Santinho (Costão do Santinho)
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Medium waves, Ocean, Swell
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Santinho (Costão do Santinho) is an exposed, open-ocean beach-break on the northern coast of Florianópolis, known for very consistent conditions and generally clean water. The sandy beach transitions quickly into deeper water beyond the shorebreak, and the wave zone is described as powerful with peeling sections across the beach. For surfing, Santinho is repeatedly characterized as one of the most consistent and powerful beach breaks in Florianópolis, with a reported very high surf frequency (around 150 days/year). It’s a strong performer when the swell is in the South to East quadrant and tends to hold size well, working from roughly 2 to 2.5 meters and maintaining its shape even as swell increases (though it becomes more physically demanding). Wind is typically best when it is offshore from the West/Northwest directions, grooming the wave faces. For kitesurfing, the spot is best in September, October, and November with prevailing Northeast and Southeast winds. The conditions are described as clean and suitable for wave riding and freeride, with commonly reported kite ranges around 9 to 12 m² for the NE regime (and smaller kites during stronger fronts). Access is straightforward by car north to Ingleses, followed by a short walk to the beach; the wide sandy launch area can support setup but can get crowded near resort/access points. Safety-wise, the area includes multiple hazards: strong rip currents, submerged rocks near headlands, and urchins around rocky sections. Shorebreak can be heavy, and local surf culture is present—especially around the southern corner. Lifeguards are typically seasonal in summer, while rescue availability is described as limited, so plan carefully around rips and rocky edges and respect any designated swim-zone or crowd-related restrictions during peak months.
- Very consistent surf frequency (reported ~150 days/year)
- Powerful, peeling beach-break with strong swell holding
- Kitesurfing best season: September to November with NE–SE winds
- Wide sandy setup area (but can get crowded near access points)
- Very consistent surf frequency reported (~150 days/year)
- Clean water quality and sandy bottom
- Reliable kitesurf season with NE–SE winds in September to November
- Wide sandy launch area for kite setup (can be crowded by beachgoers)
- Exposed shoreline with a powerful, heavy surf character
- Strong rip currents and submerged rocks near headlands
- Crowds in peak season (especially weekends/summer holidays)
- Local surf culture can be a factor
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, SE
- Offshore directions
- NW, W
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Gradient-driven Northeast flow reinforced by thermal sea-breeze effects in spring/summer.
- Reliability
- Good during spring and summer; winter relies on cold fronts.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gusting can occur, but sources describe it as generally light-gusty during the best wind season.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Medium waves, Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Surf swell reported to start working around 2 to 2.5m and hold up to 2m+.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Shorebreak and exposure can create chop/heavy impact zones; otherwise conditions can be clean depending on wind direction.
- Launch
- Medium — Open sandy beach with ample kite setup space, short walk access, but can be crowded.
Through the year
Extremely crowded during summer holidays (December to February) and on sunny weekends.
Thunderstorms are common in late afternoon during summer; rain occurs throughout the year with cold-front passages most frequent between June and October.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Medium-wave, generally clean ocean conditions suitable for wave kiting and freeride; strongest seasonally in September through November with prevailing Northeast winds (also rideable with South/Southeast winds when swells strengthen).
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Feasible but challenging due to shorebreak and wave power; foil-friendly once past the impact zone. Sandy bottom is noted as foil-friendly beyond the impact zone.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Sandy bottom is described as foil-friendly once past the impact zone, but shorebreak makes it challenging overall.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
One of the most consistent and powerful beach breaks around Florianópolis, with very consistent surf frequency (reported as ~150 days/year).
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SE, E, NE
- Swell Height
- 2–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Works on all tides; both rising and falling tides are noted.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed headland setting.
- Wind Effect
- Best with West or Northwest offshore winds that groom the faces; wind can turn offshore/onshore depending on direction and drift on NE flows.
- Bigger Swell
- Maintains its shape well as swell increases, though it becomes very physically demanding; holds larger swell better than many neighboring spots.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Described as a regional classic with generally consistent, high-quality peaks (one source rates wave quality as average while another says excellent).
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Strong, consistent waves.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Generally described as peeling with well-formed peaks across the beach.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Sources describe a peeling, fast peel on the face.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Typical ride length described as 50 to 150 meters; another source cites about 100 meters.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves typically provide about 50 to 150 meters of rideable face; sources note it can hold up to 2+ meter swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Santinho (Costão do Santinho) in the full forecast view.
Santinho (Costão do Santinho) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–20 ktsGusts 32 kts
- Direction
- SE134°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2520 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.8 m7s period
- Temperature
- 15–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Santinho (Costão do Santinho) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–20 kts, peaking around 20 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 32 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 0.9–1.8 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
- urchins
- rip currents
- rocks
- submerged rocks near headlands
- heavy shorebreak
- localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are typically present during the summer season near main access points.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest airport: Hercílio Luz (FLN) in Florianópolis (~26 km from the spot, per one source). Rescue availability is generally limited; lifeguards are usually seasonal (mainly during summer) near main access points. Emergency numbers in Brazil: 193 (fire/rescue) or 192 (ambulance).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local surf culture is present; one source characterizes localism as mild, while another describes it as moderate and strongest around the southern corner.
Rules of the spot
Respect local surf culture and standard water-sport etiquette; designated swim zones may be enforced during peak summer near the resort. Kiting may be restricted in heavily crowded swim zones during peak summer months.
- Kiting may be restricted in heavily crowded swim zones during peak summer months.
- Watch for urchins around rocky sections and be careful near rocks at the headlands.
- Be mindful of strong rip currents.
- The southern corner can offer some protection from wind, but also has more local presence.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Florianópolis
- Nearest Town
- Ingleses do Rio Vermelho
- Nearest Airport
- Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN)
- Parking
- Parking near the beach access trails is described as available/limited depending on access point; larger resort parking is available for guests.
- Access
- Drive north on Ilha de Santa Catarina to Ingleses do Rio Vermelho, then short walk (about 5–15 minutes) to the beach access area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Stays range from the Costão do Santinho Resort to pousadas and holiday rentals around the Ingleses district.
- Food & Drink
- Food and drinks are available via beach kiosks directly on the sand, and options are also available in nearby Ingleses.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard rentals are available via schools on the beach; other gear rentals are described as available more widely via local services depending on equipment type.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as available at larger resort facilities and some local surf schools for guests; otherwise limited.
- Gear Repair
- Basic board/surfboard repair is available locally; specialized kite/sail repair is described as mostly available in other nearby areas.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A coastal destination with rugged headlands and a strong outdoor/surf culture, supported by resort amenities and nearby Ingleses visitor infrastructure.
Scenic hiking trail with panoramic views of the northern coastline of the island.
Open-air museum featuring prehistoric rock carvings (petroglyphs) dating back over 5,000 years.
Historical path once used by local fishing communities and indigenous groups.
Scenic hiking trail with panoramic views of the northern coastline of the island.
Local seafood restaurant with ocean views.
Large water park in the nearby Ingleses district.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Santinho (Costão do Santinho)?
The best overall months at Santinho (Costão do Santinho) are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Santinho (Costão do Santinho)?
Santinho (Costão do Santinho) works with NE, SE winds. Offshore directions are NW, W.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Santinho (Costão do Santinho)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Santinho (Costão do Santinho): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Santinho (Costão do Santinho) suitable for?
Santinho (Costão do Santinho) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Expert.