Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with ya – this 16-day window for Praia das Macas is a tough one. We’re looking at a real quiet spell for a stretch, then a pulse of swell later on, but it’s gonna be messy. Let’s break it down.

We’re starting off with hardly any surf to speak of. From now through most of the first week, it’s tiny. We’re talking small, weak swell around 1ft to 2ft, with periods mostly under 9 seconds. The wind is a constant problem, blowing cross-on from the NNW or W, keeping the surface choppy and lumpy. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 40 and 137 (weak to moderate energy). Honestly, for the first 10 days or so, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The conditions are just poor, with a score of zero. It’s a real frustrating stretch.

The water temp is about average for the time of year, so at least that’s not a shock to the system.

Now, we do finally see a bit of a pulse around the 20th of July and into the following week. The swell picks up, with heights reaching 5ft to 6ft from the NNW, and the period gets a bit better, up to 8 seconds. The combined energy ramps up too, hitting 354 (moderate) on the 20th morning, and then 498 (moderate) on the 21st morning. That’s a real increase in power.

But here’s the kicker – the wind is still a mess. It’s all cross-on from the NNW, with speeds around 12 to 19 mph. The surf reports are still calling it “poor” with a score of zero. It’s going to be bumpy, choppy, and tough to get a clean ride. For a beginner spot like this, with the swell over 5ft and that wind, it’s really not the place to be. The onshore wind and short period mean it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The only glimmer of hope comes on the 22nd of July, Wednesday morning. The swell is still 5ft from the NNW, but the wind shifts to a light WSW at 6 mph, just a light cross-on. The report bumps it up to a “marginal” score of 1 out of 10. That’s the closest we get to a window. If you’re desperate, that’s your best bet, but I’d still be keeping expectations low.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total write-off. The second week has more size, but it’s blown out. The standout, if you can call it that, is Wednesday the 22nd of July morning. The rest of the run is just a long, poor stretch of onshore slop.

Rusty, signing off.

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