Tingua (Praia Grande)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Small 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Tinguá (Praia Grande) is a small, exposed beach break in Governador Celso Ramos with sandy bottom and clean water when conditions line up. Surfing is best when a specific East swell arrives, producing fast, powerful left-handers with a peeling wave face; the working swell window is reported from about 1.0 to 2.5 meters. The spot is characterized by rocky hazards (including rocks at both ends) and reef patches, and it is described as rarely breaking—around five days per year—so sessions are frequently quiet. For kitesurfing, the spot is reported as having small to medium wave potential and clean water, with a narrow launch area and surrounding rocks that require careful launching. Wind is most favorable from the NE to SE direction band, with the best months reported as September through November. Typical reported wind range is roughly 12 to 25 knots, and gusting is described as light; wind reliability is listed as moderate. Conditions are also influenced by wind direction and local terrain: hills behind the beach can introduce turbulence in West/Southwest winds, while offshore winds from North/Northwest are reported to groom the wave faces for surfing. Currents are noted as potentially featuring moderate rip currents during larger swells. In terms of safety and etiquette, localism can be a factor, and rocks are a recurring hazard for both water users. Access involves a trail walk, including guidance to cross around the rocks to reach the usable side of the beach. Lifeguards and spot-level rescue availability are listed as none/no (spot-level), and the nearest medical facilities are in Palmas or Governador Celso Ramos. Overall, it’s positioned as an experienced-rider spot for both surfing and kitesurfing rather than a casual entry beach.
- Regional classic left-hand waves on the right East swell.
- Often empty/rarely breaking, enabling private-style sessions when surf windows line up.
- NE to SE wind window for kitesurfing in September–November.
- Regional classic left-hand beach break when a specific East swell arrives.
- Clean water and small-wave kitesurfing conditions are available in the right wind window.
- Often empty on weekdays.
- Spot rarely breaks (about 5 days per year), depending on the required East swell.
- Rock hazards and surrounding reef patches increase risk, especially with the limited sandy landing area.
- Moderate localism can affect rider behavior on good days.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, SE, N, NW, W, SW, S
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Thermal reinforcement with strong Northeasterly thermal winds common during spring and summer.
- Reliability
- Moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gusts reported.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with rocks/reef at the ends.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Surf spot described as small (with working swell starting under 1 m and holding up to 2 m+). Kitesurfing is also described as small to medium waves.
- Launch
- Small — Narrow sandy beach flanked by rocky points.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Limited beach size and surrounding rocks make launching moderate to difficult.
Through the year
Empty during weekdays; more visitors on weekends (mainly boaters).
Rainy periods can occur throughout summer, often as afternoon thunderstorms; cold fronts in winter can bring more frequent South winds.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Clean water and small to medium wave conditions with rocks as a key hazard; limited beach size requires careful launching.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Possible during calmer days or light wind, but nearby limited deep-water access and rocks make it more suitable for experienced riders.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil friendly is limited.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Fairly exposed beach break producing left-handers; requires a specific East swell to work properly and can be very infrequent.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- E
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide identified as optimal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach break.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the North/Northwest groom the wave faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size up to about 2 meters, but becomes very heavy and requires experience.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional classic quality.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Normal rides typically short (< 50 m) and generally require a specific East swell; on good days riders may see 50 to 150 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves typically offer short rides; on good days, rides may run between 50 and 150 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tingua (Praia Grande) in the full forecast view.
Tingua (Praia Grande) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–15 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- SE137°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2615 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–0.8 m6s period
- Temperature
- 14–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tingua (Praia Grande) 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 0.4–0.8 m with a period of about 6s. 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
- reef
- localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Rescue availability listed as no (spot-level).
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in the town of Palmas or Governador Celso Ramos.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Localism can be a factor here.
Rules of the spot
General surfing priority rules apply; respect local residents and the environment.
- Walk across the trail to the other side of the rocks to access.
- Spot rarely breaks, so it is often empty unless the swell is specifically from the East.
- Be respectful of the local surfing community when waves are good.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Florianópolis
- Nearest Town
- Governador Celso Ramos
- Parking
- Limited parking in the nearby village; access to the beach is typically on foot.
- Access
- Accessible via a trail from the district of Armação da Piedade or by boat. From Palmas, drive to the district Armação da Piedade; after the hill, turn left and head to the beach. Access typically requires walking across a trail to the other side of the rocks.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Portuguese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Guesthouses and hotels are available in the nearby Palmas beach area.
- Food & Drink
- Limited options on the beach; more variety available in Armação da Piedade or Palmas.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A peninsula setting around Governador Celso Ramos with Atlantic coastal scenery and nearby historic sites and marine areas suitable for day trips.
18th-century Fortress of Santa Cruz, accessible by boat tours.
Ancient whaling station and historic church dating back to the 18th century.
Biological marine reserve described as known for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Baía dos Golfinhos is described as a dolphin habitat commonly viewed via boat excursions.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Tingua (Praia Grande)?
The best overall months at Tingua (Praia Grande) are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Tingua (Praia Grande)?
Tingua (Praia Grande) works with NE, SE, N, NW, W, SW, S winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Tingua (Praia Grande)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Tingua (Praia Grande): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Tingua (Praia Grande) suitable for?
Tingua (Praia Grande) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced to Expert · Wingfoiling: Advanced to Expert · Surfing: Advanced to Expert.