Cantinho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at Cantinho, a point break that’s very consistent. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but hold your horses, because the next week and a half is a real mixed bag of disappointing conditions. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days are a write-off. Saturday July 11th through Wednesday July 15th, the surf is just dribbling in. Tiny 1ft to 2ft swells, mostly from the NW, with weak energy readings (as low as 46 in the energy bracket). The wind is a mess – cross, cross-on, onshore – it’s choppy and ugly. Honestly, there’s nothing to get excited about. You’d be better off mowing the lawn.

Thursday July 16th through Sunday July 19th, the swell size starts to bump up, hitting 5ft on Friday morning and peaking at 7ft on Saturday morning the 18th. That’s moderate energy now (549), but the wind is a killer. Fresh cross-onshore breezes from the N and NNW, gusting 19 mph, are just going to tear it up. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” for every single one of these slots. This is one for the kites, not the paddle crowd.

Monday July 20th brings a little relief. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the NNW with a gentle cross-shore breeze from the NNE. It’s not perfect, but it's the best we’ve seen in days. The wave state is “gentle cross-shore with slight cross-chop”. Still, the score is a zero, so it’s hardly a standout.

Now, pay attention to Tuesday July 21st. That Tuesday morning is the one true highlight in this whole 16-day window. The swell is a clean 3ft from the NNW, period 9 seconds, and the wind goes light and cross-off from the ENE. The wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”, but the energy is a decent 200, and the wind state is “clean”. For Cantinho, that’s the best we’ve got. The waves will be small but properly shaped, and the offshore wind will keep the faces smooth. Expect crowds here because it’s popular, and with the recent flat spell, everyone will be out.

Wednesday July 22nd morning has a 6ft swell from the NNW, but with a light cross-on wind from the WSW. It’s marginal, with a score of 1 out of 10, but it’s too big for beginners at that size. After that, it’s back to strong onshore winds and choppy, lumpy conditions through the end of the month.

So, to sum it up: the whole period is largely a bust for quality surf. The only real window to get a clean wave is Tuesday morning July 21st. It won’t be epic, but a 3ft wave with glassy cross-off wind at a point break? That’s your session. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too messy.

Rusty, signing off.

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