and spring are dominated by the relentless southeast trade winds. From June through November, onshore ESE to SE winds blow over 95% of the time, leaving the surface choppy and bumpy. Swell periods average 9.6-10.0s, indicating short-period, wind-driven sea state. Swell heights still average 1.8-2.0m, but the lack of offshore wind and the abundance of east-southeast swell (which is side-onshore for this NNW-facing beach) make these months largely a write-off for quality surfing. July, August, September, and October are the worst, with ideal wind percentages below 8% and often 1-2%. Only the most desperate and dedicated will find anything clean during this extended low season.

August: Big but Blown Out

August brings the highest average swell height at 2.0m, but it is classic trade wind windswell – short period (9.6s) and blown apart by strong SE winds. 73% of the swell comes from the SE, with 11% ESE. Ideal wind is a shocking 2%. The wind is SE 55% and ESE 38%, with speeds often in the 30-40kph range, creating a bumpy, sometimes dangerous onshore current. The point becomes a washing machine – big, ugly, and unsurfable for all but the most experienced in heavy, wind-affected conditions. The only positive is the increased size for those who like a challenge, but quality is virtually non-existent. Avoid unless you have a death wish.