Barra da Una (Bertioga)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Barra da Una (Bertioga) is a river-mouth surfing spot on the north coast near the Una River, where small, peeling waves can be a fun and forgiving option—especially for beginners and longboarders. Tide is important here: multiple references point to low tide as the best condition for the river-mouth sandbars, which helps the waves organize into long, soft rides. Wind also plays a role in cleanup; offshore winds from the North can improve small swell texture, though overall wind reliability is described as low. Sessions should be planned around safety. Expect river currents and rip-current risk at the river mouth, and watch carefully for boat traffic and debris—especially after heavy rain when river discharge can worsen conditions and potentially make waves close out or get messy. For timing, December through February are highlighted for wind conditions, while surfing conditions are also associated with the winter period for more consistent swell. Lifeguards are described as seasonal and rescue availability as limited, so surf with conservative margins and avoid the marked boat channels when near the mouth.
- Low-tide friendly river-mouth sandbars for gentle, peeling waves
- Offshore North winds can clean up small swells
- Long, soft ride potential when sandbars are well-formed
- Beginner-friendly, gentle, peeling waves
- Works best at low tide with forgiving rides
- Can be relatively calm/usable thanks to the river-mouth/sandbar setup
- Seasonal lifeguards and limited rescue coverage
- River-current and rip-current hazards near the river mouth
- Boat traffic near the channel
- Wind reliability is described as low
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW, NE
- Offshore directions
- N, NW, NE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze conditions are expected, with light morning offshore tendencies and afternoon sea breezes.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- December, January, February
- Shadow Zones
- Hills around the river valley can block certain wind directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy river-mouth setup.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Waves are generally small.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach at the river mouth.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Accessible wide sandy launch area at the river mouth.
Through the year
Very crowded during summer holidays (December–February) and weekends.
Summer (December–March) is the rainy season with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
The river mouth and calmer river water can be used for foiling/winging in lighter winds, though it is not described as a primary destination for wingfoiling.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions are limited at this spot.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
A beginner-friendly river-mouth surf area with gentle, peeling waves that can produce long, soft rides depending on sandbar formation. Works best around low tide.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered due to the river-mouth/sandbar setup; offshore winds from the North help keep the wave faces clean.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the North clean up the small swells.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out or get messy during heavy rain when river discharge increases.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Quality is described as good/average with forgiving takeoffs for learners.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Waves are generally manageable and forgiving.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Gentle, peeling lines suited to learning and longboard-style riding.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Often offers longer soft rides when sandbars are well-formed.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- About 50 to 150 meters; can offer long soft rides when sandbars are well-formed.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Barra da Una (Bertioga) in the full forecast view.
Barra da Una (Bertioga) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–11 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- SSW197°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2511 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–1.5 m8s period
- Temperature
- 17–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Barra da Una (Bertioga) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.5–1.5 m with a period of about 8s. 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
- River currents
- Boat traffic from nearby marinas and the river channel
- Rip currents at the river mouth
- Debris after heavy rain
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue is limited, with seasonal beach surveillance and water rescue.
- Emergency Info
- Hospitals are located in Bertioga and São Sebastião city centers.
Rules of the spot
Avoid marked boat channels when surfing near the river mouth.
- The northern side of the beach near the river is best for surfing.
- Check river flow after heavy rains as it can bring debris.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- São Sebastião
- Nearest Town
- Barra da Una
- Nearest Airport
- São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) (~105 km)
- Parking
- Street parking available in the village and near the beach access
- Public Transport
- Inter-municipal buses connect the area to São Paulo and Santos; a car is highly recommended for equipment transport.
- Access
- Accessible via the Rio-Santos highway (BR-101)
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation includes beachside pousadas and vacation rentals in the Barra da Una village.
- Food & Drink
- Numerous kiosks and seafood restaurants along the river and beach.
- Equipment Rental:
- Local kiosks often rent surfboards and stand-up paddleboards. Equipment rental is also available at main beach entry points and via local schools.
- Gear Storage
- Offered by some specialized nautical clubs and schools near the river mouths.
- Gear Repair
- Basic sail and board repair services available in Bertioga and nearby São Sebastião.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Barra da Una (Bertioga)?
The best overall months at Barra da Una (Bertioga) are January, February. The best wind months are December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Barra da Una (Bertioga)?
Barra da Una (Bertioga) works with N, NW, NE winds. Offshore directions are N, NW, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Barra da Una (Bertioga)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Barra da Una (Bertioga): Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 5–15 kts.
What skill level is Barra da Una (Bertioga) suitable for?
Barra da Una (Bertioga) suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.