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.

In December, Cacimba do Padre offers consistent surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.9m and a solid wave period of 11.3s, indicating powerful, well-formed waves. The swell direction is predominantly from the ESE and NNW, contributing to the majority of surfable waves, particularly in the 1.5-2.5m range. These directions provide the best quality waves, with NNW swells showing higher energy (17.31% at 1.5-2m and 11.27% at 2-2.5m). Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 13% of the time being ideal for surfing. The dominant winds come from the ESE and E at 10-30kph, often creating onshore or cross-onshore conditions that can make waves choppy. However, when winds align, the powerful, long-period swells produce excellent barreling waves, making December a solid month for experienced surfers seeking challenging but rewarding conditions. Cleaner sessions are rarer but worth waiting for, especially when winds lighten or shift offshore.