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.

March: Autumn’s Best Balance

March hits the sweet spot with 47% ideal wind, the highest of any month. This means nearly half the time, the wind is off the water from a southerly quadrant. Average swell period is 11.6s and height 1.7m. Swell directions shift slightly – while E and ESE still lead (20% and 21%), there is a noticeable increase in SE swell (6.6%) and even a little from NNW (3%). The wind distribution shows a broader spread: less pure ESE (41%) and more variable directions, including cross-shore components. The best surf comes when a low to the east sends long-period easterly swell and a secondary front turns the wind south. Conditions can be truly excellent, with head-high plus waves and a groomed line-up.