Paúba is one of the heaviest shorebreak barrels in São Paulo state, a wave that throws over extremely shallow water with punishing force. The wave is for experts only, as wipeouts result in violent contact with the hard sand bottom. When conditions are perfect, the tubes here rival anything in Brazil, but the consequences demand respect.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
21°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
5/10
Paúba is a beach break in São Sebastião, SP, Brazil, that mostly breaks left.
Paúba picks up swell from the SSE round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. 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 Paúba, 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.
Paúba 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 Paúba comes Mar to Oct. Best with SW swells.
The water at Paúba 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 8/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Heavy shorebreak, shallow.
The nearest airport on our list is GRU, then it's roughly a 2.5-hour drive.
The closest breaks we track are Maresias (2.5 km) and Camburi (8.3 km), handy when Paúba isn't working.
Peak: Mar-Oct
Best with SW swells
🏆 Gabriel Medina's home • World-class beach break • Legendary nightlife
🏄 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