Surfing Cardoso Point: The Complete Guide

Cardoso Point is a point break located in Laguna, SC, Brazil, offering a right-hander along South America's vast coastline. Cardoso Point is part of Santa Catarina's famous "Big Surf Route" and offers one of the region's best right-hand point breaks. Rated as advanced difficulty with moderately 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 SSE (157°), with workable conditions from SE to SSW (135°–200°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Cardoso Point needs a minimum of 1.2m / 4ft to start working and handles swells up to 3.5m / 11ft 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 N (0°). The full offshore range spans NW to NE (315°–45°). 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 Cardoso Point runs March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Mar–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Season Notes: Best in autumn/winter

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 19°C / 66°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is FLN, approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes by road.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded

Rocky point, local crew

Safety Tips:

Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

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

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Cardoso Point? 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 Cardoso Point is firing.

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