Camboinhas offers a mellower alternative to the powerful waves at nearby Itacoatiara. The beach is protected and produces smaller, more manageable waves suitable for beginners and intermediates. A good option when other spots are too big.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
22°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
3/10
Crowd level
4/10
Camboinhas is a beach break in Niterói, RJ, Brazil, with peaks that run both left and right.
Camboinhas picks up swell from the ESE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSE. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 1.5m, with the sweet spot around 1 to 1.3m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
A NE wind is dead offshore at Camboinhas, and anything from the N round to the E keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Camboinhas isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
Camboinhas works year-round. Year-round.
The water at Camboinhas averages around 22°C, so you'll want a springsuit or 2mm. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Yes, it's one of the friendlier waves around, rated 3/10 for difficulty. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on.
The nearest airport on our list is GIG, then it's roughly a 40-minute drive.
The closest breaks we track are Piratininga (1.8 km), Itacoatiara (4.9 km) and Laje do Shock (5.7 km), handy when Camboinhas isn't working. We track 4 spots around Niterói, RJ in total.
Peak: Jan-Dec
Year-round
🌊 All levels option • Niterói reliability • Less crowded
⚡ Rio's most powerful wave • Dramatic boulder setting • Competition venue
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🌴 Iconic Copa • Heavy shorebreak • Urban surf
🌅 Brazil's iconic wave • Night surfing • Legendary sunsets
🌊 Rio's big wave spot • Handles size • Powerful rights