Back Beach
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Back Beach is a lower-profile surf location on the Inhambane coast with a beach-and-reef setup that can produce punchy, fast waves. The break is reported as uncrowded even during good conditions, making it attractive when you want less crowded lineups compared with the more central Tofo beaches. The most reliable window is winter, particularly June through August, when consistent swells align with winds that are often offshore in the morning. When wind and swell connect well, the waves are described as hollow and powerful, with fast peaks and rides that can range from short to medium but often feel lively and performance-oriented. Sessions can be demanding due to hazards and water movement. Sources consistently flag rocks and sharks as key hazards, and conditions often include strong rip currents and side drift. The spot also has exposed characteristics, so wind direction can quickly change the texture of the surf—generally cleaner when offshore (West/Northwest) and choppier when the trade/prevailing flow turns on. For planning, note that lifeguard/rescue support is not available, so surf with appropriate safety margins (partner/group support and awareness of rips near the rock/reef features). Summer water is warmer and can be comfortable with lighter layers, but the winter period is the primary target for surf quality and consistency.
- June–August winter window with consistent swell
- Offshore-morning winds can create cleaner conditions
- Uncrowded beach-and-reef lineup
- Hollow, powerful wave shape when conditions line up
- Uncrowded lineups are reported even on good days
- Winter swell window (June–August) tends to deliver consistent surf conditions
- Often hollow, fast, and punchy when winds/swell combine
- Rocks and sharks present, with reef patches and isolated rock outcrops in the lineup
- Strong rip currents and side drift can make sessions demanding
- No lifeguards/rescue service; plans for self-rescue and partner support are important
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, W, NW
- Offshore directions
- W, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade-wind regime; offshore mornings and choppy conditions later as trades/prevailing flow shift.
- Reliability
- 58% monthly blown
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- June, July, August
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Mixed
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with dunes.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Big — Reported as big and can become very heavy/challenging with strong rips.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Can turn choppy when winds shift away from offshore mornings.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach with dunes.
Through the year
Relatively few surfers even during peak swell months compared to the main beach area.
December to March (rainy season; cyclone risk in southern Mozambique).
By sport
What to expect for each.
A mix of beach and reef breaks with punchy, sometimes hollow waves. Works best in the winter swell window (June–August), with offshore morning winds producing cleaner conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open-coast exposure with limited protection; reefs/rock outcrops and the beach-reef layout shape the break.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore in West to Northwest winds; turns choppy with prevailing Southeast trade influences.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but becomes very heavy and challenging with strong rips.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality is reported when swell and winds line up.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Becomes much bigger than the main beach; often hollow and fast on the right swell.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Long rides reported across top sections; rides often short to medium with fast, punchy peaks depending on wave size.
- Ride Length Details
- Fast peaks with short to medium rides often ending in hollow sections.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Back Beach in the full forecast view.
Back Beach wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 8–17 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- ESE117°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2817 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–2.5 m7s period
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Back Beach is forecast for daytime winds of 8–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 1.0–2.5 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sharks
- Strong rip currents
- Side drift
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No organized public lifeguard/rescue service.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency numbers in Mozambique: 117 (Police) and 119 (Medical Support). The nearest hospital is the Inhambane Provincial Hospital in Inhambane city.
Rules of the spot
Surfing hazards include rocks and sharks; pay extra attention to sections with isolated rock/reef patches and to rip-current conditions.
- Often much less crowded than the main nearby bay; still watch for the rocks at the southern end of the stretch.
- Surfing is best when the swell is too small for the stronger nearby alternative.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Inhambane
- Nearest Town
- Inhambane
- Nearest Airport
- Inhambane Airport (INH)
- Parking
- Limited informal parking in the sandy areas behind the dunes.
- Public Transport
- Mainly informal minibuses (chapas) and private airport transfers from Inhambane.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous lodges, guest houses, and hostels in nearby Tofo.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants and beach bars are concentrated in the Tofo village area, a short distance away.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental boards available at shops in Tofo village.
- Gear Storage
- Limited dedicated storage facilities outside of specific surf and kite lodges.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard ding repair available at shops in Tofo.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The wider Inhambane coast is a marine megafauna destination, with seasonal and year-round adventure experiences closely tied to coastal conditions.
Ocean safaris to see whale sharks and manta rays, described as resident year-round.
World-renowned dive site famous for manta ray cleaning stations.
Colonial-era architecture and cathedrals in one of the oldest settlements in Mozambique.
Local hub for fresh seafood, traditional matapa, and local crafts.
Boat tours suitable for families to view dolphins and whales.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Back Beach?
The best overall months at Back Beach are May, June, July, August. The best wind months are June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Back Beach?
Back Beach works with S, W, NW winds. Offshore directions are W, NW.
What skill level is Back Beach suitable for?
Back Beach suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.