Joaquina
Joaquina is the surfing capital of Santa Catarina and one of the most famous beaches in southern Brazil. The wave breaks over a long sandy stretch backed by impressive dunes, producing powerful lefts that have hosted national and international competitions for decades. The beach has a vibrant surf culture with numerous shapers, surf shops, and restaurants lining the approach road. When solid SE swells hit, the wave can hold double overhead with long, walling rides.
Joaquina 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 FLN, 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 Joaquina 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
- SE (135°)
- Direction range
- 112° - 180°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3.5m
- Ideal size
- 2.2m - 2.9m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Offshore range
- 270° - 360°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Water temp
20°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
8/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Joaquina?
Joaquina is a beach break in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Joaquina?
Joaquina picks up swell from the ESE round to the S, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SE. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3.5m, with the sweet spot around 2.2 to 2.9m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s 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 Joaquina?
A NW wind is dead offshore at Joaquina, and anything from the W round to the N 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 Joaquina?
Joaquina 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 Joaquina?
The most reliable run of swell at Joaquina comes Mar to Oct. Works year-round.
How cold is the water at Joaquina?
The water at Joaquina averages around 20°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 Joaquina good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 8/10), so mind the pecking order. Gets very crowded on good days.
How do I get to Joaquina?
The nearest airport on our list is FLN, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Joaquina?
The closest breaks we track are Praia Mole (4.1 km), Campeche (7.6 km) and Moçambique (14 km), handy when Joaquina isn't working. We track 7 spots around Florianópolis, SC in total.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Works year-round
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Praia Mole
🌴 Floripa's fashion beach • Consistent A-frames • Vibrant scene
Campeche
✅ Floripa's most consistent • Year-round waves • Multiple peaks
Moçambique
🏖️ Floripa's longest beach • Consistent barrels • Multiple peaks
Lagoinha do Leste
🥾 2-hour hike access • Pristine paradise • Worth the effort
Santinho
🏛️ Ancient petroglyphs • Consistent waves • North island gem
Ingleses
👨👩👧 Family beach • NE swell option • Beginner friendly