Pedra Virada
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Empty
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Pedra Virada is an advanced, powerful left-hand reef-rock surf spot off Maceió. The wave is described as fast, hollow, and powerful, with reef/reef-rocky conditions that create a memorable but demanding line. It works best with south swells and during low to mid-tide windows. The spot’s swell is reported to hold up to around 2.5 meters (and beyond) before closing out, making it a high-performance option when the tide and swell line up. Access is a major factor: getting in typically requires swimming or a very long paddle from the Pajuçara/Pajucara beach area (reported around 1.5–2 km, and also described as swimming around 2 km), or alternatively using a boat. Because the reef can become dangerously shallow at low tide and the coastline is rugged, this limits the spot to experienced surfers. Safety planning is essential. Hazards include sharp reef/rocks and strong currents, with additional risks from the distance offshore and dehydration during the paddle. Priority on the peak and local surfer respect are noted as part of the etiquette at this wave.
- Fast, hollow lefts
- South-swell oriented reef break
- Low-to-mid tide performance
- Rugged, remote access via long paddle/swim or boat
- High-quality, regional-classic left-hand reef break
- Fast, hollow, powerful wave shape
- Best performance with south swells at low to mid tide
- Difficult launch/access involving a long swim/paddle or rock traversal
- Exposed reef setup with strong tidal currents and shallow reef heads
- No dedicated rescue availability reported for this spot
- Advanced wave demands expert-level surfing
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, E, SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade winds consistent on the Maceió coast (Alizios), with directions commonly E/ESE and sometimes shifting toward NE in peak summer.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Steady
- Best Months
- June, July, August, September
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocks/reef-dominated shoreline with reef heads; bottom described as sandy with rock in one dataset.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Huge — Also described as medium in another dataset; commonly characterized as able to hold up to 2.5m+.
- Launch
- Small — Beach launch from Pajuçara followed by a long paddle (or swimming/rock traversal from the Pajuçara area).
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Swimming/paddling ~1.5–2 km or walking on rocks, plus reef hazards and shallow water at low tide.
Through the year
Generally empty due to difficult access and advanced nature of the wave.
Rainy season typically occurs from May to July.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Fast, hollow, powerful left-hand reef-rock wave on an exposed reef/reef-rocky setup. Works best with south swells at low to mid tide; holds swell size well before closing out.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- S
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Best at low and mid tide; low tide can create dangerously shallow conditions over the reef.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break (rock/reef heads exposed to the ocean).
- Wind Effect
- Cross-onshore trade winds can ruffle the face; light morning winds are preferred.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to about 2.5 meters or more before closing out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional classic; good quality lefts.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal (50 to 150m); also described as medium/typical ~100m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal (50 to 150m).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Pedra Virada in the full forecast view.
Pedra Virada wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–18 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- ENE76°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2618 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.5 m7s period
- Temperature
- 25–32 °C
Over the next 7 days, Pedra Virada is forecast for daytime winds of 6–18 kts, peaking around 18 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.8–1.5 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
- Sharp reef
- Rocks
- Reef
- Strong currents
- Distance from shore
- Dehydration during long paddle
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No specialized rescue availability reported for this spot setup.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services are available in Maceió city center.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Local surfer priority rules apply.
Rules of the spot
Priority is given to those deepest on the peak; respect the local surfers.
- Access is best via a boat or a very long paddle from Pajuçara Beach.
- Be aware of the tide as the reef can become dangerously shallow at low tide.
- Dehydration can be an issue during the long paddle; plan accordingly.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Maceió
- Nearest Town
- Maceió
- Access
- Swimming approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers from Pajuçara beach area (or walking on rocks from the same area). Requires swimming/rock traversal or a boat; swimming/entry described as ~2 km from Pajuçara (Pajuçara/Pajucara) beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and pousadas are located in the Pajuçara and Ponta Verde districts.
- Food & Drink
- Abundant restaurants and kiosks are available on the mainland beach of Pajuçara.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available through local schools and beachfront kiosks; surf shops offer board rentals and wax.
- Gear Storage
- Secure storage is offered by many schools and specialized pousadas near the area (regional cluster context).
- Gear Repair
- Surf shops in Maceió provide fiberglass and epoxy repairs.
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 Pedra Virada?
The best overall months at Pedra Virada are June, July, August. The best wind months are June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Pedra Virada?
Pedra Virada works with NE, E, SE winds.
What skill level is Pedra Virada suitable for?
Pedra Virada suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.