Riozinho
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Medium waves, Ocean, Swell
- Spot Type
- Crowded
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Riozinho is a beach-break spot on Campeche Beach in Florianópolis, known for fairly consistent surf and a high-energy setup when conditions line up. It’s described as exposed, with clean water over a sandy bottom and waves that start working around 1.0–1.5m and can hold up to roughly 2.5m+. For kitesurfing, the standout factor is wind from NE, SSE, and S with thermal (and sometimes frontal) influence. The wind is frequently described as building in the afternoon, with a reported thermal window around midday to early evening. Typical kite wind is in the mid-teens up to the mid-30s in knots depending on the day, and the spot’s best months for wind overlap strongly with January and September through December. Surf conditions at Riozinho are repeatedly characterized as high-performance and intense: a shifting sandbar and fast, powerful sections can produce hollow/peeling barrels, but the combination of shorebreak and strong rip currents makes it a technical place for more experienced riders. One source notes rides are typically short (<50m), though longer connections are possible on exceptional days when the waves cooperate. Safety and access planning matter here. Crowds are a major constraint during summer and on weekends, and one of the clearest local practices is to set up and launch/land beyond the small Riozinho river area in summer to avoid crowding at the immediate launch zone. Rescue availability is described as limited overall, while lifeguard presence is reported as seasonal during summer months.
- Clean sand-bottom beach-break
- Wave potential from ~1.0–1.5m to ~2.5m+
- NE/SSE/S thermal winds for kitesurfing
- High-performance barrel potential (advanced-only surf)
- Consistent wave opportunities and strong wave/tube potential for advanced surfers
- Kitesurfing benefits from thermal and frontal winds from NE, SSE, and S
- Clean sandy beach conditions with workable swell ranges
- Close access from the airport and nearby amenities around Campeche
- Very heavy crowds (especially summer/weekends), with additional competitive vibe
- Strong rip currents and powerful shorebreak risk
- Water temperature can drop notably in winter
- Shifting sandbars and technical, heavy wave conditions on bigger swell
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, SSE, S
- Wind Range
- 14–35 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Thermal and frontal influence; Northeasterly (Nordeste) builds in the afternoon during warmer months.
- Reliability
- High during spring and summer season (per one source).
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Sources differ: some indicate steady winds, others report moderate gustiness.
- Best Months
- January, September, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Medium waves, Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bottom and beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Works from ~1.0–1.5m and holds up to ~2.5m+.
- Launch
- Big — Large space to launch and land; summer guidance emphasizes setup beyond the small river to avoid crowds.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Moderate launch difficulty reported by another source; crowding and tide can narrow usable setup space.
Through the year
Ultra crowded in summer (December–February); less crowded in fall/winter.
June, July, and August can be very cold and rainy; thunderstorms are common in late afternoon during summer.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Medium-wave kitesurfing with clean water; good wave-riding potential when riding fast beach-break waves (especially with NE, SSE, and S winds). Thermal and frontal patterns are noted.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Suitable for wave windsurfing during NE winds or southerly fronts, but less prominent than kitesurfing at this section.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–5.7 m²
Works for experienced wingfoilers comfortable with shorebreak and waves; deep sandy bottom can be foil-friendly once past breaking waves.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Deep sandy bottom described as foil-friendly after the break zone.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed beach break known for fast, intense waves and barrel potential over a shifting sandbar; works from about 1.0–1.5m and can hold up to around 2.5m+.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE, E, SSE, SSW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Sources mention best performance at low and mid tide, and also indicate mid tide for peak conditions.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open and exposed coastline character.
- Wind Effect
- Wind direction preferences are noted for kiting; for surfing, one source states it works best with West/Northwest offshore winds (relative to the break).
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to about 2.5m+, then can become very heavy and technical.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Described as epic/excellent.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Some sources rate the power as moderate; others describe it as powerful on better days.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — One source describes peeling; another describes hollow barrels—overall, the character can shift with conditions.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Hollow/fast section described with peeling fast pace.
- Ride Length
- Short — Typical rides are short (<50m), though rides can connect for longer distances on exceptional days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typically short rides (<50m); exceptional days can produce longer connected rides (reported between 50 and 150 meters by one source).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Riozinho in the full forecast view.
Riozinho wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–19 ktsGusts 34 kts
- Direction
- SE136°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2619 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.7 m7s period
- Temperature
- 14–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Riozinho is forecast for daytime winds of 4–19 kts, peaking around 19 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 34 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 0.9–1.7 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
- Possible cold currents, especially in winter
- Strong rip currents (noted especially when swell is over 1 meter)
- Heavy crowds (especially summer/weekends)
- Shifting sandbars
- Localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguard towers during summer (December to March) reported by one source.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital in Florianópolis; rescue availability described as limited. Lifeguard towers are present during the summer season (December to March) in one source.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Localism is reported; respect for local riders emphasized when waves are firing.
Rules of the spot
In summer, launch/land should be done beyond the small Riozinho river area to avoid crowding.
- Avoid launching near the Riozinho river in summer due to crowds.
- Launch and land beyond the small Riozinho river in summer to avoid crowding.
- North winds are described as more constant and warmer; south wind can be strong and gusty.
- Weekends can be extremely crowded—early sessions are recommended.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Florianópolis
- Nearest Town
- Campeche
- Nearest Airport
- Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN)
- Parking
- Parking availability; reports indicate it can fill very early on good days. Free parking in winter and end of fall; paid/restricted in spring/summer (per one source).
- Access
- Only 10 km from Florianópolis airport (FLN); drive east to Campeche. Riozinho is north of Campeche beach and can be accessed near the Riozinho creek area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous pousadas and vacation rentals in walking distance in the Campeche neighborhood; also accommodation in nearby areas is common.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants/beach kiosks and bars are available, with seasonal availability noted in one source.
- Equipment Rental:
- Kite/sail gear rentals are available in the broader Campeche/Riozinho area; some sources specify shops in main Campeche town area a short drive away.
- Gear Storage
- Storage is described as limited overall; many riders store gear via schools or accommodations.
- Gear Repair
- General board repair shops are available in the Campeche area (per regional context).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Riozinho?
The best overall months at Riozinho are September, October, November, December, January. The best wind months are January, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Riozinho?
Riozinho works with NE, SSE, S winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Riozinho?
Recommended equipment sizes at Riozinho: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–5.7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 14–35 kts.
What skill level is Riozinho suitable for?
Riozinho suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate to Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Expert.