Surfing Cepilho: The Complete Guide

Cepilho is a point break located in Paraty, RJ, Brazil, offering both lefts and rights along South America's vast coastline. Cepilho is a rocky point break near the colonial town of Paraty, offering quality waves in a stunning jungle-meets-ocean setting. Rated as advanced difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (202°), with workable conditions from SSE to WSW (157°–247°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Cepilho needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the NE (45°). The full offshore range spans N to E (0°–90°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid tide.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Cepilho runs April, May, June, July, August, September (Apr–Sep). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Season Notes: Best with SW swells

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 22°C / 72°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is GIG, approximately 3 hours by road.

Access: Near historic Paraty town

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup

Rocky point

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Cepilho? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Cepilho is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*