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.

January at Cacimba do Padre offers consistent surf with an average swell height of 1.8m and a strong 11.5s period, indicating powerful, well-spaced waves. The dominant swell direction is from the north-northwest (NNW), which accounts for the largest share of rideable waves, particularly in the 1.5-2.5m range (over 30% combined). This direction produces the most solid conditions, with 20.19% of waves in the 1.5-2m category and 10.34% in the 2-2.5m range—ideal for experienced surfers looking for size and energy. Secondary swells from the east-southeast (ESE) also contribute, especially in the 1.5-2.5m range, though they’re less dominant. Wind conditions are more variable, with ideal offshore winds occurring only 27% of the time. The prevailing winds are from the east-southeast (ESE), often blowing at 20-30kph (38.22% frequency), which can create cross-shore or onshore chop, reducing wave quality. However, lighter winds (10-20kph) from the ENE or NE occasionally provide cleaner conditions. Surfers should target days when NNW swells coincide with lighter or offshore winds for the best performance waves. Overall, January delivers solid, mid-sized surf with occasional excellent sessions, though wind interference is a frequent challenge.