Riacho Doce (Maceió)
- Freeride, Bodyboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Riacho Doce is a small, sandy river-mouth spot north of Maceió that works best for surfing and wave-riding kitesurfers. The break is described as regular and consistent, with both right and left waves, offering fast, fun sections in a peeling style. Conditions are typically best at high tide, with additional guidance that falling tide after high tide can produce a strong surf window. Water at the spot is commonly cloudy, and the beach area can be narrow, especially around high tide. Hazards are a key concern: multiple sources highlight submerged/near-shore rocks, as well as river-mouth debris and currents that can build especially after heavy rainfall. Surf and kite sessions therefore require careful area checking before launching and when selecting your landing zones. Wind is centered on east to southeast trade winds, with a kitesurfing season running roughly from July through December. Typical wind strength is in the mid-teens to low 20s (knots), and winds are described as generally reliable during the spring months, though some turbulence can occur near village buildings. For riders, the overall environment feels laid-back and low-profile: it’s commonly described as quiet on weekdays and only lightly busy on weekends. Practical access is by road from Maceió (about 15 minutes), entering via the village and parking along the roadside near the beach clubs/church area.
- River-mouth break with both lefts and rights
- Peeling, fast sections (moderate power)
- E to SE trade-wind window for kitesurfing from July to December
- Often quiet compared with more central Maceió beaches
- Consistent river-mouth break with both lefts and rights.
- Reliable east-to-southeast trade-wind window for kitesurfing (July–December).
- Typically quiet: empty on weekdays and few visitors on weekends.
- Rock hazards are present near shore and underwater.
- Beach space can be narrow (especially around high tide).
- Water is often cloudy.
- Limited formal on-site infrastructure for gear and comfort.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, SE
- Wind Range
- 15–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Easterly to southeast trade winds.
- Reliability
- High during the spring months
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gustiness indicated for the windy season.
- Best Months
- July, August, September, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Surveys describe small-to-medium waves for surfing; kitesurfing typically in small-to-medium wave conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Narrow sandy beach with restricted space at high tide.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty described as easy to moderate; space can become restricted at high tide.
Through the year
Quiet on weekdays; few surfers and locals on weekends.
May to July often sees more rain and stronger swell but less consistent trade winds.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Feasible with easterly trade winds in the summer season (July–December). Water is often cloudy, waves are small to medium, and rocks are a key hazard.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Accessible for wave foiling, but requires caution due to rocky bottom sections near shore.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions are limited, largely due to near-shore rocky sections.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A consistent river-mouth break with both lefts and rights. Works best at high tide, with improved conditions on the falling tide after high tide.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide only / high tide best; falling tide after high tide is also highlighted for good sessions.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed river-mouth beach break.
- Wind Effect
- East winds tend to be side-onshore; southeast can be more onshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds up to around 2 m+; can become more challenging beyond that.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality; described as fast, fun, and beginner-friendly.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate power; fun and fast for a river-mouth break.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling waves.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Peeling, fast sections (descriptions vary slightly between sources).
- Ride Length
- Short — Normal length can be under 50 m; good days extend to roughly 50–150 m.
- Ride Length Details
- Waves commonly range from about 50 to 150 meters on good days; normal length is often short (< 50 m).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Riacho Doce (Maceió) in the full forecast view.
Riacho Doce (Maceió) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–15 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- ENE77°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2615 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.5 m7s period
- Temperature
- 25–34 °C
Over the next 7 days, Riacho Doce (Maceió) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 26 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
- Rocks
- Submerged rocks
- River mouth currents
- River mouth debris
- Narrow beach
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards indicated for this stretch.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated kitesurf rescue service indicated for this stretch; rely on local emergency services.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major hospitals are located in central Maceió, approximately 15-20 minutes away.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism; keep etiquette especially around the river-mouth peak.
Rules of the spot
Respect local surfers at the river mouth peak.
- Rocks are present in the water and near shore; avoid areas with exposed rocks.
- Scan for rocks before launching or landing.
- Check the river mouth for debris after heavy rainfall.
- For surfing, conditions are often best on a falling tide after high tide.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Maceió
- Nearest Town
- Riacho Doce
- Parking
- Street parking available near local beach clubs and the village church / on the side of the road near social clubs on the beach.
- Access
- About 15 minutes from Maceió along the road to Paripueira. Entry is through the Riacho Doce village.
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Accommodation in Riacho Doce and nearby areas (including vacation rentals/pousadas).
- Food & Drink
- Local beach bars and restaurants serving regional seafood and snacks.
- Equipment Rental:
- No dedicated rental shops on-site; bring your own gear.
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 Riacho Doce (Maceió)?
The best overall months at Riacho Doce (Maceió) are August, September, October, November, December. The best wind months are July, August, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Riacho Doce (Maceió)?
Riacho Doce (Maceió) works with E, ESE, SE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Riacho Doce (Maceió)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Riacho Doce (Maceió): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–22 kts.
What skill level is Riacho Doce (Maceió) suitable for?
Riacho Doce (Maceió) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner.