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.

January at Praia da Saudade offers relatively small but rideable conditions, averaging 0.8m with a decent 7.5s period. The swell comes predominantly from the east to southeast, with the majority of waves ranging between 0.5m and 1.5m (peaking around 36.77% for E at 0.5-1m). Larger waves (1.5-2m) are less frequent but do occur, mainly from the E, ENE, and ESE directions. Wind conditions are variable, with ideal surfing winds (offshore or light cross-shore) present only 23% of the time. The most common winds are NE to SE at 10-20kph, which can create some chop. Stronger winds (20-30kph) occur occasionally, particularly from the SE and SSE, potentially making conditions messy. Overall, expect smaller, playful waves with occasional clean sessions when winds align favorably—best suited for longboarders or those looking for mellower rides in warm Brazilian waters.