Surfing Lopes Mendes: The Complete Guide

Lopes Mendes is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Ilha Grande, RJ, Brazil, offering both lefts and rights along South America's vast coastline. Lopes Mendes is consistently rated one of Brazil's most beautiful beaches, a 3km stretch of white sand on Ilha Grande that catches SW swells wrapping around the island. Rated as intermediate difficulty with uncrowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (202°), with workable conditions from SSE to W (157°–270°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Lopes Mendes needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the NE (45°). The full offshore range spans N to E (0°–90°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Lopes Mendes runs April, May, June, July, August, September (Apr–Sep). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Season Notes: Needs SW swell to wrap into bay

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 23°C / 73°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is GIG, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by road. A boat is required to reach the lineup, costing approximately $30 USD.

Access: Ferry to Ilha Grande, then hiking trail

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🏝️ Remote — Far from help
🚶 Difficult access — Long paddle or walk

Island access - boat and trail

Safety Tips:

Carry a first aid kit and emergency communication. Help may be far away
Allow extra time for the approach and factor in energy for the paddle/walk

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically uncrowded (2/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Lopes Mendes? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Lopes Mendes is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*