Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) is a sheltered sand-and-rock bay spot known primarily for a right-hand point break that is rare and strongly dependent on swell size and timing. For surfing, it works with east to northeast swells, and it typically requires a solid east swell above roughly 1.5 meters to start behaving properly. When it does work, it can hold size around the point and deliver long rides (with exceptional days described as very long). Surf conditions are described as clean and the wave quality as excellent/classic when it fires. South to Southeast (and specifically south-southwest preferred/offshore) winds support the surf by keeping wind off the face. However, the spot is described as rarely breaking (low frequency), so you should expect lots of non-working sessions and plan around swell windows and timing. For wind sports, North and North-East winds are the key for kitesurfing in spring, with best months given as September through November (also extending into December in one seasonal wind description). Thermal reinforcement in the afternoon is described in the broader north-bay area, which can help stabilize ride conditions during daytime hours. Typical kitesurfing wind speeds are provided as roughly 12–22 knots, and kitesize guidance is commonly listed in the 9–14 m² range. Safety is a major theme at this launch: rocks near the point, rips/drift depending on tide and swell, and ship/boat traffic hazards are repeatedly noted. The beach can also be narrow and tight during high tides, which matters for kite setup and launch safety. If you kite, avoid crowded swimmer areas in summer and account for limited space at high tide; lifeguards are described as seasonal and rescue availability is limited.
- Very sheltered right-hand point break that is rare but can be high quality
- North/Northeast winds supported by afternoon thermal reinforcement for wind sports
- Surf needs east/Northeast swell and typically low tide
- Sheltered right-hand point break that can produce very long rides when it works
- North-wind days in spring are described as suitable for kitesurfing
- Moderate water quality and generally clean conditions described
- Surf point breaks rarely and is highly timing/swell dependent
- Rocks/boat traffic/ship hazards and limited beach space at high tide for kite setup
- Rescue availability described as limited; lifeguards are seasonal
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, N, S, S
- Offshore directions
- S, SSE
- No-go directions
- S, SSE
- Wind Range
- 12–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — N/NE (trade) winds reinforced by afternoon thermal acceleration in spring/summer; also South/SE winds associated with frontal conditions.
- Reliability
- Moderate, dependent on frontal systems and summer thermals.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Generally described as light gusts.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach composition.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small waves described; surf works best on larger east swell even though the overall local wave size is described as small.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Water described as chop for wind/water sports.
- Launch
- Small — Narrow sandy launch area that can be very tight during high tide.
Through the year
Extremely crowded during December and January.
Rainy in summer afternoons; frontal systems in winter.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Kitesurfing is described as possible with North winds in spring (September–November), with flatter/side-on conditions than the open coast in North wind days. Winds from North are the best directional choice for kitesurfing.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Suitable for freeride and foil windsurfing, especially in North-Northeast winds; wind availability described as dependent on frontal systems and summer thermals.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Foil-friendly depth away from shore with manageable chop; minimum depth is cited.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions described once away from the shore.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A rare but classic right-hand point break that works with east (and northeast) swell. It typically requires a larger, cleaner east swell to start; when conditions align, it can hold size around the point.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- E, ENE, NE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best tide position described as low; some sources also mention low and mid tide.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Described as sheltered overall by the fort/point context; sources differ on exact shelter rating but agree it is more sheltered than exposed coast.
- Wind Effect
- South or Southeast winds are offshore for the surf break; surfing is described as needing offshore wind from S–SE (with a note that offshore preference is also tied to south-southwest).
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well and wraps around the point as swell builds; only rarely breaks, making timing and swell size critical.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Wave quality described as excellent in one source; also characterized as regional classic.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power is described for the right point break.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling wave shape described.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Right-hand point break described with medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Long — Can offer very long rides on exceptional days; a typical/representative length is also provided by one source.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides from about 50 to 150 meters in normal conditions and up to roughly 300–500 meters (very long) on good days; another source cites 50–500 m with exceptional days and provides a representative typical length of ~150 m.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) in the full forecast view.
Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–15 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- SE135°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2615 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.5 m3s period
- Temperature
- 14–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 0.1–0.5 m with a period of about 3s. 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 near the point
- Rips
- Ships/boat traffic
- Excursion boats and jet skis in the bay
- Narrow beach during high tide
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards described as seasonal.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited; emergency services rely on municipal support.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospitals are in the center of Florianópolis; rescue availability described as limited.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Some mild localism is described.
Rules of the spot
Avoid kite launching in crowded swimmer areas during summer; use designated swimming zones in peak summer and note limited beach space for setup at high tide.
- Designated swimming zones in peak summer
- Limited beach space for kite setup at high tide
- Arrive early—parking and setup space can be very limited, especially around high tide.
- The surf point only breaks a few times a year and needs a solid east swell to start working.
- The spot is timing-dependent for surf; kite conditions are typically tied to North wind days in spring.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Florianópolis
- Nearest Town
- Canasvieiras
- Nearest Airport
- Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) (~32 km)
- Parking
- Small paid parking area and some street parking along the access road.
- Public Transport
- Integrated bus connections to downtown are available (regional note for the north-bay area).
- Access
- Accessed via a narrow road at the end of Jurerê Internacional (as described for the spot area).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Many pousadas and hotels around Jurerê Internacional and Canasvieiras are described.
- Food & Drink
- Local kiosks and seafood restaurants near the beach are described.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is described as available in nearby Jurerê or Canasvieiras.
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 Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras)?
The best overall months at Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) are September, October, November, December, January, February, March, June, July, August. The best wind months are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras)?
Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) works with N, N, S, S winds. Offshore directions are S, SSE. No-go directions are S, SSE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–22 kts.
What skill level is Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) suitable for?
Praia do Forte (Canasvieiras) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.