Praia da Saudade - surf spot statistics

Praia da Saudade in Brazil is primarily a windswell-dominated spot, with ground swells making up a smaller portion of the swell mix. The best months for surfing here are generally from May to September, when there’s a higher percentage of ground swell (peaking at 24% in May) and slightly better wind conditions. However, the mean swell size remains modest throughout the year, averaging around 0.7m to 0.9m, which suggests smaller, more forgiving waves suited for beginners or longboarders rather than powerful, hollow breaks. Wind conditions are consistently challenging, with bad winds (onshore or cross-shore) dominating 70% to 80% of the time across all months, though June stands out as having the most favorable wind conditions (32% good winds). Overall, the surf here is best when local windswell combines with occasional ground swell, particularly in late autumn and early winter (May-June), but surfers should expect variable wind quality and mostly small to medium-sized waves year-round. If clean conditions align, mid-year offers the most reliable opportunities, but it’s not a high-performance spot.

In April, Praia da Saudade typically experiences a modest swell averaging 0.8m with a decent period of 8.3s, providing relatively clean and rideable waves, though somewhat small for advanced surfers. The swell predominantly arrives from the east-southeast (ESE) and east (E), with the majority of waves falling in the 0.5-1.5m range, making it suitable for beginners and intermediates. Larger swells above 1.5m are rare but occasionally appear, mostly from ESE. Wind conditions are variable, with only 26% of the time offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds (typically ENE to ESE), while the rest tend to be onshore (SE to SSE) or gusty at times, potentially chopping up the waves. Expect a mix of manageable days with clean small waves and others with bumpy, wind-affected conditions. Best sessions likely occur when the easterly swell aligns with ENE or ESE winds for optimal shape.