Buraquinho
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop, Small waves, Medium waves
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Buraquinho is a shallow, generally clean Bahia North Coast spot where wind sports can combine flat water at the river mouth with small-to-medium waves in the ocean nearby. The beach is described as sandy and small, with conditions influenced strongly by tide and your position relative to the Rio Joanes outlet. For kitesurfing, the best wind direction is NE, and the most favorable months are January, February, and September through December. Typical wind is in the mid-to-high teens to low twenties in knots, with trade winds often reinforced by an afternoon sea breeze in the dry-season months. Riders commonly use kite sizes around 9–12 m² (for an average weight), though this will still depend on conditions and personal setup. Safety at Buraquinho is mainly about the river. Strong river currents are a major factor, particularly during ebb/outgoing tide, and there can be additional hazards such as submerged rocks, fishing nets, and river traffic (boats and jet skis). Launching and riding areas can also change quickly with the tide—at peak high tide, the launch beach can become very narrow—so careful tide awareness is critical. For other sports, surfing is possible as a beach break with average wave quality, short rides, and mixed wave shape. Winds from NE can make waves choppy, while cleaner E/SE exposure tends to improve conditions. Water and air are warm all year long, and wetsuits are generally not required—use sun protection (and optional light coverage such as a rash guard) for comfort and wind exposure.
- Reliable NE trade-wind window from September to December (and also January–February)
- Warm water/air all year round; no wetsuit required
- River-mouth + nearby ocean waves in one spot
- Showers and toilets; food and beach-bar services
- Best wind is East/Northeast, with a strong seasonal window and generally high reliability in the peak months
- Warm water and air all year long (no wetsuit required; sun protection recommended)
- Good beach infrastructure including showers and toilets, plus food and beach-bar facilities
- Versatile riding options: flat river-mouth water plus nearby ocean waves
- Strong river-current influence near the Rio Joanes mouth (especially on ebb/outgoing tides)
- Shifting depth and launch area can become very narrow at peak high tide
- Weekend/holiday crowds can increase risk and may trigger kiting restrictions in swimmer zones
- Onshore NE winds can create choppy wave conditions
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Wind Range
- 15–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — East/Northeast trade winds, often reinforced by afternoon thermal sea breeze near the coast.
- Reliability
- high during the peak season from September to January
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- January, February, September, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop, Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small surf/waves are reported, with small to medium waves depending on position and tide.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Chop can increase with onshore NE winds and near the river mouth.
- Launch
- Small — Sandy beach area near the river mouth, becoming narrow at high tide.
Through the year
Very crowded on weekends and holidays year-round; quieter on weekdays.
April to July (typical rainy season).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Flat water at the river mouth with nearby wave riding in the ocean; conditions vary with tide, currents, and proximity to the river outlet.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Suitable for freeride and wave styles, especially in the ocean section; the launch can be tricky due to river currents.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–6.5 m²
The river mouth can provide a relatively calm entry for foiling, but riders must be mindful of depth variations and strong current.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Small to medium beach-break waves; fun but short rides, with better results when the swell and tide line up.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Beach break works best on an incoming tide; some sources also note it can be better at high tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Onshore NE winds can make the waves choppy; E/SE winds are cleaner.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out on larger swells over 2 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Mixed
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Short
- Ride Length Details
- Quick beach break peaks that work best on an incoming tide.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Buraquinho in the full forecast view.
Buraquinho wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–14 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- E88°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.1–1.6 m7s period
- Temperature
- 24–34 °C
Over the next 7 days, Buraquinho is forecast for daytime winds of 3–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 1.1–1.6 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
- Strong river currents (Rio Joanes), especially during ebb/outgoing tide
- Submerged rocks
- River boat and jet ski traffic
- Beach crowds
- Fishing nets
- Rocks along the edges and riverbanks
- Potential driftwood in the river mouth
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Limited rescue availability noted for the area.
- Emergency Info
- Hospitals are available in Lauro de Freitas and nearby Salvador.
Rules of the spot
Respect the designated swimmer zones near the beach bars.
- Kiting can be restricted in very crowded swimmer areas during peak summer weekends.
- Watch the tide carefully; the beach area for launching can become very narrow/disappear at peak high tide.
- Expect very strong current at the river mouth during outgoing tide, pulling you toward the sea.
- When winds are onshore from NE, conditions can get choppy—ride a bit more toward cleaner E/SE wind exposure when possible.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Lauro de Freitas
- Nearest Town
- Vilas do Atlântico
- Nearest Airport
- Salvador-Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA)
- Parking
- Unknown if parking is available at Buraquinho (also noted: public parking may be available near beach bars).
- Public Transport
- Local buses and ride-sharing services from Salvador and Lauro de Freitas; access to private gated areas may require pre-authorization.
- Access
- From the airport about 10 minutes by car to Vilas do Atlântico and from there 5 minutes to Buraquinho Beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous pousadas and hotels in Vilas do Atlântico and Lauro de Freitas.
- Food & Drink
- Food available on the spot; abundant beach bars serving local Bahian cuisine and drinks.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental equipment available through local schools/clubs along the Villas do Atlântico beach strip adjacent to the region.
- Gear Storage
- Offered by some local schools.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs can be handled by local schools; major repairs may require transport to workshops in Salvador.
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 Buraquinho?
The best overall months at Buraquinho are January, February, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Buraquinho?
Buraquinho works with NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Buraquinho?
Recommended equipment sizes at Buraquinho: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–6.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–22 kts.
What skill level is Buraquinho suitable for?
Buraquinho suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Beginner to Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.