Capão da Canoa
Capão da Canoa is one of Rio Grande do Sul's most popular beach towns, offering consistent surf along a long stretch of sandy coast. The waves are beginner-to-intermediate friendly and the town has a developed tourist infrastructure. Cold water is standard here, with temps dipping to 15°C in winter.
Capão da Canoa surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to POA, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when South America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in South America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Prefere português? Receba o Strike Report em português, grátis →
Get the full Capão da Canoa trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSE (157°)
- Direction range
- 135° - 172°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.4m - 1.7m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 45°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
5/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Capão da Canoa?
Capão da Canoa is a beach break in Capão da Canoa, RS, Brazil, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Capão da Canoa?
Capão da Canoa picks up swell from the SE round to the S, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSE. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.4 to 1.7m. 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.
What wind is offshore at Capão da Canoa?
A N wind is dead offshore at Capão da Canoa, and anything from the NW round to the NE 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.
What tide is best at Capão da Canoa?
Capão da Canoa 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.
When is the best time of year to surf Capão da Canoa?
The most reliable run of swell at Capão da Canoa comes Mar to Oct. Best in winter.
How cold is the water at Capão da Canoa?
The water at Capão da Canoa averages around 17°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Capão da Canoa good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on.
How do I get to Capão da Canoa?
The nearest airport on our list is POA, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive.
What other surf spots are near Capão da Canoa?
The closest breaks we track are Torres Guarita (52 km), Ilha dos Lobos (53 km) and Torres Praia da Cal (54 km), handy when Capão da Canoa isn't working. Fun fact: it's the second most southerly break we track in Brazil.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Best in winter
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Torres Guarita
🏞️ Rock formations • Natural park • Scenic setting
Ilha dos Lobos
⚡ Brazil's Teahupoo • Conservation restricted • Maximum power
Torres Praia da Cal
🪨 Dramatic cliffs • Quality peaks • Unique geology
Laje de Jaguaruna
🌊 Brazil's Nazaré • Tow-in slab • 50ft+ potential
Camacho
🛣️ Big Surf Route • Wild dune setting • Uncrowded peaks
Farol de Santa Marta
🏠 Lighthouse point • Dramatic quality jump • Big wave potential