Garopaba
Brazil · South America
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.9m S
Wind: 3 km/h NNW (offshore)
Beach faces: ESE
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:06Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Warm 23°C water. Shortie or boardshorts.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.1m swell at 7s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 23°C.
AI-generated summary for Garopaba. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Garopaba
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 8am (score: 41). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
Record your session, conditions and gear.
Sign up to save favourite spots and get surf alerts
Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Garopaba.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Garopaba
Garopaba is a highly sheltered, sweeping beach break situated on the coast of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The bathymetry consists of an exceptionally flat gradient of compacted fine sand within a deeply recessed, north-facing bay. This prominent horseshoe geography provides substantial protection from the dominant, highly energetic south-easterly Atlantic storms. To produce rideable surf, it relies on easterly swells or heavily refracted south-easterly pulses, groomed by a north-westerly offshore wind. Because the wave energy is significantly attenuated before reaching the shore and breaks over a gentle slope, the resulting waves are extremely soft, slow-rolling, and lack steepness. These highly forgiving mechanics make Garopaba an idyllic location for absolute beginner surfers and longboarders. It provides a safe, low-consequence environment free from severe currents or heavy impact zones, allowing novices to comfortably practice fundamental balance and wave-catching skills.
Working in Garopaba this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Garopaba find you.
Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Garopaba. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Garopaba?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.