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 March, Cacimba do Padre offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.8m and a favorable period of 11.5s, providing well-spaced, powerful waves. The dominant swell direction is from the north-northwest (NNW), contributing significantly to waves in the 1.5-2.5m range, with 17.5% of waves between 1.5-2m and 8% between 2-2.5m. The easterly (ESE) swell also plays a notable role, generating 29% of waves in the 2-2.5m range. Wind conditions are variable, with ideal offshore winds (E to ESE) occurring 38% of the time, though strong onshore winds (10-30kph) from the east and southeast can occasionally disrupt conditions. The spot works best when winds are light or offshore, allowing the long-period NNW swells to produce clean, barreling waves. Advanced surfers will find the most consistency in mid-sized to larger swells, particularly when winds align favorably. Overall, March is a reliable month for quality surf, though wind management is key.