Backdoor, Brazil
Also within 20 km of Ilhéus
- Sirihyba Surf spot · 18.6 km from Ilhéus
Watch this spot We email you when Backdoor is worth the trip.
About Backdoor
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (85°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (265°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 26°C in July, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in February, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually March, with about 4 good days in 7; in September and October, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ilhéus, 7.1 km away (about 15 min by car).
Water about 27°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 20 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to IOS, changing at São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU).
See flights ORD → IOS · Skyscanner from about £480 returnAdGetting there. 25 min from the airport to Backdoor.
Accommodation.
Stay in IlhéusAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Ilhéus (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Ilhéus 13 min by car · rooms from £45 a night · 33 places to stay · where Backdoor stays
Places to stay in Ilhéus · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Ilhéus · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Ilhéus · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
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Luxury Where it is
Backdoor on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 35, poor | 4 ft5 s | 54kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 2 knots | 26°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 26, poor | 4 ft5 s | 57kJ | wind from the north, 9 knots | 27°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft5 s | 48kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 6 knots | 27°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 27, too small | 3 ft5 s | 28kJ | wind from the east, 4 knots | 27°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 22, too small | 2 ft5 s | 22kJ | wind from the east, 6 knots | 26°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 32, too small | 3 ft5 s | 32kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 4 knots | 27°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 19, too small | 2 ft6 s | 36kJ | wind from the north, 10 knots | 27°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 41, fair | 4 ft5 s | 89kJ | wind from the north, 10 knots | 27°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft6 s | 56kJ | wind from the north-east, 2 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 47, fair | 3 ft5 s | 63kJ | wind from the north, 6 knots | 27°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to IOS, changing at GRU, then 25 min by road. About 20h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Backdoor
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 6 kn (12 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 34 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Backdoor
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to IOS, changing at GRU, then 25 min by road. About 20h 40 door to door
Rough cost
About £825–£1,590 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to IOS, estimated from distance and season, changing at GRU, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £480–£995 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £120–£195 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £120–£220 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £55–£90 |
| Total | £825–£1,590 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Ilhéus
- Esfiha do SheikMiddle eastern · 0.6 km from the centre
- Rei dos Sushi.Ios | Ilhéus BASushi · 0.6 km from the centre
- Telefabrica DpizzaPizza · 0.6 km from the centre
- Abarajé da MônicaBrazilian · 1.0 km from the centre
- Salgados BençãoBrazilian · 1.1 km from the centre
- Pizzaria AvenidaPizza · 1.4 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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