Gongaza
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Gongaza is a sheltered city beach break in Santos with generally consistent but typically very small surf. Most surf days are reported as small, and only a small fraction of days are described as clean. The wave character is usually gentle and mushy, with slow peeling sections that can still produce rideable lines for longboarders and first-time surfers. Wind for the spot is centered on north winds, with some descriptions noting north to northwest ranges and sea-breeze influence. Conditions are often described as clean/offshore with north wind, though reliability is also described as low, and tall beachfront buildings can create wind shadows close to shore. The main safety issue is water quality. Pollution and urban runoff are specifically called out as hazards, and CETESB reports are frequently noted as 'imprópria', particularly after heavy rains. If you plan to enter the water, check the latest water-quality flags before launching or paddling. For timing, sources suggest early morning as a better window for surf before the sea breeze strengthens. Lifeguards are described as present year-round, and emergency numbers are provided (193 fire, 190 police, 192 medical/ambulance). Overall, Gongaza is best treated as a learner-friendly, convenient, urban surf option with strong infrastructure—but with careful attention to water-quality conditions.
- Sheltered, consistent small surf
- Beginner-friendly long, mushy rides
- North winds can offer cleaner/offshore conditions
- Water quality can be problematic; check CETESB before entering
- Sheltered beach break with consistent surf conditions
- Beginner-friendly long, mushy, slow-peeling waves suited to longboarding and learning
- Urban access with regular beach infrastructure, rentals, and nearby medical/emergency services
- Often very small, gentle waves and a high rate of small-surf days
- Water quality can be affected by urban runoff and is frequently rated as 'imprópria' by CETESB (especially after heavy rains)
- Wind reliability can be low and tall buildings can create local wind shadows
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N
- Offshore directions
- N
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — North winds are described as providing relatively clean/offshore conditions for surfing.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- May
- Shadow Zones
- Tall buildings along the beachfront can create wind shadows near the shore.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Often very small; monthly small-surf percentage is reported as high.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy city beach with gentle slope and plenty of space at low tide.
Through the year
Extremely crowded during summer holidays (December–February) and sunny weekends year-round.
January to March is the wettest period with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible during stronger frontal passages, but more of a secondary option compared to other local wind-sport setups.
- Sail Sizes
- 6–8 m²
Potential for learning thanks to a sandy bottom and generally small waves, though depth can be shallow farther out.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.2m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Gongaza is a sheltered, gentle beach break with consistent but typically small surf. Monthly patterns indicate many small days and a low clean-surf percentage.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Sheltered — A sheltered city beach setting that keeps surf relatively gentle and consistent.
- Wind Effect
- North winds provide clean offshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Closes out when the swell exceeds 2 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Sheltered conditions with gentle, often mushy surf; only a small fraction of days are reported as clean.
- Wave Power
- Soft
- Wave Shape
- Mushy
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves are generally slow-peeling on high-volume boards; ride length is often short to moderate.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Gongaza in the full forecast view.
Gongaza wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–11 ktsGusts 24 kts
- Direction
- SSE153°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2611 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.5 m5s period
- Temperature
- 18–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, Gongaza is forecast for daytime winds of 2–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 24 kts. The prevailing direction is SSE. Waves run 0.1–0.5 m with a period of about 5s. 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
- Pollution
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Year-round — Lifeguard stations (Posto 4 and 5) are located nearby along the beach.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Emergency numbers: 193 (fire), 190 (police), 192 (medical/ambulance).
Rules of the spot
Respect designated swimming zones; surfing is generally permitted but keep distance from high-density swimming areas near kiosks. No surfing in swim-only zones.
- No surfing in swim-only zones
- Check water quality reports before entering (CETESB water quality flags).
- Best surf is early morning before the sea breeze kicks in.
- Respect designated swimming zones and keep clear of swim-only areas.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Santos
- Nearest Town
- Santos
- Parking
- On-street parking is available along the beachfront (Zona Azul) but can be difficult to find on weekends; nearby street and lot parking also available.
- Public Transport
- excellent local bus network and VLT (Light Rail Vehicle) connecting Santos and São Vicente; commuter rail/buses connect Santos to São Paulo
- Access
- Urban beach accessible via city beachfront avenues; very easy to reach by car, bus, or bicycle.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and apartments located directly across the street from the beach; city accommodation throughout Santos.
- Food & Drink
- Nearby bars and restaurants along the promenade; beach kiosks (kiosques) serving snacks and drinks.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is described as available via local surf schools and sometimes directly from beach kiosks.
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 Gongaza?
The best overall months at Gongaza are May.
Which wind directions work at Gongaza?
Gongaza works with N winds. Offshore directions are N.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Gongaza?
Recommended equipment sizes at Gongaza: Windsurfing: 6–8 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 5–15 kts.
What skill level is Gongaza suitable for?
Gongaza suits these riding levels: Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.