Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Praia das Macas for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week and a half is a total bust. From Sunday the 19th right through to Monday the 27th of July, the surf is either flat or junk. We’ve got tiny, weak windswell coming from the NNW, with wave energy readings between 44 and 186 – that’s weak to moderate juice. And the wind is a constant headache. It’s cross-onshore nearly every day, with a moderate to fresh breeze making the surface choppy and lumpy. Swell heights are mostly under 4ft, with a short period under 8 seconds, so there’s no power or shape. It’s a frustrating stretch, but it’s pretty normal for this spot when the wind doesn’t play ball.

Things change on Tuesday the 28th of July. The swell builds fast. Tuesday morning we’ve got a 8ft NNW swell with an 8-second period, and the energy jumps to 651 – that’s moderate. The wind is light and cross-shore, which is a big step up. It’s a bit too big for beginners, but the experienced crew will be eyeing it up. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell is a solid 10ft from the NNW, still with the 8-second period, and the energy is strong at 1102. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’ll be a little messy, but for the guys who know the beach, there will be some heavy, powerful waves.

Wednesday the 29th of July keeps the 10ft swell from the NNW, and the period stretches to 10 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell. The energy is very strong, hitting 1676 in the morning. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s a lot cleaner. This is a big, powerful swell. At 10ft, this is strictly for experts. The long period means the waves will have serious punch, but at a beach break like Praia das Macas, that longer period can make things a bit straight and dumpy. Still, for the brave, it’s proper.

The real standout, the one you need to plan for, is Thursday the 30th of July. The morning session is the gold of the whole forecast. The swell has dropped to a still-chunky 8ft from the NNW, with a 9-second period, and the energy is a solid 885 – strong. But the key is the wind: it’s glassy. A light NNE breeze, described as “Slight air,” with glassy conditions. That’s a rare treat. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing special. This is the best chance for a clean, offshore-style morning with clean, powerful lines. The 8ft swell is still a bit much for beginners, but for intermediates and up, it’s going to be excellent. Crowds are possible at Praia das Macas, so get there early.

The rest of the run into the first few days of August is a letdown. The wind swings back to a strong cross-onshore, with fresh to strong breezes, and the swell drops back to 4ft to 5ft, with the energy sliding back to weak-to-moderate. The period stays at 9 seconds, so there’s some shape, but the wind ruins it. Friday the 31st of July morning has a marginal look with a 6ft swell and a moderate cross-shore wind, but it’s not the clean session we saw on Thursday.

So, the bottom line: the first 9 days are a wash. The real action is a tight window from Tuesday the 28th to Thursday the 30th of July. The standout is Thursday morning the 30th – that glassy, clean, 8ft NW groundswell is the only true gem in this whole forecast. Don’t miss it.

Rusty.

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