Faja da Areia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Pull up a rock and let’s talk about what’s cooking at Faja da Areia over the next couple of weeks.

First off, the water is sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 75°, so you’ll be comfortable in a shorty or even just boardshorts once the sun gets high.

Alright, the honest truth: the next week and a half is a bit of a slog. We’ve got swell running from about 3ft to 6ft, pushing in from the NNE, but the period is short – mostly 6 to 8 seconds – so it’s lacking that grunt. The wind is a persistent cross-on from the NNE or NE, keeping things a little messy with small wind ripples. The combined swell energy sits between 137 and 379 (moderate wave energy), but the quality just isn’t there for a decent paddle. A few sessions on Wednesday 22nd and Monday 27th are tagged as “marginal,” and the swell does bump up to 6ft on Sunday 26th, but with that cross-on wind and short period, it’s more of a chop-fest than anything. Honestly, for the bigger days, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, hang in there, because Tuesday the 28th of July is the standout. The morning is looking glassy – that’s right, glassy – with a slight air from the NE at just 3 mph. The swell drops back to a clean 4ft from the NNE with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 252 (moderate wave energy). The forecast says “expect good surf conditions,” and for a point break that’s inconsistent, this is a rare little window of clean, rideable waves. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so the smaller size is perfect for logging some miles. Just a heads up, crowds are rare here, so you might have it mostly to yourself. The only caveat is that the optimum swell direction is NNW, and we’re getting NNE, so it won’t be maxed out, but clean conditions make up for a lot.

After that, the swell drops right off. Wednesday 29th sees 3ft, and by the end of the first week of August, we’re down to 3ft with periods of 5 seconds. The combined energy dips to 67 (weak wave energy). There’s a brief moment on Monday morning, August 3rd, when it gets glassy again with 3ft waves, but the period is still short at 6 seconds and the energy is low at 116. It’s surfable, but just barely.

So, to wrap it up: the first week to ten days are a write-off unless you’re on a kite. Your best bet, and the only real standout, is Tuesday morning, July 28th, at Faja da Areia. Get it while the glass is on.

Rusty

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