Surf spot

Pororoca

Forecast conditions and map view for Pororoca in Brazil, Maranhao. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Brazil, Maranhao
Coordinates: 1.2426, -50.2920

Metric
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Wind speed (km/h)	4.7	3.4	1.9	11.5	15.5	16.4	11.4	8	7.3	9.1	4.5	12.3	14.8	15.9	11.2	9.5	5.8	6.1	9.4	12.3	14.2	15.9	11.5	7.9	8.3	3.1	5.3	12	13.7	16.3	13.7	5.5	6.3	5.6	4.6	10.2	13.6	16.6	12.2	11.3	8	4.8	4.6	13	15.5	16.2	12.3	8.4	5.7	5.2	5.7	11.4	13	17.6	11.5	5.5
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Pororoca, Maranhão, Brazil is one of the world’s most famous tidal bore surf spots—a powerful river wave created when ocean tides rush up the Amazon Basin’s river systems, forming a long, surging wall of water.

Spot description

Type: River bore / tidal bore surf
Location: Maranhão state, northern Brazil, in the Amazon-region river network
Wave character: Long, fast-moving, and highly turbulent wave that travels upriver
Ride style: More about endurance, timing, and river-reading than classic ocean surfing
Best season: During strong spring tides, typically around new and full moons

What makes it special

Pororoca is famous because the wave can travel for kilometers and sometimes allows rides of several minutes, which is extremely rare in surfing. The bore can be very powerful, choppy, and unpredictable, with a lot of foam and debris carried by the river.

Conditions and challenges

Strong current and turbulence
Shifting sandbanks and river hazards
Logs, branches, and sediment
Need for expert local knowledge and safety support
Often surfed by tow-in or boat-assisted access, depending on the location and river conditions

Best known for

One of the longest ride opportunities in surfing
A unique blend of surfing and river expedition
A dramatic natural phenomenon tied to the tides of the Atlantic and Amazon waters

Important note

Pororoca has also become more difficult and less consistent in some areas due to environmental changes, river engineering, and altered sediment flow, so conditions can vary a lot from year to year.