Maresias is Gabriel Medina's home break and arguably the most high-performance beach break in Brazil. The wave breaks over shifting sandbars that produce world-class barrels when autumn and winter swells push up from the south. The "Canto do Moreira" section at the south end is the most famous peak, where Medina grew up learning the airs and tubes that would make him a two-time world champion. The nightlife here is legendary, making it a complete surf trip destination.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
21°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
9/10
Maresias is a beach break in São Sebastião, SP, Brazil, with peaks that run both left and right.
Maresias picks up swell from the SSE round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. 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.
A N wind is dead offshore at Maresias, 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.
Maresias 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.
The most reliable run of swell at Maresias comes Mar to Oct. Year-round with best swells in autumn/winter.
The water at Maresias averages around 21°C, so you'll want a springsuit or 2mm. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 9/10), so mind the pecking order. Heavy local crew, can get very crowded.
The nearest airport on our list is GRU, then it's roughly a 2.5-hour drive.
The closest breaks we track are Paúba (2.5 km) and Camburi (9.6 km), handy when Maresias isn't working.
Peak: Mar-Oct
Year-round with best swells in autumn/winter
💥 Heavy shorebreak • Experts only • Maximum consequences
🏄 All levels welcome • Peeling walls • Longboard friendly
🏆 Competition venue • Multiple quality peaks • Year-round versatility
🌆 São Paulo's closest surf • Rocky corner rights • Weekend escape
🏛️ Near colonial Paraty • Rocky point • Jungle setting
⛺ Remote adventure • Camping community • Complete isolation