The Surf Window

Cacimba do Padre

Pernambuco, Brazil

Beach breakAdvanced

The main surf beach on Fernando de Noronha island, Cacimba do Padre receives powerful south and southeast swells that produce hollow, competition-quality waves in one of the most stunningly beautiful natural settings in surfing.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalE (90°)
WindowNNE–SSE (30°–150°)
Size4-8ft

Wind

NW

Offshore

Tide

Any

LowMidHigh

Season

March–August

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Both

Bottom

Sand and some reef

Shape

Hollow, punchy beach break peaks, square lips and excellent barrels on good south swells

Length

40–100m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Advanced
  • •Why: The beach break is powerful and the swell arrives from open ocean without obstruction, hollow and demanding.

Hazards

  • •Tiger sharks are a real and documented hazard, local warnings should be taken seriously
  • •Shallow reef sections mixed into the sandy bottom
  • •Limited access (national park entry fees and visitor caps)

Local Tips

  • •January and February are peak swell months; the waves are best but the island is hottest and the most expensive.
  • •The view of Dois Irmãos ("Two Brothers") sea stacks from the beach during a session is among surfing's most iconic backdrops.

Location

Map showing the location of Cacimba do Padre in Pernambuco, Brazil

-3.8394, -32.4217