Praia Mole.

About

Praia Mole sits on the east coast of Santa Catarina island, between Praia da Joaquina to the south and Barra da Lagoa to the north. The 960-metre crescent runs from Ponta do Gravatá at the southern end to Ponta do Meio at the north, and the hills around the small bay offer wind protection in everything but a straight-onshore east.

It’s a sand-bottom beach break — hollow, powerful, fast lefts and rights — that picks up swell from the S, SE, E and NE, with N and NE winds the cleanest. Southeast is the working sweet spot. In the south corner, Canto do Gravatá wakes up on big southerly swells and produces a heavier right-hander.

The wave handles roughly 0.5 m to 2.5 m and rewards a longer-period swell. Winter is the standout season — June in particular tends to deliver the highest share of clean surfable days. Crowds are light on weekdays and packed on weekends.