Camacho - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - August)

Camacho springs to life during the austral autumn and winter as the South Atlantic storm track shifts northward, driving powerful long-period swell directly into the southeast-facing beach. From April through August, the combination of consistent S to SSE groundswell and frequent offshore winds from the north quadrant creates the most reliable surf of the year. Average wave heights hover around 1.7-1.8 m with periods often exceeding 9 seconds, translating to punchy, rippable waves. The percentage of clean wind days peaks in May and June, reaching 34-36%, when the trade winds weaken and cold fronts leave crisp post-frontal northwesterlies in their wake. This is the prime window for charging solid, lined-up sets at Camacho.

Fair Surf Season (March & September - October)

March offers a transitional blend: solid swell from the SSW and SSE directions, with average wave periods climbing to 9.1 seconds, but the wind quality sits at a still-decent 30% ideal. Meanwhile, September and October see a jump in average wave height to 1.8-2.0 m as the first spring storms begin to brew, yet the wind becomes more fickle with only 20% offshore conditions. These months require a flexible schedule—waiting for a strong frontal passage to align the wind with the swell window. When it all comes together, the result is powerful, peeling waves with occasional overhead sets.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

The austral summer months from November through February are generally the quietest at Camacho. The South Atlantic storm track retreats, leading to smaller average swell heights of 1.5-1.6 m and shorter periods in the 8.4-8.5 s range. The dominant swell direction shifts eastward, often producing weaker, less organized waves that struggle to wrap into the beach. While the percentage of offshore wind days sits at a modest 19-30%, the combination of weaker swell and inconsistent wind direction means surfers often encounter choppy, below-par conditions. That said, even in the depths of summer, an occasional strong cold front can sneak in a flash of chest-to-head-high surf—especially in February when the wind is most cooperative.

September: Spring Swell, Tricky Winds

September delivers the highest average wave height of the year at 2.0 m, with a period of 9.2 s. Swell from the S (10.7%) and SSE (11.3%) remains significant, but the dominant energy comes from the E and ENE directions, signaling a transition toward the summer pattern. The surf can be heavy and powerful, especially during a southerly swell pulse, but the wind becomes the biggest obstacle—only 20% of the time is the wind ideal. The trade winds start to strengthen, with NE and NNE winds combining for over 43% of the observations. Surfers need to pick their windows carefully, waiting for a brief high-pressure ridge that brings light northwesterly winds. When it aligns, the waves are epic: big, long-period lines that break cleanly down the reef.