Saco da Mãe
- Longboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Saco da Mãe is a low-profile beach break on the northern coast of Ubatuba, known for rarely crowded conditions. The spot is described as small and consistent rather than powerful, making it well-suited for surfers looking for a quiet, natural setting and short, fun rides. For surfing, the break is a beach-break that tends to work best with an East to Southeast swell and is described as soft with a mushy wave shape. Typical rides are short and often end quickly on the sand, with wave quality characterized as average. The spot is also described as semi-sheltered and calmer than more exposed alternatives nearby, though rocks on the ends and near the edges add practical risk. Seasonally, July is highlighted as the best month for surfing consistency, with strong frequency of small wave days reported in spot guides. The wind description for the spot points to East to East-Southeast sea-breeze influence, with a typical range around 8–15 knots; reliability is noted as low and surrounding hills/cliffs can create a wind shadow. Safety-wise, the key concerns are the rocky edges (including submerged rocks), the isolated access, and the absence of lifeguards. Current guidance also notes that mild rip currents can occur near rocky edges, so surfers should plan carefully, bring essentials (no on-site facilities), and use appropriate personal safety gear such as a leash.
- Rarely crowded beach break
- Best month for consistent small waves: July
- Sea-breeze influenced winds (East to East-Southeast) with a wind shadow from surrounding terrain
- Quiet, secluded feel with natural beach-and-rock edges
- Rarely crowded
- Quiet, secluded natural setting
- Good peace-and-quiet option for small, fun waves
- Best surf conditions commonly fall in July for consistency
- Small, limited wave heights most of the time
- Wind reliability is low
- Rocks and submerged hazards near the edges
- No lifeguards and limited spot-level rescue availability
- Limited access and no on-site vendors/facilities
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE
- Offshore directions
- W, NW
- Wind Range
- 8–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze conditions are typical around the northern Ubatuba coast, and the spot is described as having sea-breeze wind.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gusts described as light.
- Best Months
- June, July, August
- Shadow Zones
- Significant wind shadow from surrounding hills and cliffs.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small waves dominate; spot guides report very high frequency of small surf.
- Launch
- Small — Small sandy beach surrounded by rocks and dense vegetation.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty described as moderate.
Through the year
Rarely crowded throughout the year due to limited access.
December to March experiences the highest rainfall.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Low-profile, quiet beach break with small, consistent waves when the swell is right.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, ESE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Optimal tide described as mid.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Described as more sheltered and smaller than nearby options.
- Wind Effect
- Works best with West or Northwest winds (described as offshore).
- Bigger Swell
- Closes out when the swell exceeds 1.5 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Generally small, soft waves.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Mushy wave shape.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Described as peeling slowly.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, fun waves; rides often end quickly on the sand.
- Ride Length Details
- Short rides that often end quickly on the sand.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Saco da Mãe in the full forecast view.
Saco da Mãe wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–9 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- S170°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 269 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.7 m8s period
- Temperature
- 18–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Saco da Mãe is forecast for daytime winds of 2–9 kts, peaking around 9 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.7–1.7 m with a period of about 8s. 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 at the ends of the beach
- Submerged rocks near the edges
- Isolated location
- No lifeguards
- Mild rip currents possible near the rocky edges
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level information indicates no rescue availability.
- Emergency Info
- Santa Casa de Ubatuba is the primary hospital. Emergency services: 193 (Fire/Rescue) and 192 (Ambulance).
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism friction indicated for this spot.
Rules of the spot
- Access is via a trail from the southern end of Vermelha do Norte beach.
- Bring your own water and supplies as there are no facilities.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ubatuba
- Nearest Town
- Ubatuba
- Parking
- Park at Vermelha do Norte and hike to the spot.
- Access
- Access is primarily by boat or a coastal trail starting from the southern end of Praia Vermelha do Norte.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various guesthouses and hotels located in Ubatuba and near Itamambuca.
- Food & Drink
- No vendors on-site; carry your own supplies.
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 Saco da Mãe?
The best overall months at Saco da Mãe are June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Saco da Mãe?
Saco da Mãe works with E, ESE winds. Offshore directions are W, NW.
What skill level is Saco da Mãe suitable for?
Saco da Mãe suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.