Surfing Brazil

Cacimba do Padre is Brazil's Pipeline—a world-class beach break on the remote island paradise of Fernando de Noronha. When North swells hit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the...

Sancho is Brazil's ultimate exclusive wave—a perfect right-hand barrel breaking over volcanic reef on Fernando de Noronha, a UNESCO World Heritage archipelago 350km off the...

Laje do Bode is Fernando de Noronha's right-hand gem, a perfect reef break that some locals consider even better than the more famous Cacimba do Padre. The wave breaks over a...

Abricadabras is one of Fernando de Noronha's hidden gems, a reef break between islands that produces perfect waves for those who know where to look. The takeoff is relatively...

Biboca is Fernando de Noronha's big wave spot, a powerful reef break that only awakens when large N swells generated by North Atlantic storms make the 350km journey to this remote...

Conceição is one of Fernando de Noronha's most beautiful beaches and a great option for surfers looking to escape the crowds at Cacimba. The beach break produces shorter, punchier...

Boldró is a mellow alternative on Fernando de Noronha's north coast, catching the same NNW swells that light up Cacimba but with less power and intensity. The wave is perfect for...

Joaquina is the surfing capital of Santa Catarina and one of the most famous beaches in southern Brazil. The wave breaks over a long sandy stretch backed by impressive dunes,...

Moçambique is Florianópolis's longest beach and one of its most consistent, a sprawling stretch of sand that picks up any swell angle from E to SE. The beach is known for...

Campeche is Florianópolis's most consistent spot, a beach break that picks up any E to SE swell and produces fun, rippable waves throughout the year. The beach stretches for...

Praia Mole is Florianópolis's fashion beach, known for its beautiful people, vibrant bar scene, and surprisingly consistent waves. The beach break produces hollow A-frames that...

Lagoinha do Leste is Florianópolis's hidden paradise, a pristine beach accessible only via a challenging 2-hour hike through Atlantic Forest. The effort is rewarded with uncrowded...

Santinho is one of Florianópolis's most consistent beaches on the north side of the island. The beach picks up E to SE swells and produces quality peaks along its length. Ancient...

Ingleses is on the north end of Florianópolis island, catching NE swells that miss the more famous spots to the south. The waves are generally smaller and mellower, making it a...

São Conrado is one of Rio's best-kept secrets, a beach break beneath the dramatic Pedra da Gávea that Rob Machado once called his favorite wave in the city. The "Pepê" section...

Prainha is Rio de Janeiro's most consistent quality surf spot, a crescent-shaped beach nestled in the Atlantic Forest reserve west of the city. The wave breaks over a mix of sand...

Grumari is Rio de Janeiro's most pristine surf beach, an environmental reserve where big wave legend Carlos Burle has called his favorite local spot. The beach is protected from...

Arpoador is Brazil's most iconic urban surf spot, a rocky point break between Ipanema and Copacabana that has been the heart of Rio's surf scene for over 50 years. The wave is lit...

Leblon Pontão is where Rio's big wave surfers go when massive SW swells hit the coast. The rocky point at the end of Leblon beach produces powerful rights that hold serious size,...

Barra da Tijuca is Rio's sprawling 18km beach that has hosted WSL Championship Tour events. The long stretch offers multiple peaks that shift with the sandbars, giving surfers...

Copacabana Posto 5 is one of the best surf spots along Rio's most famous beach, producing heavy shorebreak barrels when conditions align. The wave is fast and punishing, but the...

Praia da Vila in Imbituba is Brazil's answer to Sunset Beach, a powerful beach break that can handle serious size when winter swells push up from the Antarctic. The wave breaks...

Praia do Rosa is one of the most beautiful beaches in Santa Catarina, a crescent-shaped bay framed by green hills that has become a favorite for eco-tourists and surfers alike....

Itapirubá is a versatile spot on the Santa Catarina coast where a rocky headland creates quality peaks on both sides. The north and south beaches catch different swell directions,...

Itiraquera is a quality beach break in the Imbituba area with three distinct peaks offering both lefts and rights. The waves are hollow and fun, and the beach sees fewer crowds...

Itacoatiara is the most powerful wave in Rio de Janeiro state, a heavy beach break wedged between dramatic granite boulders on the coast of Niterói. The "Costão" section at the...

Laje do Shock is one of the most dangerous waves in Brazil, a shallow slab near Itacoatiara that breaks over just 3 feet of water. The wave only works on large SW swells and...

Piratininga is a reliable beach break in Niterói that offers waves for all levels depending on the swell size. The beach is less crowded than nearby Itacoatiara and provides a...

Camboinhas offers a mellower alternative to the powerful waves at nearby Itacoatiara. The beach is protected and produces smaller, more manageable waves suitable for beginners and...

Corais is Itacaré's premier reef break, a hollow left that barrels over coral in the warm tropical waters of Bahia. The wave is accessed via a jungle trail and offers some of the...

Tiririca is the main surf beach in Itacaré and the heart of Bahia's surf scene. The beach break produces consistent lefts that barrel over the sandy bottom, making it a favorite...

Engenhoca is accessed via a 20-minute trail through the Atlantic rainforest, and the journey is half the experience. The beach produces mellow, powerful peaks perfect for all...

Prainha in Itacaré is a versatile spot that offers different experiences depending on the season. In winter, NE swells produce spectacular rights. In summer, the left point comes...

Ilha dos Lobos is Brazil's most powerful wave, a Teahupoo-style slab that detonates over a shallow rock shelf near Torres in Rio Grande do Sul. The wave is named after the sea...

Torres is unique on the Brazilian coast, where dramatic basalt cliffs meet the sea. Praia da Cal is one of the main surf beaches, offering quality peaks in a stunning geological...

Guarita is another surf beach in the Torres cliff region, featuring waves that break among dramatic rock formations. The setting is spectacular and the waves can be excellent when...

Saquarema is the home of Brazilian surfing and hosts the WSL Championship Tour every year at Itaúna Point. The wave is a powerful right-hand point that breaks over a sand-covered...

Barrinha is Saquarema's heavy wedge, a thick right-hander that throws massive barrels when direct SW swells hit the coast. The wave jacks up dramatically over a shallow sandbar,...

Jacone is a consistent beach break south of the main Saquarema area, offering a mellower alternative to the famous Itaúna point. The waves here are more forgiving and the crowds...

Maresias is Gabriel Medina's home break and arguably the most high-performance beach break in Brazil. The wave breaks over shifting sandbars that produce world-class barrels when...

Paúba is one of the heaviest shorebreak barrels in São Paulo state, a wave that throws over extremely shallow water with punishing force. The wave is for experts only, as wipeouts...

Camburi is a versatile beach in the São Sebastião area that offers good waves for various skill levels. The ends of the beach produce the best peaks, with the south end offering...

Praia do Amor is one of Pipa's most beautiful beaches, accessed via steep stairs that wind down dramatic red cliffs. The heart-shaped cove (that gives the beach its name) produces...

Pipa Lajão is a rocky right point that offers longer rides than the nearby beach breaks. The wave wraps around the headland with hollow and ripable sections, making it a step up...

Cacimbinha is an uncrowded alternative to the busier Pipa beaches, offering quality peaks when N swells hit the coast. The beach is popular with paragliders launching from the...

Laje de Jaguaruna is Brazil's answer to Nazaré, a massive offshore slab that produces some of the biggest waves in the Southern Hemisphere when giant Antarctic swells march up the...

Camacho is part of Santa Catarina's Big Surf Route, offering quality beach break peaks in a less developed setting. The waves here can be excellent when the sandbars align, and...

Silveira Point, nicknamed "Mike Tyson" by locals for its punching power, is one of southern Brazil's best right-hand point breaks. The wave wraps around a rocky headland and...

Ferrugem is arguably the most consistent surf spot in all of Brazil, with surfable waves an estimated 300 days per year. The beach break picks up any swell direction from SE to S...

Guarda do Embaú is a UNESCO World Surfing Reserve and one of Brazil's most iconic waves, a long left-hand point that has drawn comparisons to Uluwatu. The wave breaks off a rocky...

Praia da Pinheira is a quieter alternative near the famous Guarda do Embaú, offering consistent beach break waves in a less hectic environment. The town has basic tourist...

Cardoso Point is part of Santa Catarina's famous "Big Surf Route" and offers one of the region's best right-hand point breaks. The wave wraps around a rocky headland and produces...

Farol de Santa Marta is a dramatic lighthouse point at the southern tip of Laguna, where wave quality takes a significant step up from the surrounding beaches. The point offers...

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. Getting...

Aventureiro is Ilha Grande's most remote surf spot, a south-facing beach that catches swell blocked from the mainland by the bulk of the island. The journey here is an adventure...

Itamambuca is one of Ubatuba's premier waves and a regular competition venue on the Brazilian surf circuit. The rivermouth creates constantly shifting sandbars that produce...

Pico de Matinhos is Paraná state's best right-hand point, a throaty barrel that wraps around a rocky headland with impressive intensity. The wave offers excellent length on solid...

Ponta Negra is Natal's main surf beach, an urban stretch of sand backed by the iconic Morro do Careca dune. The beach offers multiple peaks suitable for all levels, with the best...

Geribá is the main surf beach in glamorous Búzios, offering consistent peaks in a scenic resort setting. The beach break produces fun waves suitable for all levels, with the added...

Madeiro is a beautiful beach in the Pipa area famous for its resident spinner dolphins that often surf alongside humans. The beach produces mellow rights over a mix of rock and...

Quatro Ilhas (Four Islands) is a scenic beach in the Bombinhas region, named for the four islands visible offshore. The beach produces consistent quality peaks and is notably less...

Praia Brava is Balneário Camboriú's surf beach, separated from the main tourist strip by a headland. The north end produces the best waves, though the local crew can be...

Guarujá is São Paulo's most accessible surf destination, a beach resort that offers surprisingly good waves when swells hit. The rocky corners produce the best surf, with rights...

Cepilho is a rocky point break near the colonial town of Paraty, offering quality waves in a stunning jungle-meets-ocean setting. The wave wraps around the rocks and produces both...

Praia do Forte is a tropical reef break north of Salvador, offering quality waves over coral in warm, clear water. The spot produces both lefts and rights on either side of a...

Praia Grande in São Francisco do Sul offers reliable surf in a charming colonial island town setting. The beach picks up swells from multiple directions and produces consistent...

Capão da Canoa is one of Rio Grande do Sul's most popular beach towns, offering consistent surf along a long stretch of sandy coast. The waves are beginner-to-intermediate...

Hermenegildo is Brazil's southernmost significant surf spot, a windswept beach near the Uruguay border. The remote location and cold water keep crowds minimal, and the waves can...

Taíba is Ceará's most consistent surf spot, a right-hand point break that lights up when N swells generated by North Atlantic systems reach the northeast coast. The warm water and...

Jericoacoara is a legendary Brazilian beach destination, a former fishing village only accessible by 4x4 across the dunes. Famous globally for kitesurfing, it also produces solid...

Fortaleza Iracema is an urban reef break in Ceará's capital, offering hollow, powerful waves over a flat rock shelf. The wave can be fast and punchy when NE swells arrive, and the...

Tabatinga is a scenic beach south of Natal featuring dramatic dunes and headland reefs. The waves are mellow and consistent, making it a good option for intermediate surfers. The...

Praia dos Açores sits on the remote Maraú Peninsula, a near-deserted stretch of tropical coastline with quality reef waves and minimal crowds. The journey requires effort - 4x4...